Gain the vital skills and knowledge needed to make more informed decisions about environmental and sustainability initiatives by attending this IEMA Foundation Certificate course in environmental management.

This highly interactive 5-day course goes beyond traditional environmental compliance concepts to explore the bigger picture of environmental issues and how they present challenges to organisations worldwide. The expert tutor will lead delegates through workshops and case studies to allow practice of the tools and skills they will learn that they can apply in the workplace.

Course assessment for the IEMA Foundation Certificate is through continuous assessment and a 1-hour open-book multiple-choice exam.

This IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management course is designed for anyone who holds responsibilities for environmental improvements within the workplace. This includes:

  • those starting a career in environmental management
  • anyone already part of an environmental scheme within their business
  • anyone new to an environmental role and wanting to gain environmental and sustainability expertise
  • individuals seeking to become an Associate Member of IEMA (AIEMA)

Key topics covered on this course include:

  • reasons to become more sustainable
  • fundamentals of sustainability
  • principles of sustainable business and corporate governance
  • effective communication and collaboration
  • environmental principles
  • pollution and pollution control
  • introduction to policy, regulation and legislation
  • key environmental legislation
  • environmental tools and assessment
  • environmental management systems (including ISO 14001)
  • environmental auditing
  • impact assessment and other tools (EIA, SEA, life cycle assessment and foot printing)
  • data and reporting (carbon accounting, sustainability reporting and measuring environmental performance)
  • PESTLE framework
  • improving sustainability performance
  • IEMA codes of practice

  • Day 1
    • WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
    • Session 1 Why do we need to become more sustainable?
    • Exercise 1 Global risks
    • Session 2 Environmental principles
    • Exercise 2 Preparing a presentation on the carbon cycle
    • CLOSE
    • Evening work: Reading and multiple-choice quiz
  • Day 2
    • Recap of Day 1
    • Session 3 Principles of sustainable organisations
    • Exercise 3 Your organisation and sustainability risks
    • Exercise 4 Applying the SDGs to your organisation
    • Exercise 5 Applying circular thinking to your organisation
    • Session 4 Pollution and pollution control
    • Exercise 6 Pollution and its control at a large construction site
    • CLOSE
    • Evening work: Reading and multiple-choice quiz
  • Day 3
    • Recap of Day 2 and review of quiz
    • Session 5 Introduction to policy, regulation and legislation
    • Exercise 7 Policy on food waste and hunger
    • Session 6 Key environmental legislation
    • Exercise 8 Conservation legislation
    • Session 7 Environmental tools and assessment
    • Exercise 9 Aspects and impacts
    • CLOSE
    • Evening work: Reading and multiple-choice quiz
  • Day 4
    • Recap of Day 3 and review of quiz
    • Session 7 (cont.) Environmental tools and assessment
    • Session 8 Data and reporting
    • Exercise 10 Environmental performance of a waste-to-energy plant
    • Session 9 Environmental management systems (EMS)
    • Exercise 11 Context assessment using PESTLE framework
    • Evening work: Reading and multiple-choice quiz
  • Day 5
    • Recap of Day 4 and review of quiz
    • Session 10 Environmental auditing
    • Exercise 12 Supply chain audit
    • Session 11 Improving sustainability performance
    • Exercise 13 Business case for sustainability
    • Exercise 14 Change management
    • Summary
    • CLOSE

Regular breaks are provided throughout the course.

Following the course delegates are required to complete the multiple-choice questionnaire via the IEMA online platform.

By the end of this IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management training course delegates will be able to:

  • support change and deliver direct improvements that contribute to their organisation’s environmental goals, while saving money and building a strong reputation for their business
  • understand sustainable business and governance principles
  • collect, analyse and evaluate data
  • research and plan to provide sustainable solutions
  • engage with stakeholders
  • support change and transformation to enhance sustainability
  • utilise tools and techniques that identify opportunities and risks

Delegates will receive an IEMA certificate and become an IEMA Associate Member, securing access to an extensive library of practical tools, guidance notes and updates to allow continuous progression.

IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management