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Environmental Management Systems

Type of study Follow-up MasterBachelor
Language of instruction Czech
Code 546-0016/02
Abbreviation SEM
Course title Environmental Management Systems
Credits 5
Coordinating department Department of Environmental Engineering
Course coordinator prof. Ing. Vladimír Lapčík, CSc.

Subject syllabus

1. Definitions – environment, environmental protection, ecology,
environmental pollution and degradation. Changes in the environment
according to demographic, social and technical development, resources use,
renewable and non-renewable sources. Local, regional and global
environmental pollution, assimilation capacity of nature. Global
ecosystem, ecosystem services. Biodiversity, Convention on Biological
Diversity, genetic banks.
2. History of environmental protection. Basic strategies, development in
timeline, main features. Economical comparison of different environmental
strategies.
3. Sustainable development – definition, principles, documents. Agenda 21.
Scenarios of sustainable development (WBCSD).
4. Preventive strategy – principles, tools, proactive impact, win-win
strategy and its advantages.
5. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) – principle, Czech legislation, time
requirements, participants in EIA process, role of state administration,
local administration and public. EIA experts – qualification requirements,
formation of team for EIA process, methods for assessment.
6. Environmental audits – definition, legislation. Various types of
environmental audit, differences and common signs, description of audit
program and plan, participants. Auditors – qualification requirements,
formation of team for audit.
7. Waste minimization, cleaner production. Definition, description of CP
assessment project. Implementation in companies. Benefits of CP project
for environment and economics of company. IPPC – principle, Czech
legislation, BAT, BREF.
8. LCA (Life Cycle Assessment).
9. Environmental labels and declarations.
10.Environmental management systems – definition, basic features,
specifications. EMS certification – rules, possibilities, costs and
benefits. Accreditation of certification bodies.
11.EMAS and ISO 14001 - differences. Connection to other management systems
(QMS, SMS, OHSAS etc.). EPI’s, ISO 14031. CSR.
12.Voluntary agreements - reason, methodology, relation to the legislation,
benefits.
13.Environmental economy – basic terms, economical tools for environmental
protection, environmental accounting.

Literature

LAPČÍK, V. Wind Farms and Their Impact on the Environment (chapter in book). In: Wind Farm - Technical Regulations, Potential Estimation and Siting Assessment/Book 1 (book edited by Gastón Orlando Suvire). Croatia, Austria: InTech, 2011. pp. 141-162 (22 p.). ISBN 978-953-307-483-2 .
LAPČÍK, V., KOHUT, O., NOVÁK, P., KALOČAJOVÁ, A. Environmental Impacts of Mining of Mineral Resources. Inźynieria Mineralna (Journal of the Polish Mineral Engineering Society), Volume XIX, No. 2(42) 2018, s. 253 - 263.
RYDÉN, L., MIGULA, P., ANDERSON, M. Environmental Science: Understanding, Protecting and Managing the Environment in the Baltic Sea Region, Baltic University Press, 2003, 824p., ISBN 91-970017-0-8.
BISSET, R. Introduction to EIA Methods. EIA Process, Methods and Uncertainty. In: Proc. CEMP Aberdeen. Scotland (UK): University of Aberdeen, 1991.

Advised literature

QINGXIN, F; HONGGUANG, A; CHAO, M.:LifeCycleAssessment. Environmental Science and Management, 2007, 6: 050.
LAPČÍK, V., LAPČÍK, V. jr., ČABLÍK, V. Energy Recovery from Municipal and Other Waste. Inźynieria Mineralna (Journal of the Polish Mineral Engineering Society), Volume XIX, No. 2(42) 2018, s. 265 - 272.
BARROW, C. J. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment: an introduction. London: E. Arnold, 1997.
BISSET, R. Review Criteria for Environmental Assessment Reports. In: Proc. CEMP Aberdeen. Scotland (UK): University of Aberdeen, 1991.