Proactive Packaging For Environmental

Sustainability in NigeriaBy

Victor N. Sunday,mnes,mnca,acg,rem-usa

Geography/Environmental Management

University of Portharcourt

Choba,PortharcourtChoba,Portharcourtvictor.sunday@uniport.edu.ng ,08063908020

OSHAssociation Annual Conference 20144th International Safety Conference & Awards28th November,2014YAR’ADUA CONVENTION CENTRE,ABUJA,NIGERIA

Introduction�The epicenter of all activities on earth is the Environment

�Man’s activities impact negatively on the Environment

�Man’s responsibility is to effectively manage his �Man’s responsibility is to effectively manage his activities as well as the environmental consequence s

Introduction�We have no other, except ,the present Environment to be left for our unborn children

�To safeguard our environment for the benefit of the future generation ,proactive measures are inevitab le

Introduction�Is this, the same Environment ,you played as a k id

�Can your Children play under the same tree you played while you were a kid?

�The environment is mans first right.

�Without a safe environment, man cannot exist to claim other rights, be they political, social, or economic .Ken Saro-Wiwa (1941-1995).

� ‘By avarice and selfishness, and a groveling habit, from which none of us is free, of regarding the soil as property...the landscape is deformed.’ (Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862).

Introduction: Quotes on Env’t

deformed.’ (Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862).

� Man has been endowed with reason, with the power to create, so that he can add to what he's been given. But up to now he hasn't been a creator, only a destroyer. Forests keep disappearing, rivers dry up, wild lifes become extinct, the climate's ruined and the land grows poorer and uglier every day.’ Anton Chekhov (1860 - 1904).

Adeagbo,2013

A

�It’s a complex problem in Nigeria that requires consistent attention

�Nigeria has a critical landmass of about 923,768sqkm bio-physical environment that is exposed to various environmental threats !!!

Environmental Challenges in Nigeria

�A report by USAID in 2002 ,emphasized that ‘Nigeria’s natural environmental resources’ and quality of its air ,water and soil are severely threatened ‘’,as a result of high population growth, migration to urban area and increasing poverty

Environmental Challenges: UNPD Report

�‘’Nigeria’s natural resources, some of its most valuable national assets,are still seriously threatened.

� For example, between 2000 and 2010 the area of forest shrank by athird, from 14.4 per cent to 9.9 per cent of the land area.�Similarly, access to safe water and sanitation is a serious challenge forNigeria.

� Only 58.9 per cent have access to safe water and the proportion� Only 58.9 per cent have access to safe water and the proportionaccessing improved sanitation improved to 51.6 per cent.� In sanitation, efforts are falling short of the target.�Rural-urban migration will add to the pressure on sanitationinfrastructure throughout the country.

�There is an urgent need for managerial, technical and financialresources to deal with these challenges to be established at state andlocal government levels. Given the risks of over-exploitation ofgroundwater in the North and the influx of saline water in the South,innovative solutions are required across the country.’’ Adeagbo,2013

Environmental Challenges: List

Deforestation= southern states

Desertification=11 Northern states

Land Degradation=most states in Nigeria

Urban Air & Water pollution=Urban centers in Nigeria

Pollution of Fresh water=Territorial water state

Environmental Challenges

Environmental Sustainability Drivers

�Sustainability is the key solution to the complex and recurrent environmental challenges in Nigeria.

�Sustainability ensures that environmentally based resources are not wasted at the expense of the

future usage.future usage.

� It anchors on environmental friendliness while promoting prudence among all stake holders

�The focus of sustainability efforts, whether social or economic remains the environment

Environmental Sustainability Drivers

�Sustainable environmental management will ensure strategic policy implementation, continuous evaluation and reemphasizes on the following drivers;�Environmental Ethics�Environmental Quality�Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)�Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)�Environmental Auditing (EA)�Environmental Management System (EMS)�Environmental Monitoring/Mapping (EMM)�Environmental Information System (EIS)�Environmental Management Plan (EMP)�Environmental Training, Profession and Certification

�Provides Citizen’s participation toward environmental sustainability�Cultural values for the environment�Daily behavioral towards environmental conservation and protection�The ability to do the right thing when it comes to environmental protection

Environmental Sustainability Drivers

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

protection�Should I throw the trash out through the car window?�Is it necessary keeping the trash in my pocket or bag till I get to the nearest trash bin�Should we continue to deplete forest resources at the expense of the future?�Do we really have ethical values for the environment?� Environmental Ethics is a behavioral consciousness and driving force that ensures the safety of the environment.

Environmental Sustainability Drivers

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESEMENT

� Nigeria’s EIA Act of 1992 and its role as an Environmental Management tool provide a driving force towards sustainable use of the environment, especially with regard to the activities of infractural development(Anago, 2002).

� EIA is a proactive Environmental Management measure that is expected to prevent the impact of industrial activities on the environments .environments .

� Its major objective of EIA includes� To determine the environmental impacts of actives likely to negativity

affect the environment.� Promotion of implementation Mechanisms at the Federal, State and

Local Levels� To encourage exchange of data and information as well as constitution

and notification alerts across boundaries.

Environmental Sustainability Drivers

ENVIRONMENT AUDIT�Environment Audit is another management tool that involves a periodic, systematic and documented evaluation of the performance of an organization towards environmental compliance as it affects its activities.� Ensuring management control of environmental practices �Assessment of compliance of organizations policies with �Assessment of compliance of organizations policies with regulatory requirementAnd for projects that involves construction activities:�Implementation of best control technology (BCAT)�compensation to local communities�Institutionalization of adequate abatement measures.

Environmental Sustainability Drivers

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

�This is the comprehensive, systematic and

documented planning of how an organization manages

its environmental impacts and programmes .

�It provides the procedures and processes of �It provides the procedures and processes of

personnel training and monitoring of environmental

performance of the organization.

Its goals are to ensure:

�Environmental compliance

�Waste reduction through prevention, minimization

and recycling

Environmental Sustainability Drivers

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)The most widely used EMS is that of ISO 14001 series which includes the following:ISO 14001 EMS=Requirements with guidance for useISO 14004 EMS=General guidelines on principles, systems and support techniquesISO14006 EMS=Guidelines for incorporating ecodesignISO 14015 Environmental assessment of sites and organizationsISO 14015 Environmental assessment of sites and organizationsISO 14020 series (14020 to 14025) Environmental labels and

declarationsISO 14030 deals with post-production environmental assessment

ISO 14031= Environmental performance evaluation—GuidelinesISO 14040 -14090 series , deals with life cycle assessment of productISO 14046 =EMS for water footprint principles –latest2014

ISO 14064=Greenhouse emission reduction

Environmental Sustainability Drivers

ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING/PROFESIONAL CERTIFICATION

�This applies to both cooperate and individual engaged inenvironmental activities regular training and retrainingprovides efficiency in the implementation process ofsustainability efforts.

�Training ranges from environmental ethics awareness of allstakeholders to professional training of environmentalspecialist.

�It is through awareness training that citizens are providedwith environmental issues and sustainability targets that willenhance effective public participation in decision makingprocess.

�The concept of sustainable development aims atfinding solution to social inequities andenvironmental damages while maintaining aneconomic balance.�Realistic environmental sustainability demands aholistic and multi-sectoral approach that will involve

Proactive Measures

holistic and multi-sectoral approach that will involveparticipatory policy formulation, implementation andmonitoring (Adeagbo,2013).�When this process becomes proactive instead ofreactive, it will trigger sustainability equilibrium

�If Nigeria will enjoy sustainable environment then we must be proactive in environmental Management strategies �Reactive environmental management

Conclusion

�Reactive environmental management is like fighting the fire �Professionally active people provides solution to problem, even before it occurs�However, there must be synergy among all stakeholders

Adeagbo, A. (2013). Achieving Environmental Sustainability (MDG7)in Nigeria,Progress so far,Challenges and Prospects. Academic Journal of Interdiscplinary Studies Vol.2 No 6.

Anago, I. (2002). Environmental Impact Assesment as a tool for Sustainable Development . International Congress Washington, (p. Fig 22). Washington

References

Asthana,D.K and Asthana,M. (2006). Environment:Problem and Solution.New Delhi: Rajendra R printers.

Baba, M. (2012). Advantages of Implementing Environmental Accounting with an Economic Entity.

Environmental Action Strategy for Sustainable Development i Italy. (n.d.).

Gagne, L. (2011). Environmental Accounting Joint CMA/CGA/FMI Workshop,March1-2,2011,Victoria.

Congratulations!You’ve Completed

This Aspect of your Professional Training

On-line training modules sponsored by the National Center for Geospatial Intelligence Standards (NCGIS )