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5 Leadership
5.1 Leadership and commitment
Top management shall demonstrate leadership and commitment with respect to the environmental management system by:
- taking accountability for the effectiveness of the environmental management system;
- ensuring that the environmental policy and environmental objectives are established and are compatible with the strategic direction and the context of the organization;
- ensuring the integration of the environmental management system requirements into the organization’s business processes;
- ensuring that the resources needed for the environmental management system are available;
- communicating the importance of effective environmental management and of conforming to the environmental management system requirements;
- ensuring that the environmental management system achieves its intended outcomes;
- directing and supporting persons to contribute to the effectiveness of the environmental management system;
- promoting continual improvement;
- supporting other relevant roles to demonstrate their leadership as it applies to their areas of
NOTE Reference to “business” in this document can be interpreted broadly to mean those activities that are core to the purpose(s) of the organization’s existence.
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5 Leadership
5.1 Leadership and commitment
Top management shall demonstrate leadership and commitment with respect to the environmental management system by:
- taking accountability for the effectiveness of the environmental management system;
- ensuring that the environmental policy and environmental objectives are established and are compatible with the strategic direction and the context of the organization;
- ensuring the integration of the environmental management system requirements into the organization’s business processes;
- ensuring that the resources needed for the environmental management system are available;
- communicating the importance of effective environmental management and of conforming to the environmental management system requirements;
- ensuring that the environmental management system achieves its intended outcomes;
- directing and supporting persons to contribute to the effectiveness of the environmental management system;
- promoting continual improvement;
- supporting other relevant management roles to demonstrate their leadership as it applies to their areas of responsibility.
NOTE Reference to “business” in this International Standard can be interpreted broadly to mean those activities that are core to the purposes of the organization’s existence.
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Clauses 5.1–5.3
5.1: Item (i) is broadened from “other relevant management roles” to “other relevant roles.” The note changes “this International Standard” to “this document” and “purposes” to “purpose(s).” Other requirements are substantively unchanged. |
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5.2 Environmental policy
Top management shall establish, implement and maintain an environmental policy within the defined scope of its environmental management system that:
- is appropriate to the purpose and context of the organization, including the nature, scale and environmental impacts of its activities, products and services;
- provides a framework for setting environmental objectives;
- includes a commitment to the protection of the environment, including prevention of pollution and other specific commitment(s) relevant to the context of the organization;
- includes a commitment to meet its compliance obligations;
- includes a commitment to continual improvement of the environmental management system to enhance environmental performance
NOTE Other specific commitment(s) to protect the environment can include: preservation or conservation of natural resources; sustainable resource use; climate change mitigation and adaptation; or protection of biodiversity and ecosystems
The environmental policy shall:
- be available as documented information;
- be communicated within the organization;
- be available to interested
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5.2 Environmental policy
Top management shall establish, implement and maintain an environmental policy that, within the defined scope of its environmental management system:
- is appropriate to the purpose and context of the organization, including the nature, scale and environmental impacts of its activities, products and services;
- provides a framework for setting environmental objectives;
- includes a commitment to the protection of the environment, including prevention of pollution and other specific commitment(s) relevant to the context of the organization;
- includes a commitment to fulfill its compliance obligations;
- includes a commitment to continual improvement of the environmental management system to enhance environmental performance.
NOTE Other specific commitment(s) to protect the environment can include sustainable resource use, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.
The environmental policy shall:
- be maintained as documented information;
- be communicated within the organization;
- be available to interested parties.
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5.2: Opening wording is reordered but keeps the same requirement. Item (d) changes the commitment from “fulfill” to “meet” compliance obligations. The note adds preservation or conservation of natural resources and changes the examples to a semicolon-separated list. The policy must now be “available as” documented information rather than “maintained as” documented information. Other requirements are unchanged.
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5.3 Roles, responsibilities and authorities
Top management shall ensure that the responsibilities and authorities for relevant roles are assigned and communicated within the organization.
Top management shall assign the responsibility and authority for:
- ensuring that the environmental management system conforms to the requirements of this document;
- reporting on the performance of the environmental management system, including environmental performance, to top management.
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5.3 Organizational roles, responsibilities and authorities
Top management shall ensure that the responsibilities and authorities for relevant roles are assigned
and communicated within the organization. Top management shall assign the responsibility and authority for:
- ensuring that the environmental management system conforms to the requirements of this International Standard;
- reporting on the performance of the environmental management system, including environmental performance, to top management.
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5.3: The title drops “Organizational.” Item (a) changes “this International Standard” to “this document.” Other responsibilities and authorities are substantively unchanged. |
