Environmental problems and their search for solutions are an important issue on the agenda of not only our country but also the whole world. All over the world, environmental problems are growing and efforts are being made to find solutions to these problems and policies are being developed.
When the environment is mentioned, it means an environment in which living things live on the earth and which is vital for them. Efforts should be made at national and international levels to protect and sustain the environment in which all living things benefit. It should not be underestimated that future generations have rights in the environmental conditions used today.
Any positive or negative change in environmental conditions directly affects all living things that use this environment. Today, in order for these creatures to survive and for future generations to have the same environmental conditions, natural life needs to be protected and this situation transcends individual efforts. Therefore, the protection of the environment now requires stronger forces and requires public support. Environmental protection activities have become an important responsibility area of public administrations today.
In order to implement an effective environmental management, countries have made legal arrangements, allocated sufficient financial resources, provided necessary participation support and established audit systems in addition to official organization.
Historical Background of Environmental Management in Turkey
The environment is simply an environment in which living and inanimate beings interact. The concept of environmental management encompasses efforts to establish and operate an appropriate system of planning, coordination and supervision by both public authorities and private organizations to ensure that all living things live in a healthy and balanced environment, and that natural resources are conserved, appropriately evaluated and developed.
If we look at the history of environmental management practices in our country, it is seen that until recently, there was no independent formal structure that deals with environmental problems. Today, despite all these efforts, there is no comprehensive and holistic structure for environmental problems as in the western countries. The authorities and responsibilities related to the environment are distributed among various organizations by various legal regulations.
Nevertheless, during the Ottoman period, a number of applications were made by Fatih Sultan Mehmet to ensure the cleanliness and control of the Golden Horn and to preserve the green areas. During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, Selim II and Abdülhamit II, a number of regulations were made for the protection of water resources and forests, air pollution, cleanliness and general public health. These examples can be considered as the first measures taken against environmental problems. In the Ottoman period, the Forest Regulation in 1869 and the first zoning law (Ebniye Law) came into force in 1882 and these are important legal regulations.
In the Republican period, municipalities were given a number of powers and responsibilities for the protection of the environment by the Municipal Law in 1930. The Public Hygiene Law, which entered into force in the same year, included measures to control the environment and environmental cleanliness, which would harm human health and directly affect human health.
In addition, the Law on Land Hunting in 1937, the Law on Forests issued in 1956 for the hunting of useful and harmful animals living in our country, the Law on the Protection and Development of bears a number of provisions. All of these are important in terms of recognizing environmental problems and taking measures, but in the absence of adequate supervision in practice, these legal arrangements did not have much importance.
During the 1970 constitution, environmental regulations were made during the preparation of the 1982 Constitution with the effect of international developments in environmental protection and the way for a participatory environmental management approach was opened. The Constitution contains provisions regulating the protection of historical, cultural and natural assets.
Environmental problems
Environmental problems cannot be expressed with a few items. Day by day these problems are growing. Without a precaution, a beautiful world is not awaited for future generations. Plant and animal species are disappearing. Forests are being destroyed. On the one hand, the danger of erosion and desertification, on the other hand, the opening of agricultural areas to structuring, irregular and unplanned urbanization, and wasting of coastal areas for tourism are the biggest factors that destroy the nature. On the other hand, chemicals used in industry cause harm to the environment and human health. Since fossil fuels are used in energy, the air is approaching the breathable point. Because of the persistence of nuclear energy, the danger of radiation is increasing.
Due to the ozone depletion, global warming and climate changes have started and this creates many environmental problems. In addition to these, human population is increasing, migration to cities continues and environmental problems are growing exponentially.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard
It is very important to implement effective environmental management to combat environmental problems and leave a more livable world for future generations. Although legal regulations are made on this issue, their implementation and supervision is very important. The basic starting point of effective and correct environmental management is to ensure the applicability of the principles and standards developed by public or private organizations. Otherwise, it is not enough to make legal arrangements alone.
Prevention of adverse environmental conditions and environmental protection about ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard has been developed by International Standards Organization. These standards, which were last updated in 2005, have been published by Turkish Standards Institute as TS EN ISO 14001: 2005 standard.
The ISO 14001 standard is mainly designed to minimize the use of natural resources such as water, air and soil and to prevent damages to these natural resources. Thanks to the ISO 14001 standard, the environmental performance of companies producing goods or services is monitored during their activities. At the same time, this standard requires the elimination of problems that cause environmental problems and complying with all legal regulations regarding environmental conditions.
The fact that the environment is in danger of extinction is the common concern of all consumers and producers. Habitats are increasingly narrowing and the natural environment is becoming more and more destructive. For this reason, every company that is sensitive to the environment establishes ISO 14001 Environmental Management System as a requirement of its responsibilities. Also from an accredited certification body ISO 14001: 2005 Environmental Management System Certificate, by fulfilling the requirements and responsibilities of the standard and proves that the system is constantly improved.
Is it necessary to obtain ISO 14001 Certificate
Climate change, increase in human population, economic crises, development of technologies, the use of new production techniques, all these effects pollute the environment and consume natural resources. Under these conditions, consumers as well as producers should be known and participate in measures to protect nature and make efforts as an individual. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a planned and controllable environmental management system.
The ISO 14001 standard is a management system standard, just like the ISO 9001 standard. ISO 9001 standard has been developed to meet customer needs and demands, to create customer satisfaction, to control processes and to aim for continuous improvement. The ISO 14001 standard has the same objectives. However, it also covers environmental requirements and criteria as well as customer needs and expectations. Therefore, both standards can be easily integrated.
All over the world, there are increasing concerns about the protection of nature and pollution of the environment. This puts pressure on firms that produce goods or services on the environmental impact of their activities. Growing environmental understanding in the society forces companies to be sensitive to the environment. The preparation of the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard by the International Standards Organization is based on these facts.
Environmental management practices concern all activities of companies such as design, research and development, production, financing, sales and marketing. For this reason, environmental management is a long and strategic process consisting of different stages. In this process, companies need to implement many practices such as determining environmental strategies appropriate to their own structures, developing environmental policies, implementing them and identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Because the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard aims to ensure that environmental activities are carried out in a systematic manner and in a continuous manner. With this standard, companies learn and take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their activities.
For all these reasons, companies should establish and implement ISO 14001 Environmental Management System in their enterprises. Companies that install this system in their businesses can apply for an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certificate by applying to a certification body. This document is an expression of the company's respect for the environment and people and social responsibility.
What Does ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certificate Gain?
For one thing, companies should not have set up an Environmental Management System just to have ISO 14001 Certification. Otherwise, the studies performed for show will not yield any results and the expected benefits cannot be obtained. As with all management systems, they must have established and implemented the Environmental Management System, believing that nature should be protected, because they are sensitive to the environment and believe that environmental problems threaten the future of humanity. This responsibility needs to be heard. Indeed, the future of the earth is at serious risk. Even though it is too late, if no measures are taken today, the soil will lose its nutritious properties, the air will become more and more breathable and it will be impossible to find the most basic need water. Companies must act with this reality at every moment of their production activities.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standards should be established and applied not to receive this document, but to leave a more livable world for future generations. Obtaining ISO 14001 Certificate will certainly benefit the companies. For example, companies are able to comply with both legal regulations and international standards thanks to this system. This situation will definitely gain reputation in the domestic and international markets. Having a certificate increases the image and reputation of the firm in domestic and foreign markets and allows the firm to enter new markets.
Companies use natural resources more efficiently during their production activities and in this case, the costs of the company resulting from environmental conditions decrease. This increases the productivity of the company.
Consumers are assured of an obligation to protect the environment. Therefore, consumers' confidence in the company increases.
Since risky situations will be identified in advance, the company is always ready for emergencies and accidents. At the same time, any losses in case of emergency and accident are reduced.
our organization TÜRCERT Technical Control and Certification Inc., ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification studies, national and international accreditation organizations are based on the authorization.