| Around the world people and their governments are | | | | green training for all personnel helps them to |
| concerned about climate change and global warming. | | | | understand and accept the reasons for the changes |
| During 2009 there is a series of international meetings | | | | and know what is expected of them. |
| preparing for the next climate change agreement to | | | | Many people feel that they want to go beyond |
| be hammered out in Copenhagen in 2010. This will be | | | | carbon emissions because they realise that there is |
| a very critical meeting because the planet is fast | | | | more to the environment than just emissions. In this |
| approaching a "tipping point" when it will be too late | | | | case the business may want to take their planning a |
| to pull back from very serious climate change. | | | | step further and implement and environmental |
| So what does this mean to business and particularly | | | | management system. This works even better when |
| small business? Small business is the backbone of | | | | an effective feedback loop is included so that when |
| economies around the world and cumulatively is | | | | mistakes of any kind are made, the business looks at |
| responsible for an enormous amount of carbon | | | | the root cause or real reason that they were able to |
| emissions even when they are small and "just office | | | | happen then remove that cause. |
| or home based". In fact office based business is | | | | Many businesses take their environmental |
| responsible for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. | | | | management system a step further and have it |
| This is far more than transport which is the most | | | | independently audited to ISO 14001 which is the |
| obvious target for concern. | | | | international standard for environmental management. |
| When a small business systematically addresses all its | | | | It is important to keep the system simple and low in |
| activities and looks at the carbon and other | | | | paper because otherwise it is unlikely to work |
| environmental impacts of each, the business can | | | | effectively in the long term. |
| remove a large amount of waste and preventing | | | | A simple and effective environmental management |
| waste is what also saves money. If you can reduce | | | | system can save a small business for more than the |
| your electrical waste by 20% you will reduce both | | | | cost of implementing and maintaining it and it also |
| your greenhouse emissions and your power bill by | | | | saves time and money. Reducing your carbon |
| that same 20%. And electrical consumption is just | | | | footprint saves money but a full management |
| area that can be looked at. | | | | system saves even more and achieves an |
| If this is to work effectively the business will need to | | | | internationally recognised green certification, ISO |
| work with all employees to change the culture and | | | | 14001. |
| raise awareness of green issues. Commencing some | | | | |