546-0401/08 – Environmental Management (EM)

Professional Knowledge: Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to explain and critically evaluate the principles of environmental management and its instruments, environmental management systems in accordance with relevant ISO standards and EMAS, the principles of environmental auditing, environmental performance evaluation and life cycle assessment, as well as the relationships between environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainable development. Professional Skills: The student will be able to analyse the environmental aspects and impacts of an organisation’s activities, identify relevant environmental management requirements, assess the organisation’s environmental performance, and propose and justify appropriate instruments and measures to improve its environmental performance. The student will critically evaluate the environmental and economic implications of proposed solutions. General Competences: The student will be able to independently and responsibly address complex environmental problems, work with professional, normative and legislative information, and critically assess its relevance. The student will be able to collaborate within an interdisciplinary team, professionally formulate, justify and defend proposed solutions, and take into account their environmental, economic and social implications.

The course focuses on the principles, methods and tools of environmental management in organisations and their application in the context of sustainable development. Attention is paid to environmental management systems according to relevant ISO standards and EMAS, environmental auditing, pollution prevention and cleaner production, the circular economy, life cycle assessment, environmental labelling and environmental performance evaluation. The course also addresses environmental reporting, environmental risk management, climate change, and legislative and voluntary environmental policy instruments and their application in organisational management. Professional Knowledge: The student explains and critically evaluates the principles, approaches and tools of environmental management and their importance for organisational management. The student characterises environmental management systems according to relevant ISO standards and EMAS and explains the principles of their implementation, maintenance, auditing and continual improvement. The student characterises the principles of pollution prevention and cleaner production, the circular economy, life cycle assessment, environmental labelling and environmental performance evaluation. The student explains the principles of environmental reporting and environmental risk management and clarifies the interrelationships between individual instruments and their links to sustainable development and climate change. Professional Skills: The student analyses the environmental aspects, impacts and risks associated with an organisation’s activities and identifies relevant environmental management requirements. The student applies appropriate methods and tools to specific situations in organisational practice, evaluates the organisation’s environmental performance and identifies opportunities for improvement. The student compares alternative approaches and tools, assesses their benefits and limitations, and proposes and professionally justifies appropriate measures. The student evaluates the environmental and economic implications of proposed solutions and their applicability to organisational decision-making. General Competences: The student independently and responsibly addresses complex environmental management problems and integrates environmental, technical, economic, legal and social considerations into decision-making. The student critically evaluates professional, normative, legislative and data sources, including their relevance, currency and limitations, and professionally justifies the selected approach. The student clearly communicates and defends the results of analyses and proposed solutions and collaborates effectively within an interdisciplinary team. The student independently updates their professional knowledge and responds to developments in legal, normative and methodological requirements and environmental management tools.

SCHMIDT, W.-P. Solutions for Sustainability Challenges: Technical Sustainability Management and Life Cycle Thinking. Cham: Springer, 2024. ISBN 978-3-031-63623-3. ISO 14031. Environmental management — Environmental performance evaluation — Guidelines, current edition. ISO 14040; ISO 14044. Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Principles and framework; Requirements and guidelines, current editions.

active participation of students in seminars, discussion to the presented topics