Building a Sustainable Future:
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN PROJECTS

Before talking about Environmental Management in projects, which seeks to minimize the negative impacts associated with the inherent activities of the works, it is important to know what project management is and which are the stages that compose it. In this sense, project management is the process of planning, organizing, directing and controlling the resources and activities necessary to achieve the objectives, in time, cost and quality.

The first stage corresponds to the beginning, in which the objectives must be defined, the interested parties identified and a project manager assigned. Subsequently, in the planning stage, the scope of the project, the physical and human resources are established, and work plans are drawn up in order to be able to move on to the execution stage where all the resources for the development of the defined activities are integrated.

During the next stage, the progress of the project is monitored and controlled and, in case of deviations, corrective actions are proposed and/or implemented to channel and comply with the initially proposed objectives.

Finally, in the management phase, the closing is performed to verify that all project deliverables have been completed, that the objectives have been met, the information generated is consolidated and the administrative closure is performed.

Having clear the concept of project management, we can talk about environmental management, which develops each of the stages described above with a specific objective such as minimizing the associated environmental impacts, through the definition and development of actions to prevent, reduce, mitigate and compensate the possible negative environmental impacts identified, achieving a balance between project development and environmental protection, promoting sustainability and minimizing the negative effects on natural resources, biodiversity and the quality of life of the communities located within the area of execution of the works.

On the other hand, current environmental conditions and the large anthropic effects on the environment associated with economic growth require the implementation of sustainable practices during all stages of the projects being executed, including the efficient use of natural resources, the adoption of clean technologies, the proper management of waste generated and the implementation of renewable energies, which not only minimizes environmental impacts, but also brings long-term economic benefits for the organizations.

Finally, in addition to the timely reduction of environmental impacts related to the execution of projects, environmental management contributes significantly to the reduction of risks associated with climate change, through actions that allow us to address this challenge, such as:

• The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, through the implementation of clean technologies, energy efficiency, and sustainable transportation.

• Adaptation of communities to the impacts of climate change, through the identification of vulnerabilities and the implementation of actions related to water resource management, reforestation, protection of coastal ecosystems and sustainable urban planning.

• Educating and raising awareness about climate change, its implications, measures to reduce its carbon footprint, and how to contribute to mitigation and adaptation.

• Encourage collaboration and cooperation between different actors such as governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations and communities, in order to work together for the implementation of strategies and public policies that strengthen the response to climate change and reduce the associated risks.

In conclusion, environmental management in a project is fundamental to guarantee sustainability and minimize negative impacts on the environment, and at the same time contribute to the reduction of risks with respect to climate change, addressing both challenges in a comprehensive manner, in order to work towards a more sustainable future.

This text was written by Lina Jaramillo, SEDIC's environmental coordinator.