SocEnv - Background
SocEnv - Background
IAgrE is a founding constituent body of the Society for the Environment (SocEnv). Through its relationship with SocEnv, IAgrE is able to offer the award of the Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) qualification to suitably qualified and/or experienced members of IAgrE.
By working in synergy with other like-minded professional bodies, IAgrE can demonstrate to wider society a very important virtue in sustainable development - co-operation and teamwork.
New organisations are joining SocEnv all the time. The current details of the constitutent bodies of SocEnv can be seen here.
Some information of how SocEnv has developed since its formation and how it sees itself evolving is given below.
Society for the Environment (SocEnv )
Prospectus for the Society for the Environment
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Society for the Environment is an independent umbrella body for
environmental professionals. At the outset, SocEnv was made up
of nine professional bodies and learned societies involved in the
environmental sector, representing approximately 30,000 environmental
practitioners drawn from a wide range of professions.
In line with the Society's culture of inclusivity, over time the Society intends to admit more member bodies. The work and identity of all the Society's member bodies will be maintained.
The Society developed out of a discussion group started in the early 1990's and was formally launched in October 2002. It is currently incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, and is incorporated by Royal Charter.
The Society has been formed to provide an internationally recognised professional qualification for environmental practitioners - Chartered Environmentalist. This is awarded by a process comparable to that which exists in other organisations awarding chartered status to individuals.
The Society aspires to be the leading and co-ordinating professional body in environmental matters and a pre-eminent champion of a sustainable environment. The Society will achieve this by nurturing and harnessing the combined resources, knowledge, expertise and achievements of the professional and learned bodies which are its members.
The Society is governed by a Board comprising two representatives from each of its member bodies. Member bodies are encouraged to nominate senior representatives of their organisations to act as Board members.
INTRODUCTION
Since the early 1990's, representatives from a number of professional
bodies with environmental interests have been meeting to discuss
matters of common interest and to exchange views and information.
The discussion group was known as the Forum For Environmental Professionals
(FEP).
The transition of this discussion group into a new umbrella body for environmental professionals was initiated by two past presidents of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, Professor Peter Matthews and the late Dr Geoff Mance, who proposed the need for such an umbrella body and for a new Chartered designation for environmental professionals. As a result, after a short initial period operating as an umbrella body known by the acronym CUBE, nine professional bodies with a shared aspiration to promote a sustainable environment came together to form an umbrella body called the "Society for the Environment".
The eight founder bodies (known as "Constituent Bodies") were:
Other professional bodies including the Institution of Professional Soil Scientists (IPSS) took part in the preliminary discussions to form the umbrella body and remain connected with the activities of the Society.
At the time of the award of its Royal Charter, SocEnv Constituent Bodies represented approximately 30,000 environmental practitioners drawn from a wide range of professions, each with a track record of pre-eminence in its particular field and of particular achievements. This number has grown substantially with the addition of new Constituent Bodies. This is a substantial and diverse group of people who in their working lives confront a full range of environmental issues.
The Society has been formed to provide an internationally recognised professional qualification for environmental practitioners, the Chartered Environmentalist qualification (see below under the heading "The Chartered Environmentalist Qualification"). More generally, the Society aims to add to the skills of environmental practitioners, thereby enabling them to contribute more effectively to the promotion of a sustainable environment. In time, the Society will also provide an independent and unbiased forum for debate, creating the opportunity for environmental practitioners to speak with one voice on environmental issues.
The Society was launched at the 'Environment UK' conference at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry, in October 2002. In announcing the initiative Baroness Barbara Young, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, described it as, "the start of something big… [which] could make a significant contribution to regulating standards for the environmental profession".
The Society is formally incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 as a company limited by guarantee on 13 February 2003 with Registered Company Number 4665882. In 2004, the Society was successful in seeking recognition of its particular role in promoting good environmental practice by the granting of a Royal Charter of Incorporation.
THE SOCIETY'S
ROLE
The Society’s aspiration to be the leading and co-ordinating
professional body in environmental matters and a pre-eminent champion
of a sustainable environment is already coming to fruition. The Society
will continue to maintain this by nurturing and harnessing the combined
resources, knowledge, expertise and achievements of the professional
and learned bodies which are its members.
The Society will foster a culture of inclusivity: the identity of our Constituent Bodies will be maintained and their primacy as the centres of excellence within their fields recognised and enhanced. In addition, the Society will ensure that each individual member of each Constituent Body feels engaged with the Society, whether or not he or she aspires to be a Chartered Environmentalist.
So what is a sustainable environment? Most of us know instinctively what we mean by sustainability, or rather a society which lives by sustainable means. But it is proving difficult to be precise in how this ideal state should be achieved. Sustainable Development is the means by which we will achieve this goal, but the pace and style of that development is very much a function of the will and commitment of society and, in particular, organisations and individuals within society. It is about striving for a way of life which has low impact but not low output.
Sustainable development has three interlocking components - the environmental, social and economic. The Society is concerned primarily with the environmental component, which includes the effective protection of the environment and the prudent and efficient use of natural resources. The Society aims to promote a sustainable environment by building sustainability learning into the professional development programmes of its Constituent Bodies. This will add value to the skills of the individual members of the Constituent Bodies, so that they will be able to contribute more effectively to the development and maintenance of sustainable communities.
Specifically, the Society will license Constituent Bodies to accredit their individual members with the new qualification of Chartered Environmentalist. This qualification will be awarded by a process comparable to that which exists in other organisations awarding chartered status to individuals (see below under the heading "The Chartered Environmentalist Qualification"). Further, in time, the Society will also provide an independent and unbiased forum for debate, creating the opportunity for environmental practitioners to speak with one voice on environmental issues. Because of the inclusive nature of the Society, where there is no consensus, the Society will publish a range of views.
The Society will add value to the work of the Constituent Bodies by creating the opportunity for them to work together as a team, thus demonstrating one of the most important values of sustainable development - co-operation. The Society believes that individual members of Constituent Bodies will be empowered by this arrangement and by the Chartered Environmentalist qualification.
THE SOCIETY'S
MEMBERS
Constituent Bodies
The membership of the Society
is constantly growing. Click here to
see which are the current Constituent Bodies of SocEnv. Over time, the
Society intends to admit more Constituent Bodies. Indeed, several substantial
professional bodies have indicated an interest in becoming Constituent
Bodies in the immediate future. The Society intends all Constituent Bodies
to seek to become licensed to accredit their individual members with
the new qualification of Chartered Environmentalist.
Associate Bodies
The Society also admist into membership other organisations sympathetic
to the aims of the Society but who do not meet the criteria for membership
as a Constituent Body. These organisations will be variously known
as "Associate Bodies" or “Affiliates” depending
on their organisation type. The Institute of Professional Soil Scientists
for example is an Associate Constituent Body.
Unlike Constituent Bodies, Associate and Affiliate organisations are not eligible to be licensed to offer Chartered Environmentalist status.
THE CHARTERED
ENVIRONMENTALIST QUALIFICATION
Only full voting members of licensed Constituent Bodies are eligible
to be awarded the Chartered Environmentalist qualification. The Chartered
Environmentalist qualification is not conferred automatically
or easily and candidates are required to do something in addition to
their Constituent Body membership. The qualification is awarded by
a process comparable to that which exists in other organisations awarding
chartered status to individuals. The criteria are based on knowledge
of, competencies in and engagement with good environmental practice,
including the promotion of a sustainable environment. Also, candidates
are required to agree to comply with a code of practice.
A two-stage approach to qualification has been adopted.
First, a candidate will
have to pre-qualify with appropriate learning in the work of the
Constituent Body to which that individual belongs; that learning
will be a mixture of knowledge (possibly including academic study)
and competence (experience in a chosen environmental discipline).
Second, the candidate must demonstrate through a Professional Review
Interview that he is actively engaged in good environmental practice,
including the promotion of a sustainable environment.
Pre-qualification Requirements
Requirements
for the professional review
The candidate must:
The professional review requirements have been framed widely. This should ensure that many other membership-based institutions are able to relate them to their own particular discipline or field of expertise. The challenges of good environmental practice require the combined talents of many different types of practitioners and it is the intention of the Society to offer recognition and guidance on continuing professional development to the widest possible range of people.
MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION
Board
The Board has a policy and
scrutiny role. It is intended that the Board will meet at least three
times a year. Each Constituent Body is entitled to nominate two individuals
to act as Board members. Board meetings are chaired by the elected Chair
of the Society.
Management Committee
A Management Committee will be responsible for making proposals to the Board concerning the day-to-day management of the Society, including finance and resources, environmental policy, public relations and communications. It is intended that the Management Committee will meet at least once a quarter. It is proposed that the Management Committee be made up entirely of members of the Constituent Bodies.
Secretariat.
A small but efficient Secretariat runs the day to day affairs of SocEnv.
Registration
Authority
A Registration Authority is responsible for issues relating to the
grant of the Chartered Environmentalist qualification. The Registration
Authority meets at least once a quarter. The Registration Authority
be predominantly made up of members of the Constituent Bodies.
General Meetings
The Society will hold an annual general meeting once a year to approve
its annual report and accounts and to transact any other relevant
business. Extraordinary general meetings will be held as and when
required.
Each Constituent Body is entitled to nominate two individuals to act as its representatives at general meetings. However, a Constituent Body may only vote by one of its representatives in general meetings. In contrast, although each Associate Body is also entitled to nominate two individuals to act as its representatives at general meetings, such representatives will not be entitled to vote at such meetings. General meetings will be chaired by the elected Chair of the Society.
FINANCE
The Society was funded initially by contributions from each of the
Constituent Bodies. Since 2003, the Society has also been funded
by the annual fees payable by Constituent Bodies and CEnv registration
fees.
THE SOCIETY'S
EDUCATIONAL ROLE
With the increasing importance of high standards of environmental practice
demanded by the public, emphasised in such world wide conferences as
the Rio Earth Summit and Johannesburg 2002, the education of all those
working in the environmental sector will continue to grow in importance.
The Society aims to add to the skills of environmental practitioners,
thereby enabling them to contribute more effectively to the promotion
of a sustainable environment. As a result, the Society believes there
is a link between providing education and training for environmental
practitioners and creating a benefit for the public at large.
Training
All the Constituent Bodies play an important role in the education
and vocational training of their individual members. Some have
their own qualification courses, and many encourage, support, and
accredit courses at first degree and higher degree levels at Universities
and other Colleges of Higher Education. The Society will encourage
the development of academic courses of the highest quality covering
a range of environmentally based subjects. Completing certain of
these courses will enable candidates to satisfy the academic requirements
for the award of the Chartered Environmentalist qualification.
Continuing Professional
Development
All environmental practitioners need to keep themselves up to date
in their knowledge and understanding both of their own specific area
of expertise and of wider environmental matters. All Chartered Environmentalists
are required to complete a programme of continuing professional development
through their Constituent Bodies. Such programmes require Chartered
Environmentalists to satisfy a minimum requirement for continuing professional
development activity.
The Society will assist the Constituent Bodies to provide the necessary content for such programmes. Should a Chartered Environmentalist fail to complete such a programme, he or she may be subject to a disciplinary procedure which may ultimately lead to the Chartered Environmentalist qualification being withdrawn.
DEALINGS WITH
GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS
The Society will create the opportunity for environmental practitioners
to speak with one voice on environmental issues. It will act as the
principal focal point for Constituent Bodies when dealing with external
organisations where a collective response is required. This does not,
however, prevent Constituent Bodies expressing their own views. The
Management Committee is responsible for the Society's through an External
Affairs Committee. This will ensure that the process of handling external
affairs is not haphazard but structured.
The environment and how it is managed is a recurring issue for politicians in the United Kingdom, in the European Community, and in other parts of the world. The Society is committed to providing factual information including relevant advice and assistance to all politicians and political parties with regard to the promotion and advancement of good environmental practice, to safeguard the environment and maintain and enhance public confidence. Such advice and information will include acting as a consultee on draft documentation emanating from government and other statutory bodies.
INTERNATIONAL
LINKS
In time, the Society aims to foster links with environmental bodies
based overseas, building upon the strong links that the Constituent
Bodies have with such organisations.
For further details of SocEnv, please visit the SocEnv website