Creating an Environment for Environmental Technology
Ring-fencing Technology Development
- Laws and legislation: A number of global and local environmental problems that we currently face has led to the promulgation of a number of laws and legislation to mitigate and minimize these problems. These laws and legislations have either targeted technology issues directly (for example, pollution prevention technologies), or have created a situation that require new technologies to be developed (for example, the packaging law of Japan). All aspects of technology management has to therefore take cognizance of the relevant laws and legislation in their development and implementation.
- Management systems: A clear technology management system will have to look at various aspects of a technology’s ‘life-cycle’ from design and development to its use and disposal. This includes the monitoring and assessment of its impacts on the environment (including emissions and waste it generates).
- Information management: Management of technology information is also a very critical aspect of technology management as a whole. Providing the right information at the right level to the right person ensures that the best/right decision on technology choice can be taken. This technology information should be useful, easily accessible, trustworthy and current.
- Codes and standards: Emerging out of laws and legislation, management of technologies is also affected by a number of codes and standards. These codes and standards may be international in nature (particularly those driven by ISO), or may be national in nature (for example, Standardization Administration of China for P.R. China, and Bureau of Indian Standards for India). Codes/Standards cover a myriad of issues for technology, and help in making the development, manufacturing and supply of technologies and their products and services more efficient, safer and cleaner.
