Section 2: Progress Report According to Proposal Objectives

The overall goal of the project was to facilitate the gradual introduction of the RF into the sustainable development process by promoting public participation in environmentally sound decision-making concerning the implementation of modern environmental management based on internationally approved EMS (Environmental Management System) approaches.

The above goal complies with USAID strategic objectives, defined as:

  • Increased environmental management capacity to support sustainable economic growth;
  • Increased, better-informed citizens' participation in political and economic decision making
To measure progress and Achievement Plan was prepared. Five Outcomes with associated Outputs were developed.

 

OUTCOME 1: TO DEVELOP A SERIES OF ON-SITE TRAININGS BASED ON SELECTED ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS (INTRODUCTORY ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS).

Output: Initial information letter and questionnaire sent to selected target regions

During the first quarter (Spring 2000) a questionnaire was prepared and sent out to the selected target regions, enterprises, NGOs and government agencies. Ecoline and ECOLOGIA analyzed the responses to the questionnaires and selected four facilities for participation in the program. The widespread distribution resulted in a certain amount of competition among industrial facilities to be selected for participation in the project. These companies that were finally selected were chosen because their management demonstrated a commitment to the project and significant environmental improvements could occur at the facilities if an effective EMS was successfully implemented. The four industries selected were: 1) "Krasnoye Echo" located in the Vladimir Region; 2) "Dieselprom" in the Republic of Chuvashia; 3) "Revda" in the Sverdlovsk Region; and 4) "Tomsk Instrument" located in the Tomsk Region. Other interested industries that responded to the questionnaire (up to 20) along with regional NGOs, educational establishments, governmental organizations were invited to join project workshops and to use a special desk support service providing for EMS related information and advice.

It was significant that from the beginning the RF Organization for Standardization supported the project. After receiving their initial partnership invitation and project information, representatives of the RF Organization for Standardization (namely, Mr. E. Pashkov, Mrs. L. Egorova and Mrs. L. Goryunova) showed a strong interest in the project. Their interest and support resulted in increased project efficiency because new regional stakeholders became involved in the project and contributed towards its success. In addition, their support enhanced the project's credibility and effectiveness in impacting RF policy in the field of Environmental Management Systems (further described below under objective 5).

Output: Four environmental audits are implemented by ECOLOGIA/Ecoline.

Ecoline and ECOLOGIA experts and staff conducted environmental assessment of the four selected facilities and provided on-the-job training.

Based on the environmental audits, Ecoline/ECOLOGIA made recommendations to the management of all four companies on ways to improve their EMS and Quality Management systems. Many of these recommendations were followed and, as a result, significant improvements in Quality and Environmental Management Systems were achieved.

In all four cases there was enhanced co-operation of the industries with regional stakeholders and more information on the companies environmental policies was provided to the public. All four industries were willing to share information and to contribute towards preparation of case studies used during regional workshops.

Facility 1 - "Krasnoye Echo", Vladimar Region
The first industry audited in August 2000 was a glass factory "Krasnoye Echo" located in the Vladimar Region near Moscow at the outskirts of a large protected landscape (National Park).

Based on the audit results and consultations with company managers, Ecoline prepared a report for the management board and employees that included recommendations on possible directions for the development of the company's management systems, including ways to integrate its production, quality control, safety and environmental management systems. The conclusions and recommendations of the Ecoline experts were discussed with the financial director of "Krasnoye Ekho" along with the Quality, Environmental, and Safety officers of the company. Specific opportunities to reduce environmental impacts via an integration of economic and environmental activities (i.e. pollution prevention methods that will simultaneously reduce costs and reduce pollution) were identified.

In the course of conducting the audit as well as during consultations and two follow-up visits, six employees were trained in Quality and Environmental Management Systems, principles of environmentally friendly working procedures development and other relevant issues. These trainees are involved actively in the future development of the industry management system.

To contribute towards the sustainability of the project Ecoline intends to continue working with "Krasnoye Echo" on the gradual improvement of its management system. In addition, Ecoline will work with the company on an environmental impact assessment of a reconstruction project aimed at returning into operation an old industrial site located within the boundaries of the nearby National Park.

Facility 2 - "Dieselprom", Town of Chebocksary, Republic of Chuvashia
The initial Environmental Review was conducted in November 2000. In February 2001 the plant was visited by Alexander Khachaturov (Ecoline expert) and Ed Shoener (ECOLOGIA USA). The February 2001 visit found that the company made significant progress in the implementation of pollution prevention approaches and in environmental impact minimisation, as well as in quality improvements.

A summary of the most significant results reported by "Dieselprom" Director General and Ecoline expert Alexander Khachaturov are as follows:

  • a number of significant environmental impacts were reduced via the rational use of metal resources and decreased waste of non-ferrous metals;
  • eight employees were provided on-the-job training;
  • quality management problems were identified and are being solved gradually;
  • motivation of personnel was improved and it has become easier to retain qualified personnel at the enterprise;
  • the environmental improvements were incorporated in the companies marketing activities.
Ecoline continues working with "Dieselprom" by exploring various opportunities such as offering training programs for new employees of the Department for Quality and Environmental Management, sending MSc students of D. Mendeleyev University to the industry for practical training, etc.

Site 3 - "Revda" Non-Ferrous Metal Works, Sverdlosk Region
The Centre for Environmental Training and Information (CETI), an NGO based in Ekaterinburg and in particular its Director Mrs. L. Strukova helped to prepare the third industry - "Revda" Non-Ferrous Metal Works - for the preliminary environmental assessment that was conducted in February 2001. ECOLOGIA expert Ed Shoener took part in the audit along with Ecoline staff and experts.

Though the company received ISO 9002 Certificate from Lloyd Register back in 1995 and confirmed its conformance in 2000, a number of necessary improvements for Quality Management System were identified. These were combined with the recommendations on the development of an EMS and integrated into recommendations on the overall improvement of the facility's management system.

In the course of the audit conducted as well as during consultations and a series of CETI staff and experts visits followed the audit five employees were given on-the-job training.

Later in 2001 "Revda" management contacted CETI (Ekaterinburg), the Association of Consultants and Auditors (Moscow) and Ecoline seeking support for the full scale implementation and certification of an EMS that will conform to ISO 14001 requirements.

Site 4 - "Tomsky Instrument", Tomsk Region
The last industry audited was "Tomsky Instrument", one of the leading Siberian enterprises producing metal instruments for industrial, construction and domestic purposes. During the audit conducted in April 2001 environmental management practices were assessed and recommendations were prepared.

Using materials provided by Ecoline at the initial workshop in June 2000 and via e-mail, the "Tomsky Instrument" environmental manager prepared an Environmental Policy (approved by the top management) which incorporates environmental aims and objectives into the company's overall development plan. Based on the adoption of the environmental policy, a detailed EMS plan was developed and its implementation was organised by the company's environmental manager. Environmental performance indicators (EPIs) including operational performance indicators (OPIs) and management performance indicators (MPIs) were developed. Opportunities for selecting appropriate environmental condition indicators (ECIs) were also considered. Detailed procedures were proscribed in the appropriate documents (such as metal waste management procedure).

In the course of the audit as well as during follow on visit and consultations (in June 2001) five employees were trained in Quality and Environmental Management Systems.

Based on the results of its participation in the project, the "Tomsky Instrument" management made a decision to join a DFID (UK) funded project aimed at the introduction of Cleaner Production (CP) methods at Tomsk industries. Since Environmental Management System forms the necessary framework for CP introduction, it is likely that the System will be further improved during the next project providing thereby for the future development of EMS oriented activities (after the end of the grant support).

All four environmental audits provided "case studies" of how an EMS can benefit private enterprises and the general public in the RF. These case studies were used by ECOLOGIA/Ecoline at the regional RF awareness raising and training workshops as well as in national and international EMS related discussions and forums.

 

OUTCOME 2: TO PROMOTE FEDERAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL INSTITUTIONS' UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VOLUNTARY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION OF TRAINING AND AWARENESS WORKSHOPS.

Output: ECOLOGIA/Ecoline organizes training and awareness workshops

Six training and awareness workshops were organised by Ecoline and ECOLOGIA during the project. Over 200 people attended theses workshops. Interested civil activists (NGO representatives), enterprise managers and supervisors, Federal, and regional and local governmental officials attended the workshops. . Emphasis was put on the importance of continued dialogue, collaboration and transparency, regarding environmental management. The environmental assessments conducted at the four facilities served as case studies.

The opening workshop was organised in Moscow in June 2000 for the regional NGOs (European part, the Urals and Siberia) that would be working with Ecoline and ECOLOGIA on this project. The purpose of the workshop was to provide the NGOs with the necessary information for the promotion and implementation of the project activities. To encourage people to ask questions and to discuss problems and opportunities, personal (or small group) consultations were often included in the workshop schedule. At all workshops international, national and regional case studies were analysed thoroughly. According to the project participants and other interested parties the hand-outs formed a solid basis for both further training and practical implementation of Environmental Management Systems.

Regional workshops were conducted in Gus-Khrustalny (August 2000), Chebocksary (November 2000), Ekaterinburg (February 2001) and Tomsk (April 2001).

All workshops were highly participatory and attracted attention of various regional stakeholders. Such NGOs as CETI (Ekaterinburg), "Meschera" (Gus-Khrustaly), Tomsk Students Inspection and "Wind Rose" (Tomsk) played key roles in planning and organisation of workshops. In each region specific results were achieved due to the participation of various interested parties in IREX/SPAN workshops.

For example, the cooperative working relationships made at the Gus-Khrustalny workshop helped establish a cohort of regional EMS experts. Prior to the workshop, the top management of a progressive glass producing enterprise "Symbol", invited USAID and IREX representatives to visit their site and volunteered to present the results of their Quality and Environmental Management Systems implementation at the regional workshop. In return, Ecoline staff and experts provided support to "Symbol" and involved its staff in working meetings organised in Gus-Khrustalny. This helped form and strengthen a network of well-trained industrialists, regional experts and NGOs who can support the wider promotion of Environmental Management Systems in the Vladimir region.

In Chebocksary the workshop was strongly supported by the Ministry for Industry, Energy and Transport of the Republic of Chuvashia. Project findings and workshop recommendations were considered by the Ministry representatives while working out new Chuvashia Development Policy and Plan. One of the key objectives of the plan was identified as: Development and Implementation of Environmental Management Systems as an Internationally Approved Instrument of the Sustainable Economic Growth. The Ministry suggested a series of incentives for industries implementing Quality and Environmental Management Systems and the incentive scheme is being currently considered by the President of the Republic.

In Ekaterinburg, the Centre for Environmental Training and Information (CETI) began offering and running EMS training programmes for various stakeholders based on the materials and information received from ECOLOGIA/Ecoline at the February 2001 workshop. CETI has also established a partnership with the Association of Consultants and Auditors (Moscow) invited to the regional workshop by Ecoline and started providing joint consultations to regional industries interested in the implementation of Environmental Management Systems.

In Tomsk the workshop was actively supported by newly established Committee for Environmental Protection as well as by Tomsk regional Academy for Certification and Standardisation. Soon after the workshop the most active project participants took part in a competition and based on its results were invited to the AED Training Course "Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and Environmental Auditing (EA) as Modern Tools for Promoting Environmentally Sound Industrial Management for West Siberia Region". Using the information and materials from the training course, "Tomsky Instrument" environmental manager Mrs. Nadezhda Zhukova and the leading specialist of the newly established Committee for Environmental Protection Mrs. Vera Bareisha as well as other project participants subsequently conducted EMS training at other locations in the Tomsk region. This embodied the principle "train the trainers" promoted by Ecoline and ECOLOGIA.

After the training, the Tomsk regional Academy for Certification and Standardisation took concrete steps to promote EMS implementation in the Tomsk Region. For example, based on the results of the IREX/SPAN project implementation and AED training course implementation Mr. A. Babikov, actively involved in the Academy activities, made the decision to register an independent consulting company offering services in the field of Quality and Environmental Management Systems implementation.

In order to assess the effectiveness of each of the regional workshops, the participants were requested to fill out a questionnaire, in which they were asked to evaluate the various components and topics. Workshop moderation was usually assessed by participants as excellent, as well as the visual materials and hand-outs. Participants also assessed the quality of lectures and discussion sessions as very good or excellent. Lectures on general management systems, TQM, and EMS components always received very high marks. In the early workshops, a little lower marks were sometimes given to lectures on environmental audits because some of the participants expected more technical training on how to conduct an audit. This was due to incorrect expectations about the workshops. For the later workshops, it was made clearer from the outset that the workshops would focus on management systems, not on audit techniques.

The final workshop turned into an international conference held in Moscow on September 24-26 2001, jointly with RF Organisation for Standardisation and Center for Projects Preparation and Implementation (CPPI). Representatives of the RF Ministry for Natural Resources took part in the Conference providing for some comments concerning recent environmental policy changes.

The Conference was attended by 47 participants. During three days 24 presentations were made and a number of working discussions were held. Among the main topic discussed were:

  • approaches to facilitating the development and implementation of Environmental Management Systems, results of the project and EMS implementation in Russia,
  • other forms of voluntary environmental activities
  • independent environmental ratings of enterprises
  • adopting corporate environmental codes.
Among the draft documents, discussed at the conference, were the Concept of Integrated Support for Implementation of the EMS at the Russian Enterprises, Draft Regulation on the System of Voluntary Certification of the EMS, Russian-English Environmental Management Glossary.

Presented at the Conference were case studies and practical experience of the specialists of Moscow, Tomsk, Vladimir, Sverdlovsk and Nizhny Novgorod regions, Chuvash Republic.

Among the key speakers were Ms. C. Pierstorff, head of the Environmental Department of the United States Agency for International Development (Mission to the Russian Federation); Mr. Yu. Kazakov, advisor on the environmental policy issues of the United States Agency for International Development (Mission to the Russian Federation); Ms. R. Bryan, Director of the Partnerships and Training Division of the International Research and Exchange Board in Russia.

Also presented at the conference were materials prepared by Mr. A. Husseini, the Secretary of ISO/TC207 (Technical Committee of the International Organization for Standardization, responsible for development of the ISO 14000 series of international standards) and Mr. E. Schoener, expert of the non-governmental organization ECOLOGIA[1] . An important contribution to the conference agenda was made by Mr. E. Creemers, leader of the environmental component of the TACIS project aimed at supporting Russian steel industry.

Output: ECOLOGIA/Ecoline produces tailor-made set of training materials

Special tailor made sets of training materials were produced by ECOLOGIA/Ecoline for each workshop in order to explain in detail pollution prevention principles, environmental management major elements and overall structure, related Russian and international standards and recommendations.

In general, hand-outs produced for the workshops consisted of the following materials:

  • Description of the history and modern approaches to management systems. TQM and ISO 9000
  • General information on Environmental Management Systems
  • Discussion materials on the role of general public and citizen activists in the development and implementation of EMS in European countries and in Russia
  • Description of EMS major components (according to ISO 14000)
  • Discussion materials on the possible benefits that could be gained by various stakeholders as a result of the introduction of EMS principles in the RF
  • Information on environmental auditing principles
  • Description of lessons learnt by Russian authorities, industries, consulting companies, environmental NGOs that were/are involved in the promotion of environmental management and auditing.
  • Examples of EMS documents developed by industries participating in the project
The material for each regional workshop were updated based on the comments from participants and the experience of working with the materials at the previous workshop.

The final workshop participants were given a special report containing technical articles devoted to the development of environemntal management in the Russian Federation. Representatives of leading NGOs, consulting companies, industries, governments contributed articles for inclusion in the report.

 

OUTCOME 3: TO INCREASE PROJECT IMPACT AND TO PROMOTE WIDER ACCEPTANCE OF EMS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION BY PROVIDING ASSISTANT SERVICES IN THE FORM OF CONSULTATIONS AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.

Outputs: ECOLOGIA and Ecoline web sites are developed and enriched .

Ecoline's EMS website, developed during the implementation of the first SPAN project, was enriched (http://www.ecoline.ru/mc/management). Ecoline's website has become the preeminent site in Russia for obtaining information on EMS related information. During the course of the project, dozens of technical papers and manuals have been posted on the site, all in the Russian language. In general, Ecoline's website is attracting an average of 60 visitors per day.

The availability of the Russain-Enslish Glossary of Environmental Management terms has made the site very important to technical specialists across Russia. By the end of the project the Glossary was attracting up to 40 visitors a day requesting up to 380 pages of text (in total). Please visit http://www.14000.ru/glossary .

ECOLOGIA's site dealing with ISO 14000 and EMS issues for NGOs ( http://www.ecologia.org/iso14000) was completely re-designed to include new publications and references. The site is the only website devoted exclusively to NGO issues and ISO 14000. A section was devoted to reporting on how NGO and public participation issues were handled at the ISO meeting in Stockholm and Kuala Lumpur. In addition, an Internet discussion on ISO 14000 and NGOs was begun at ECOLOGIA's site.

Output: ECOLOGIA and Ecoline provide consultations for stakeholders

The desk support varied from simple direct questions for information to more complex queries on approaches, strategies and methodologies towards environmental issues. The demands for support came in through e-mail, ordinary mail, phone/fax and direct communication during meetings, etc. As was mentioned above, during the project implementation the Ecoline website and its section devoted to environmental management (MC) attracted up to 60 visitors per day and the Glossary section ( http://www.14000.ru/glossary) attracted up to 40 visitors per day.

The number of queries from interested parties has been increasing, thus making this activity more and more important. The demand for information and advice on environmental issues showed that the project played an important role and that there is an increasing environmental interest and concern in the RF.

Generally the kind of information and advice provided can be categorized as:

  • pollution prevention, cleaner production, responsible care and other approaches used by the foreign companies (case studies);
  • the international EMS standards and those introduced by the RF Government;
  • results achieved by Russian industries implementing EMS principles;
  • the involvement of the general public and NGOs in the development of EMS and in the discussions on environmental labeling issues;
  • the existing Russian (regional) incentives schemes for industries-environmental leaders;
  • sample environmental policies, programs and reports;
  • Russian environmental legislative and technical documents and standards
The consultation of the Ecoline website, where project activities are publicized and which provides for the public discussion of the opportunities for the development of the public dialogue related to environmental management in the RF, continued to increase as well.

Ecoline continues providing consultations for various stakeholders in the RF via working meetings, short internships, phone, fax, Internet allowing therefore for the project sustainability and for wider promotion of EMS's in the country.

 

OUTCOME 4: TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS AND NGOS IN ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND DECISION-MAKING VIA THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN EMS PROMOTION AND IMPLEMENTATION.

Output: The general public and NGOs are reached in the most efficient and practical way.

The regional and federal workshops, 'help desk' activities, web pages and the other activities described in the sections above, helped to increase the awareness of non-governmental organisations, citizen activists and the general public in the use of EMS for environmentally sound decision-making.

In addition, responding to the needs of general public and some NGOs that were unfamiliar with EMS concepts, tools and opportunities, ECOLOGIA and Ecoline established set up a series of regional "working meeting" to provided additional information on EMSs. These working meetings discussed the information obtained during workshops and audits. These meetings helped to assess the results obtained by industries in the course of EMS implementation and to make them available in the most appropriate form for the key project stakeholders. In total, five working meetings (including follow on visits) were organised in Gus-Khrustalny, Tomsk, Ekaterinburg and twice in Chebocksary.

One of the most successful follow on visits/meetings was the one held in Chebocksary in July 2001. It consisted of a series of site visits, consultations and meetings. A meeting "Development and Implementation of Modern Instruments of Environmental Regulation in Chuvashia. Experience of Projects Supported by US Agency for International Development" held at the House of Government of Chuvashia attracted attention of stakeholders representing Government, industry, Academia, non-governmental organizations.

In Tomsk, the establishment of a new Non-Governmental Training Centre for Environmental Management was announced in October 2001. The initial financial support was provided by DFID (UK). The Centre will serve the needs of West Siberia and provide for awareness raising, special training as well as professional advice in the sphere of Environmental Management Systems and Environmental Auditing. IREX/SPAN regional project leader Mrs. Vera Bareisha has become the Director of the Centre. According to Tomsk Committee for Environmental Protection, the impact of the current IREX/SPAN project on the decision-making process in the region was one of the factors that led to the formation of the Centre.

A significant impediment to successful citizen participation in EMS decision making was the lack of a common understanding of the terms used in developing and EMS. The necessity to harmonise EMS terminology was pointed out during the project events many times. Therefore, Ecoline experts considered it to be very important to make the best use of their practical knowledge as well as of the ability to fully understand English and to take a leadership role in developing a Russian-English Glossary of EMS terms. Finally, after a five years of work (started by Ecoline ROLL project and a joint ECOLOGIA/Ecoline AED/USAID ISO 14000 training course) the terminology and approaches suggested by Ecoline have been embodied in a document prepared in co-operation with the RF authorities and professionals.

The Glossary contains 103 terms embracing Environmental Management System structure and components, Environmental Management System Auditing, Environmental Labelling, Environmental Performance Evaluation, and Life Cycle Assessment. A set of practical examples and explanations is included in the Glossary to provide for better understanding of the most complicated terms and definitions.

 

OUTCOME 5: TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PREPARATION OF NATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON EMS (TRANSLATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS INTO NATIONAL AND REGIONAL POLICY) AND TO PRESENT PROJECT CASE STUDIES AND PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL FORUMS.

Outputs: ECOLOGIA and Ecoline provide recommendations on environmental management systems to be used by enterprise managers as national guidelines

The RF environmental institutional framework was significantly changed in the summer of 2000. The Putin government decided to decentralise environmental decision making. The Putin Government reorganised and cut back staffing for Federal Agencies and gave more authority to Regional Environmental Agencies. Based on these circumstances, Ecoline and ECOLOGIA decided to focus their efforts at the regional level while seeking opportunities to contribute towards EMS related policies prepared by the RF Organisation for Standardisation and CPPI for the RF Ministry for Economic Development and Trade. This co-operation and focus provided for increased project impact on the regional and national EMS policy and helped ECOLOGIA/Ecoline to further improve its position in the RF community of professionals involved in the development and implementation of ISO standards.

In regard to Regional policy, the most impressive results were achieved in the Tomsk region where environmental authorities participating in the project made a decision to allow some regulatory relief if an industry had an effective EMS. A new, more flexible approach to environmental enforcement was introduced by the regional Committee for Environmental Protection taking into full consideration the recommendations and consultations with Ecoline and other organisations providing support to EMS oriented projects in the region.

Elements of the approach explored in the Tomsk region are present in all regions of the RF. But awareness raising, information dissemination, methodological support and replication of lessons learnt penetrate through out Tomsk because of the active support of the Committee and its partners. This makes Tomsk different from many other regions where traditional regulatory control measures dominate. The Tomsk experience was actively discussed during the project workshops and received a full support of the participants at the final Conference. More over, it was reflected in policy suggestions prepared for the Ministry for Economic Development and Trade in the course of the development of the National Concept of Integrated Support for Implementation of the EMS at the Russian Enterprises.

At the national level, Ecoline contributed towards the development of the draft National Concept of Integrated Support for Implementation of the EMS at the Russian Enterprises and of the draft System of Voluntary Certification of the EMS. Both documents were prepared jointly with the representatives of RF Organisation for Standardisation and Centre for Projects preparation and Implementation (CPPI).

The new System of Voluntary Certification of the EMS is presented in Diagram 1.

Diagram 1. System of Voluntary Certification of the EMS
[NA]

One of the special features of the System is its Public Consultative Body, which is made up of interested NGOs, associations of entrepreneurs, etc. It is important also to mention that the recently established Tomsk Non-Governmental Training Centre for Environmental Management will become one of the nuclei of the new System of Voluntary Certification of the EMS thus providing not only for the regional but also for the national policy impact of the project.

The project also had a significant influence on the policy positions that the RF took at International meetings. The RF Organisation for Standardisation voted for the formation of a special NGO Task Group participating in the development and discussion of International Standards on Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14000) at the International Organisation for Standardisation TC 207 Committee. This position was based on consultations with Ecoline and on the positive results of the current project. Thus, for the first time Russia supported NGO involvement in the TC 207 standards development process. This was a significant positive change in national policy.

Output: ECOLOGIA & Ecoline present information on EMS implementation in RF at appropriate international forums on EMS

ECOLOGIA/Ecoline have been evaluating project outputs and presenting them to the national and international environmental communities. All the important findings, successful or problematic case studies were analyzed and presented for the international environmental community via ECOLOGIA/Ecoline participation in international meetings (including ISO meetings in Stockholm in 2000 and in Kuala Lumpur in 2001), conferences, via publishing articles, essays in Russian and English.

The list of meetings at which the project findings and results have been discussed are presented below:

Date Event Comments
04/2000 Moscow (international) workshop Jointly with Lund University (Sweden) Ecoline conducted an international workshop "EMAS Eastwards" where project findings were presented and project participants were present. Papers describing project activities in target regions were presented by Ecoline partners.
04/2000 Moscow (Federal) workshop Ecoline trained representatives of construction industries in EMS principles using the project findings as case studies
05/2000 Moscow (Federal) conference Ecoline presented a paper "Environmental management of industries influencing protected landscapes" at the meeting of the Centre for Wildlife Protection.
06/2000 St-Petersburg (international) workshop Ecoline presented a paper devoted to the opportunities of EMS development at the workshop "Environmental management in the wood processing sector of the North-West region"
06/2000 Stockholm (Sweden), TC 207 meeting ECOLOGIA/Ecoline presented a paper devoted to the opportunities and necessities of the development if a new ISO 14000 standard on external environmental communications (based on the project findings)
07/2000 Moscow (international) Conference Ecoline, "Meschera" and "The Plescheyevo Lake" National Park team presented two joint papers at WWF Conference "Integration of protected landscapes into regional economic structure"
10/2000 Moscow (international) Congress Ecoline presented a paper at the International Congress "Chemical Education and Sustainable Development"
10/2000 Moscow (federal) training course Ecoline conducted a USAID sponsored training course (AED Programme) on Integrated management Systems
11/2000 Moscow (international) Conference Ecoline presented a paper "Environmental awareness raising and development of protected landscapes" at the International conference 'Strategy of environmental education and awareness raising in 21 century', 2000.
01/2001 Saint-Petersburg (regional) workshop Ecoline experts are involved in training representatives of Leningrad region NGOs, educational establishments, industries, etc. in environmental management and auditing.
04/2001 Moscow (international) Conference Ecoline presented IREX/SPAN project results at the International Conference "Quality and Environmental Management Systems". The report presented using Ecoline website desk service attracts interested of various parties.
05-06/2001 Tomsk, Tumen (Siberia) Jointly with Calgary University experts (Canada) Ecoline run Canadian-Russian workshops "Building good business-community relationships". IREX/SPAN project findings are used as case studies.
05/2001 Lund (Sweden), International Round Table IREX/SPAN project findings are presented at the International Round Table devoted to Cleaner Production and EMS Implementation.
05/2001 Moscow (federal) Conference Ecoline presented practical results of the project at the Conference "Environmental Protection in Industrial Sector".
07/2001 Tomsk (regional) training course Ecoline conducted a training course of Environmental Management Systems and Environmental Auditing for representatives of interested parties from Tomsk, Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions (USAID funded).
07/2001 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (International) ECOLOGIA and Ecoline jointly conducted a workshop devoted to the experience of EMS implementation in countries in transition within ISO/TC/207 annual meeting
09/2001 Moscow (federal) Conference Jointly with D .Mendeleyev University Ecoline experts conducted a workshop on environmental safety (within the International Conference of Engineering Societies).
09/2001 Oriol (regional) workshop Jointly with MISBIS Ecoline experts conducted a workshop on Environmental Performance Evaluation for stakeholders of the Oriol region (DFID UK funded). IREX/SPAN project findings are used for practical exercises.
10/2001 Moscow (federal) Conference Ecoline presented results of the SPAN project at the conference "Standards and Environment" held by Russian Organisation for Standardisation.
11.2001 Moscow (federal) Conference Ecoline presented results of SPAN project at the conference held by the Ministry for Nuclear Energy of Russia.

[1] Colleagues from the US and Canada could not join the Conference due to horrible events of the 11th of September that prevented them from traveling while materials provided by them were presented and commented by T. Guseva (Ecoline) and E. Pashkov (Gosstandart).
 
 
Table of contents
Section 3: Lessons Learned