Hello friends!
To build on our understanding of IEM, we can lean into Cairns’ (1991) definition of “coordinated control, direction, or influence of all human activities in a defined environmental system to achieve and balance the broadest possible range of short and long term objectives”. He then goes on further to explain that IEM is not fragmented decision-making and does not prefer short-term or single-focused goals.
So far we have discussed the theory behind the application of IEM. In reality, IEM is not always easily implemented. Barriers can hinder the planning and implementation of environmental projects. Today, we will focus on Cairns’ (1991) Barriers to Integrated Environmental Management. A brief summary of the 24 barriers he identified are as follows
- Institutions of higher education are primarily reductionist
- IEM requires time and money resources
- Organisations withhold information from each other – turf battles run rampant
- Risk of job security
- Many are unwilling to compromise
- Short-term profits are enticing
- Lack of consideration for future generations
- Complexity of IEM
- Outcome uncertainty
- Developing countries aspire to the lifestyles of developed countries
- Resistance to lifestyle changes by society
- Specialists working in silos
- Fears the general public does not have the same value system
- The present use of a resource is considered a right
- Society is structured toward growth
- Change is only accepted in a crisis
- Fear management authority will be abused
- Fear of peer criticism of oversimplification
- The belief that systems are too complex for prescriptive legislation
- People disconnect when faced with complex issues
- Inadequate technical information
- Difficulty determining credible evidence
- Inadequate IEM professionals
- Current political processes orient toward polarized issues over IEM
The barriers above can be classified as capacity or resource-based, societal attitudes, economic factors, political processes and institutional arrangements. It is important to be aware of barriers and how they can affect the implementation of IEM so plans can be created to mitigate effects.
References
Cairns, Jr, J. (1991). The Need for Integrated Environmental Systems Management. In J. Cairns, Jr & T. V. Crawford (Eds), Integrated Environmental Management (pp. 5-20). Chelsea, Michigan: Lewis Publishers.