What is Integrated Environmental Management?

When we hear the word of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM), it seems to be an ideal sophisticated theoretical matter that may be success among scholars but not for implementer. We may think that the environment is supposed to be managed as an integral system. Due to the increasing of environmental problems in the world, then we think that may be the environment has not been treated as it is supposed to do.

Now we are asking what should we do then? May be IEM can provide the answer to our common problem in environmental arena. Before we go further, we should understand the definition of IEM clearly in order to avoid another problem. Understanding the basic concept of IEM will help us to deal with complicated system of environment. Some definitions which have been provided in this course are as follow:

Buhrs (2009) stated environmental integration as "... human need to add an environmental part or dimension to their knowledge and awareness, actions and behaviour, and the social institutions by which they are guided."

This definition gives a view that it is the human that require an environmental integration as an essential part in their life which we can consider as environmental awareness. It means that environmental integration should be realized as a unity with our body and mind which will guide us how to act to the environment surround us. This environmental awareness requires environmental consideration in every single step of our behavior as a human which may affect the environment positively or negatively. Thus, thinking of environmentally friendly before you do something!

In addition, before the above concept, Buhrs (1995) had defined IEM as "... an approach to the management of the environment that takes into account its complex, multi-facetted, and interconnected nature."

Buhrs had another view about IEM which he mentioned that "every-thing is connected to everything else". In other words, IEM refers to a holistic approach of action in regards with environmental management. This is also associated to the previous definition of IEM which emphasizes on environmental awareness which may lead to comprehensive environmental behaviour or action. The next video from an environmental NGO illustrates how we're connected to each other in this one world.

                                                       Courtesy of WWF International

Another definition from Cairns and Crawford (1991) is that IEM is "...coordinated control, direction, or influence of all human activities in a defined environmental system to achieve and balance the broadest possible range of short- and long-term objectives." 

The authors describe IEM as an organized method which encompasses all ecological system and human actions for sustainable purposes. It emphasizes sustainability of the environment which should inspire human in every single action.

Those three definitions have common thing that IEM is a comprehensive and interrelated concept. That is, IEM can be defined as a universal and interdisciplinary approach of environmental protection to support triple bottom line (social, economy, and environment) components in a sustainable way. 

We can assume that IEM is the soul to human body, so that if the soul is the main source of human's life so that IEM must be our soul. This soul may lead us to act in a way that always consider the best for the environment. We may avoid actions that is harmful to the environment, because we realize the interconnected cause and effect of actions to the environment will be back to us. Otherwise we may destroy the environment if we don't have IEM as our soul, we even can be considered as if we die. Therefore, if everyone acts based on IEM, so that all effort on creating better environment will be integrated as a holistic system which may lead to a better world.

References

Buhrs, T. (1995). Integrated Environmental Management: Towards a Framework for Application. In ERST 633 Resource Book. Unpublished paper, Environmental Management and Design Division, Lincoln University.

Buhrs, T. (2009). Chapter 1. In Buhrs, T. (2009) Environmental Integration: Our Common Challenge. (pp 7-39). Albany: SUNY Press

Cairns Jr., J. (1991). Chapter 2: The Need for Integrated Environmental Systems Management. In J. Cairns Jr. & T. V. Crawford (Eds.), Integrated Environmental Management (pp. 5-20). Michigan: Lewis Publisher.

WWF International. 2009. Video retrieved on 19 September 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjGe-_OYWQQ