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Building Back Greener: Assessing the Potential of Environmental Management Systems in Disaster Reconstruction

Frimmer, Jonas LU (2015) In IIIEE Master thesis IMEN56 20151
The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Abstract
Environmental problems commonly occur in the aftermath of natural disasters. If not
managed properly, they jeopardise the success of the entire recovery process. The
humanitarian sector has realised this threat and is looking for ways to properly mitigate
environmental problems while maintaining their necessary flexibility. The conventional
industry broadly uses environmental management systems (EMS) like ISO 14001 to manage
their impacts. This thesis aims to assess the potential of ISO 14001 in disaster reconstruction.
To this end, it first identifies the environmental problems and their underlying causes. Then it
analyses the requirements of ISO 14001 to identify opportunities and barriers for
implementing the standard. Based on... (More)
Environmental problems commonly occur in the aftermath of natural disasters. If not
managed properly, they jeopardise the success of the entire recovery process. The
humanitarian sector has realised this threat and is looking for ways to properly mitigate
environmental problems while maintaining their necessary flexibility. The conventional
industry broadly uses environmental management systems (EMS) like ISO 14001 to manage
their impacts. This thesis aims to assess the potential of ISO 14001 in disaster reconstruction.
To this end, it first identifies the environmental problems and their underlying causes. Then it
analyses the requirements of ISO 14001 to identify opportunities and barriers for
implementing the standard. Based on this, it discusses the overall feasibility and effectiveness
of ISO 14001 in disaster reconstruction.
The result of this research is that ISO 14001 has the potential to be an effective tool for
improving the environmental impacts in the humanitarian sector. Its effectiveness depends
however strongly on the quality of the implementation in the field and the context of the
disaster. Its feasibility is reduced by a lack of donor support and questionable buy in by the
field staff. Thus, it only seems interesting for larger organisations with stable funding and preexisting environmental expertise.
Further research opportunities include a more practical evaluation of ISO 14001, as well as
assessing the potential of other environmental management tools from the conventional
industry in humanitarian emergencies. (Less)
Popular Abstract
Disaster Management, Environmental Management, ISO 14001, EMS,Construction
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Frimmer, Jonas LU
supervisor
organization
course
IMEN56 20151
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
publication/series
IIIEE Master thesis
report number
2015:12
ISSN
1401-9191
language
English
id
8080706
date added to LUP
2015-10-20 08:29:20
date last changed
2015-10-20 08:29:20
@misc{8080706,
  abstract     = {{Environmental problems commonly occur in the aftermath of natural disasters. If not
managed properly, they jeopardise the success of the entire recovery process. The
humanitarian sector has realised this threat and is looking for ways to properly mitigate
environmental problems while maintaining their necessary flexibility. The conventional
industry broadly uses environmental management systems (EMS) like ISO 14001 to manage
their impacts. This thesis aims to assess the potential of ISO 14001 in disaster reconstruction.
To this end, it first identifies the environmental problems and their underlying causes. Then it
analyses the requirements of ISO 14001 to identify opportunities and barriers for
implementing the standard. Based on this, it discusses the overall feasibility and effectiveness
of ISO 14001 in disaster reconstruction.
The result of this research is that ISO 14001 has the potential to be an effective tool for
improving the environmental impacts in the humanitarian sector. Its effectiveness depends
however strongly on the quality of the implementation in the field and the context of the
disaster. Its feasibility is reduced by a lack of donor support and questionable buy in by the
field staff. Thus, it only seems interesting for larger organisations with stable funding and preexisting environmental expertise.
Further research opportunities include a more practical evaluation of ISO 14001, as well as
assessing the potential of other environmental management tools from the conventional
industry in humanitarian emergencies.}},
  author       = {{Frimmer, Jonas}},
  issn         = {{1401-9191}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{IIIEE Master thesis}},
  title        = {{Building Back Greener: Assessing the Potential of Environmental Management Systems in Disaster Reconstruction}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}