Environmental analysis: rating and prioritization of environmental risks

Reflecting a voluntary commitment and genuine involvement on the part of management, the implementation of an environmental management system (EMS) requires prior analysis of the organization's impact on the environment.

The environmental analysis is a key stage in the implementation of a management system of this type, as it is the key to the success of any approach to environmental protection. Its aim is to refine the environmental policy and feed into the environmental management program.

To do this, the organization will carry out an inventory that will enable it to identify its environmental issues and challenges through an analysis of its environmental risks, known as "environmental impacts".

This precise, meticulous diagnosis should enable us to assess the impacts as accurately as possible, and to define a program of action aimed at preventing pollution and protecting the environment.

Subsequently, the organization must regularly update this analysis in line with changes and modifications to its products, activities and services, so that it is representative of its impact on the environment.

To carry out this environmental analysis, the organization, whether a company or a local authority, must identify :

• applicable legal and regulatory requirements;

• the most significant environmental aspects and impacts of its existing practices;

• any incidents or accidents.

In particular, the "identification of environmental aspects and impacts" section requires the provision of relevant tools and methods adapted to each organization.

Given this observation, what is the normative framework for identifying environmental aspects and impacts? What methodology can be used to carry out the analysis?