{"id":6,"date":"2024-04-04T01:50:52","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T22:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/22-2\/"},"modified":"2025-02-11T08:38:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T06:38:08","slug":"22-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/22-2\/","title":{"rendered":"2.2. Identifying environmental problems"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"intro2.2\" name=\"intro2.2\"><\/a>Environmental problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, it is essential to identify the environmental\/sustainability\u00a0<strong>problem<\/strong> the audit should be focusing on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"table table-hover\"><tbody><tr><td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" class=\"wp-image-114\" style=\"width: 80px;\" src=\"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/145\/test.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td>\n<h3>Thinking exercise<\/h3>\n<p>What are the biggest environmental problems\/challenges globally, in your region, in your country?\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"table table-hover\"><tbody><tr><td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" class=\"wp-image-262\" style=\"width: 80px;\" src=\"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/145\/raamat-2.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td><h3>Reading suggestion!<\/h3> <p><span style=\"background: white;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\">Read more about the environmental problems. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p> <ul><br><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"background: white;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\">Earth.org: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a data-url=\"https:\/\/earth.org\/the-biggest-environmental-problems-of-our-lifetime\/\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/earth.org\/the-biggest-environmental-problems-of-our-lifetime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 Biggest Environmental Problems Of 2025<\/a><\/li><br><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"background: white;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\">Deutche Welle: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a title=\"\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/five-of-the-worlds-biggest-environmental-problems\/a-35915705\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/five-of-the-worlds-biggest-environmental-problems\/a-35915705\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Five biggest environmental problems<\/span><\/a><\/li><br><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"\"><span style=\"color: rgb(86, 86, 86);\"><span style=\"background-color: white;\">UNEP. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unep.org\/resources\/global-foresight-report\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.unep.org\/resources\/global-foresight-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A global foresight report on planetary health and human wellbeing<\/a><\/span><\/li><br><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"background: white;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\">UN Environmental Programme: look at <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a title=\"\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.unep.org\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unep.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">UNEP &gt; <i>Where we work<\/i><\/span><\/a><span style=\"background: white;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\"> (environmental problems of regions)<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/li><br><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"background: white;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\">Statista: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a title=\"\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1136801\/opinion-environmental-issues-latin-america-country\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1136801\/opinion-environmental-issues-latin-america-country\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Latin America: perceptions on leading environmental issues 2020<\/span><\/a><\/li><br><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"background: white;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\">European Environmental Agency: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a title=\"\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.eea.europa.eu\/soer\/2020\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eea.europa.eu\/soer\/2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">The European environment \u2013 state and outlook 2020: knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe<\/span><\/a><\/li><br><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"background: white;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\">Johan Rockstrom <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a title=\"\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RgqtrlixYR4&amp;ab_channel=TED\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RgqtrlixYR4&amp;ab_channel=TED\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Let the environment guide our development<\/span><\/a><span style=\"background: white;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\"> (video; 18:41)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li><br><\/ul><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Auditors need to be aware of the main issues in the study area. Has the poor state of the environment caused problems (e.g. health problems, poor quality of drinking water, poor air quality, soil degradation, reduced biodiversity)? What are the major threats to the environment? Is the state fulfilling its national and international environmental commitments?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"study\" name=\"study\"><\/a>Preliminary\u00a0study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before commencing an environmental audit, a <strong>preliminary study<\/strong> is conducted in order to gain a better understanding of the nature and relevance of the issue. During the preliminary study, auditors need to understand the key threats to natural resources, their main causes and the risks these threats pose to economic development, social prosperity and the quality of the environment.<br>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"table table-hover\"><tbody><tr><td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/145\/puzzle2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" data-file_info=\"%7B%22fid%22:%2214835%22,%22view_mode%22:%22default%22,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D\"><\/td><td>\n<h3>Tip for an auditor<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 7.5pt;\"><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">During the preliminary study, an auditor may turn their attention to the following aspects:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Is (monitoring) data on the condition of the environment available?<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Are there standards for good environmental status?<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Have any of the standards been exceeded? Which ones? If no standards exist, are there any other indications of pollution?<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Is there any information about e.g. industrial or land development activity?<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Are there any strategic documents or laws regulating these activities? Are there any targets?<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%;\">Are the regulations being implemented?<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>A preliminary study is conducted when looking for an emerging issue to audit among environmental problems. If you have selected a topic to audit, it is necessary to continue preliminary study, asking more specific questions about stakeholders and relevant legal acts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"methods\" name=\"methods\"><\/a>Methods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Several <strong>methods<\/strong> can be used to search for problems. Listed below are sources of information that have often proven useful in the preliminary study phase:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the Internet, e.g. making searches with relevant keywords<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>media review, e.g. making a search in media channels, continuous media monitoring\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>studying documents from other institutions, e.g. sector reviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>participating in seminars and workshops and collecting materials\/presentations on relevant topics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>meetings with NGOs, interest groups (e.g. sectoral associations)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>studying international experience, e.g. looking for materials of UN, WHO, OECD, etc. in Europe \u2013 European Commission, European Environmental Agency, universities and think-tanks\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>interviews with auditees, stakeholders, etc., asking them for updated information, changes in regulations, conducted projects\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>area scanning and searching databases for papers and reports<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>analysis of major expenditure, e.g. the biggest environmental programmes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>review of previously conducted (including financial) audits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>public surveys, e.g. public polls on citizens\u2019 opinions towards environmental issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>organising focus groups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whistle blowing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"table table-hover\"><tbody><tr><td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" class=\"wp-image-114\" style=\"width: 80px;\" src=\"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/145\/test.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td>\n<h3>Thinking exercise<\/h3>\n<p>Have a\u00a0look on the European Commission report \u201c<a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/europa.eu\/eurobarometer\/surveys\/detail\/2257\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-url=\"https:\/\/europa.eu\/eurobarometer\/surveys\/detail\/2257\">Attitudes of European citizens towards the Environment<\/a>\u201d (2020) and country factsheets.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Can you find such polls in your country or region?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Polls as a research method can be used in audits as well. For example, to understand the behaviour and awareness of citizens in sorting waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"table table-hover\"><tbody><tr><td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/145\/puzzle2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" data-file_info=\"%7B%22fid%22:%2214835%22,%22view_mode%22:%22default%22,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D\"><\/td><td>\n<h3>Tip for an auditor<\/h3>\n<p>It is advisable to use materials from institutions with a good reputation. Not all sources from the Internet are suitable references.<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"stakeholders\" name=\"stakeholders\"><\/a>Stakeholder\u00a0mapping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During a preliminary study, auditors need to acquire a good understanding of all\u00a0<strong>stakeholders<\/strong> in the sector as well as their <strong>roles and responsibilities<\/strong>. Stakeholders include all institutions and other parties that have a role in the sector, either as a contributor or a beneficiary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, while auditing <strong>the use of fertilisers and their impact on the aquatic environment<\/strong> (groundwater or surface water), the following stakeholders might be involved (NB.<em>Responsibilities for regulating water protection can be distributed differently in different countries)<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ministry of the Environment \u2013 responsible for making regulations, setting environmental objectives related to aquatic environment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmental Agency \u2013 issuing environmental permits, responsible for protecting aquatic environment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmental Inspectorate \u2013 controlling activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ministry of Agriculture \u2013 responsible for making regulations, supporting agricultural production and sectoral development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Farmers and their sectoral organisations \u2013 interested in agricultural production<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Universities \u2013 research on status of aquatic environment and impact of fertilisers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmental NGOs\/ local communities \u2013 interested in good environmental status and clean living environment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all stakeholders and interest groups are auditees (e.g private sector), but<span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\">\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><span style=\"background: lime;\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%;\"><span style=\"color: #565656;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\">sometimes they are ready to pro-respond questions voluntarily in order to solve the problems or support the change in the sector.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Environmental problems First of all, it is essential to identify the environmental\/sustainability\u00a0problem the audit should be focusing on. Thinking exercise What are the biggest environmental problems\/challenges globally, in your region, in your country?\u00a0 Reading suggestion! Read more about the environmental &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":418,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions\/418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/env-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}