MEMORIAS 2007 21-10-07 .indd - Observatorio Ambiental de ...

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) IN THE UNU
Regional Centers of Expertise under the UN Decade of Education
for Sustainable Development
An RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal and informal education organisations, mobilised
to deliver education for sustainable development (ESD) to local and regional communities. A
network of RCEs worldwide will constitute the Global Learning Space for Sustainable Development.
RCEs aspire to achieve the goals of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
(DESD, 2005 - 014), by translating its global objectives into the context of the local communities
in which they operate.(UNU/IAS website: http://www.ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=108&dd
lID=183)
As of August 2007, 35 RCEs have been established in the various parts of the world. They are the
core of the activities promoting the UN Decade. All stakeholders such as schools, universities,
local governments, NGOs, museums, and private sectors are recognized as key role players in the
RCEs. Please visit the following website to learn how to apply for this status. http://www.ias.unu.
edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=108&ddlID=258
Kid’s ISO 14000 Programme
(http://www.artech.or.jp/english/kids/envedu/index.html)
Kids’ ISO 14000 Programme has been successfully developed by ArTech, a NGO based in Tokyo,
with support from UNU, ISO, UNEP, and UNESCO. This programme is very carefully designed to
encourage elementary school/junior high school students in many countries in different languages
to engage in learning environmental management systems. Some of the tricks to keep students
interested are to:
• provide workbooks for different levels from introductory to international levels which
guides students to carry out Plan-Do-Check-Action cycles on environment issues at
home and in the neighborhood;
• train instructors who review workbooks submitted by students with only positive responses
to their work;
• give certificates with the aforementioned UN agencies logos to students who successfully
completed a certain level of the educational programme.
This programme has been recognized as one of the first programmes under the UN Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development. Please visit the website, and contact the Artech to learn
more about this programme.
Environment management efforts at other universities
Chiba University in Japan (http://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/e/)
Chiba University (2,427 Staff and 14,646 Students in 2007) is one of the leading Japanese universities
proactive in adopting EMS with students involved and achieving a great result. The successful
implementation and positive impacts of the activities have been recognized by not only the
Japan’s Ministry of Environment but also ISO. http://www.iso.org/iso/en/iso9000-14000/ims/
pastissues/2006/jan_feb.html
UNIVERSIDAD DE CIENCIAS APLICADAS Y AMBIENTALES, U.D.C.A 23