Over 5000 chartered environmentalists have been registered by the Society for the Environment in the 5 years since it received its royal charter, including a significant number of civil engineers. Outgoing chairman Tim Boldero provides an update on one of the UK's fastest-growing professions.
The Society for the Environment (SocEnv) was conceived over 10 years ago and, just 5 years later, secured its royal charter in 2004. The charter enabled it to register applicants assessed by its licensed bodies as chartered environmentalists (CEnv) – the highest level of professional qualification available to environmental practitioners.
There are currently 23 constituent bodies, of which the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is a founding member institution and thus one of the first to become licensed to award the CEnv qualification.
The qualification has since gained momentum with over 5000 CEnvs registered in the last 5 years. A fifth represent the engineering and built environment sector, including around 420 civil engineers. It is important to note that this growth is largely organic and without too much marketing effort.
Making a difference
The main drivers associated with joining are the strength of SocEnv's values, and the commitment of its constituent bodies to believe collectively they can make a difference in the world generally. the objectives of the society may be ambitious, but they are increasingly seen as being of their time.
The early years have been spent creating a regulatory regime to ensure the CEnv standard is robust and credible. More recently, two strategic reviews by the SocEnv board confirmed that having a regulatory regime was only relevant if the organisation could also help delver outputs into society generally.
Such outputs would either be complementary to current thinking or, where necessary, reflect the diversity of opinion over what the environmental challenges are and what the most probable solutions might be.
In both cases, SocEnv expects that its outputs will be complementary to the thinking within a particular discipline, but will also challenge conventions. The environmental challenges facing the world are unique and solutions will of necessity require innovation.
Embracing all disciplines
Where does innovation occur and how does it attract an audience of sufficient merit to flourish? Those are the challenges for all environmental professionals, both now and in the future. All environmental disciplines will have a part to play and collectively they will have to address what they do, how they do it and at what long-term costs to the environment.
The role of the professional institutions is becoming increasingly important; harnessing the wisdom of professionals and encouraging practitioners within their sector to apply their skills and expertise to meeting the environmental challenges now faced.
Obviously many other chartered organisations have the benefit of a significant history to demonstrate the competence and commitment of their members. SocEnv, in comparison, is still in its infancy. However, with so much media coverage of environmental issues, there could not be a better time to become engaged and make a difference through robust debate and knowledge exchange across the disciplines – which SocEnv exists to promote.
Over 5000 chartered environmentalist are now registered by the Society for the Environment, including 420 civil engineers
Over 5000 chartered environmentalist are now registered by the Society for the Environment, including 420 civil engineers
Online directory of expertise
Later in 2009 SocEnv plans to launch an online directory of chartered environmentalists and is encouraging all CEnvs to sign up for free inclusion. The tool will provide a comprehensive source of environmental expertise and be available for employers, policy makers and the public to search for environmental professionals across the array of environmental specialist areas and disciplines.
In the meantime, I wish John Gregory, who took over as chairman in June 2009, the best for the future.
ICE members who would like to know more should contact the ICE membership department or visit the society's website at www.socenv.org.uk.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, Kerry Geldart, TEL 0845 337 2951, EMAIL kerry.geldart@socenv.org.uk, WEB www.socenv.org.uk
