New tools are the legal, management and leadership instruments used to move the environmental ball forward. No backsliding. Governments, NGOs, businesses and citizens can use the tools, not just environmental agencies. New tools includes environmental management systems, negotiated agreements, covenants, pacts, bubbles, market incentives, banking/offsets, recognition, challenge programs and information regulation. Old tools are regulations that are centrally mandated, uniform and focused on a pollutant or media such as air or water. They have been successful and will remain in use.
Tools may be bundled and blended to meet environmental, business or community needs. The first big challenge is to know how to start and use the tools to produce the best results. The next is convening the multiple parties needed to get the job done. The Academy can help sort tools and convene parties.
Policy education
The Education component of the Academy increases understanding of policies that underpin approaches to superior environmental performance and sustainability. It raises the general understanding and awareness level of the use of environmental management systems (EMS) and similar environmental policy tools. It also promotes and provides skills on best practices for the use of such tools within the realm of public policy, including topics such as stakeholder involvement, beyond-compliance programs, and public reporting issues. Academy education sessions employ various delivery methods using a group of curriculum developers and instructors retained to create, deliver, and evaluate the courses. Education sessions will also be developed to promote the use of standardized, comparable, and credible performance measures.
Capacity building
Building capacity increases the skills used in selecting and using tools to protect and restore the environment.
Open dialogue
Creating the space and community that allow the best to emerge from the combined efforts of parties that have common interests. Through dialogue forums among all interested stakeholders, the Academy identifies and works toward resolution of issues related to the use of EMS and similar tools in public policy. A primary aim of these dialogue activities is to establish and strengthen public/private collaborations for the common good. Discussion outcomes are captured in summary documents and are incorporated in the education arm of the Policy Academy.
Citizen involvement
The Academy equips citizens to engage constructively and work together. Sponsored and shared research
The Academy supports scholars who develop new theory and helps those in the trenches test theory for continuous improvement and breakthrough concepts. The Academy’s research function largely serves to support education and dialogue functions. The goal of Academy research is to study the best practices for using EMS and other environmental management tools in the public policy arena. Through such research, emerging public policy issues are identified for more in-depth discussion during organized dialogue sessions. One key focus of Academy research is to determine best practices for measuring EMS results. In addition, the Academy functions as a central point, or clearinghouse, for collecting existing and ongoing research findings from other organizations.
Advance best practices
The Policy Academy shares new tools and practices that measure up to the challenge of superior environmental performance, environmental restoration and sustainability.
