Environmental Management
As the human population has grown and continues to grow humanity has had to face several hard truths. Resources are finite and the environment can be taxed to the point where it will no longer sustain life. While that has not happened yet, it is a possibility. An example of the result of sustained environmental mismanagement can be seen in the famine stricken areas of the African continent and in the areas surrounding the Rain Forests of South America. Governments and Corporations both large and small have seen the light, and now realize that a policy of sustainability is the best policy for both their company and the world. To this end they have created Environmental Management divisions which seek to plan and implement policies that reduce the overall impact on the surrounding environment and encourage practices that lead to long term sustainability. For those who have an abiding love for the environment and wish to see it protected, a career in Environmental Management is the perfect choice.
What exactly is Environmental Management?
Environmental Management is quite simply the management of humanity’s interaction with their surrounding environment. Buzzwords like “Eco Friendly and “Green Movement” are often associated with this practice, but that is inaccurate. The management of humanity’s effect on the environment is inherently selfish. It is not protecting the environment for the environment’s sake. The focus is on protecting the environment and ensuring that it will be there to be used by humanity’s future generations. Instead words like “carrying capacity” and “sustainability” should be used as descriptors.
The concepts of “carrying capacity” and “sustainability” have been around as long as humanity has walked the earth, but it was not until the 19th Century that economist Thomas Malthus formed what everyone already knew into a coherent theory. The earth can only produce so much and once that limit is reached and exceeded catastrophe occurs. While a typical environmental manager doe not subscribe to Thomas Malthus’ gloomier predictions, they do believe his theory has merit and endeavor to foster an environment that lends itself to maximizing carrying capacity and encouraging sustainable practices.
An Environmental Manager accomplishes these goals by working within the existing framework of the company or agency and seeking to create, implement, and monitor proactive environmentally friendly policies. These policies can be as simple as implementing the use of environmentally friendly light fixtures and recycling policies in a small company, or as complex as overhauling a multinational corporation’s waste disposal process.
Regardless of the size of the organization the role an environmental manager remains the same. The must follow the Plan, Do, Check, and Act model when it comes to implementing proactive environmental policies. The must first plan the policy the company is to implement. They must do the work of implementing the policy company wide. They must check to see if the desired result is being achieved and adjust the plan and procedures accordingly. They must act by interacting with those who are involved with the plan and soliciting feedback.
How does one become an environmental manager?
A career in environmental management can be very rewarding, but it normally requires years of study and an advanced degree. Those who wish to enter this field should pursue an undergraduate degree in environmental studies with either a minor in business management or at the least a concentration in management. There are many Universities, both traditional and online, that offer this program. The prospective student should choose a program that will fit their schedule and meet their needs. A University that has a strong track record of placing qualified students in intern positions with successful companies or agencies is a must.
As the prospective environmental manager approaches their graduation date they should begin to look for internships. The intern process is very important in a field such as environmental management. There is no substitute for field experience. An environmental manager is often faced with complex real world problems with no easy solution. Companies and agencies are looking for experienced candidates whose experience extends beyond the text book. State and Non Profit agencies are always on the lookout for eager young people to fill internship roles with their organizations. A soon to be graduate should look into the Department of Environmental Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, and the like for intern opportunities. Experience with any of these agencies will be a plus on any resume.
The field of environmental management has excellent growth potential as more and more companies realize the importance of sustainability and conservation. A would be environmental manager is setting themselves up for a rewarding and lucrative career where they will be required to meet diverse challenges on a daily basis. They will find themselves in a career where they can go home every night knowing that they made a positive impact on the world that day. There is no substitute for that feeling. Go online today and look up the right online college for you.
