Lack of financial support is one of the big problems to implement ISO 14000. The cost of training and documentation is too high. The cost of certification and audit is too high. In Hong Kong, many companies are SMEs with limited capital and relatively low profits. These companies look upon environmental friendly management is cost-prohibitive. Moreover, culture problem in business also making the step to going green become slow. The Lack of documented policies is concerning environmental concerns. An unwillingness of firms applies certification. Employees of firms are unable to understand the requirement of certification. It is an inability for firm to cope with the change. It is an inability for management to visualize the economic benefits and justify the market value of certification. That certification is view as “ another bill to pay”. That firms have a preference for investing in less restrictive activities that is leading to a more obvious on more immediate result in the area of environmental improvement. And, facing this big project, most are thinking that they are lack of support. The time span for obtaining ISO 14000 certification can be too long. The EMS documentation procedures are complicated and not user friendly.
Clearly, there are multiple problems or challenges business face with implementing IS0 14000. In a sense many of these relate to the issue of sunk costs, that is once the business is up and running the cost of implementing an EMS and then certifying it to ISO 14000 is very high. For this to be overcome the potential economics, social and competitive benefits of an EMS and ISO 14000 certification needs to be made apparent.
While we would like to shape ourselves as a leading city in the world, we have very little to exhibit in terms of the general quality of our environment but a few fragmented attractions. Moreover, in the view of shortcoming is largely due to the absence of a comprehensive environmental policy that provides a framework within which specific targets and actions can be formulated and carried forth. The quality of our environment has deteriorated rapidly that it is directly threatening the livelihood, economic activities and future sustainability of Hong Kong. It is therefore high time we should better manage and protect our environment, and bring a better quality of life, both for ourselves and our future generations.
After all, there are many of the Environmental Sound Technology decision we make today, whether in production, efficiency, transport, industry or agriculture, will be in use for the rest of the current and even the next generation.
The transfer of these technologies and practices happened all the time, primarily through trade. Then the role of the private sector is large in this process, but government play an important role in influencing the quality and quantity of technology transfer. The transfer of Environmental Sound Technologies including hardware and software, such as consulting services, technical and legal advice, training, etc., that result in a reduction of the growth of pollution.
In our view, we have three key challenges. First, creating an environment that attracts investment in projects involving green management and ISO 14000, and raising awareness of green management, then seeking investment opportunities involving companies “Going Green” that increase the capital of going green companies. Final, we will provide the updating and latest information and training to support the firms who going green and aware business to green.
In meeting these challenges, it is clear that a list of work we have to do. First, we will develop an information base for promoting the updating green technology. The world of environmental technologies and management methods is rapidly changing and one must change with it or to be left behind. Second, a Clean Technology Center will set up to providing the above information and provide industry workshops and training courses, which provide recommendation to business to make their policy to making decision and train technical staff and managers to incorporate environmental issues in decision making and ensure sustainability of this experience through knowledge management and by “training the trainer”. Third, establish the Public-Private Partnership. While there should be an appropriate level of Government spending in managing and protecting the environment, the government will more actively identify partners to help implement its environmental initiative. This will not only bring in the resources of the private sector to improve the environment, but also bring the home the message of the private sector’s responsibility to the environment. For example, manufactures could be vested with the responsibility of recycling used packaging materials in order to minimize waste. More, we know all users of a polluting service are also polluters. Hence, we will have financial and tax incentives for enhancing environmental performance in business such as installation of pollution control equipment. Higher charge for pollution such as increased trade effluent surcharges, landfill charging, carbon taxes, etc. can be considered to provide fund for these financial incentives. And Government will have green purchasing policy to promote the green industry, we will bulk purchase of environmental-friendly products and stationery. A regular Expo will provide to promote green technology and the recycling trade. More, Environmental education and awareness is the key of environmental conservation and protection. Then, Government will introduce the waste avoidance, minimization, reuse and recycling widely in all education levels, which then increase the public demand of consumers of green products.
From these actions, we know that companies will more interested to think and to implement the green business to improve their benefit, together with the health and livelihood of residents and workers in Hong Kong.