Environmental Management Services
Research and Policy Analysis
OEMG can conduct environmental research and policy analysis with experience across a range of topics including:
- Climate change policy
- Carbon and greenhouse emissions trading
- Renewable energy policy
- Emerging economies and technology
- Markets for environmental services
- Sustainability
Project Design and Management
OEMG can provide support for project design and management, drawing on strong corporate project management and business analysis skills, including:
- Business case development
- Project planning
- Project schedules and budgets
- Feasibility: analysis of alternative solutions
- Financial forecasting and reporting
- Vendor management
Community Engagement
OEMG understands the importance in engaging the community in a wide range of projects. We can assist with developing a plan for projects to engage the community, ranging from provision of information to a more collaborative community approach.
Environmental Management Projects
Projects undertaken by OEMG staff include:
Community Visioning
This project involved participation in the Transition Bellingen community group as well as acting as a facilitator of community visioning workshops. The results of these workshops form the basis for community action planning. The transition Initiative is a global movement encouraging sustainable communities and helping them respond to peak oil and climate change.
Climate Change & Renewable Energy Policy
This involved a review of climate change and renewable energy policy, analysing impacts on the expansion of the renewable energy industry in Australia. A comprehensive review of successful policies in the European Union was undertaken, followed by a series of Australian stakeholder interviews with industry, academia and a minor political party. Policies analysed included the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), the expanded Renewable Energy Target (RET), government grants and Feed-in Tariffs (FiT).
Markets for Environmental Services
This project involved research and analysis for FATE (Future of Australia's Threatened Ecosystems) in support of the Blue Mountains Western Edge Native Forestry project. Markets for environmental services were identified to provide income for landholders in order to encourage native revegetation. Markets included carbon trading, biodiversity banking and salinity credit trading.
Global Emissions Trading Analysis
This project involved analysis of the direction of global emissions trading. International agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto protocol were considered, versus the convergence of current and proposed national systems utilising the European Union - Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) as a starting point.
Improving Livelihoods with Energy: Sri Lanka
This was a small scale renewable energy case study applying the sustainable livelihoods framework for a small village in Sri Lanka based on experiences in the Hettikanda, Handunella and Dothaluoya communities. Appropriate technology selection was also considered in relation to the political, institutional, social and environmental context in which it would need to operate.
Mekong Forestry Project
This project involved a review of literature relating to forestry in the Mekong region, covering Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and China. A range of issues were considered including political instability, poverty and sustainable livelihoods. Recommendations were made for sustainable forest management including community forestry, capacity building, eco-tourism and improved government facilitation.
MIC Sand Dunes Environmental Impact Assessment, Doha Qatar
Scientific services were provided to assess and report on the environmental impacts associated with the removal of sand dunes at Massieed Industrial city. Additionally, presentations were made to assist in approvals to Massieed Industrial City management and the Supreme Council for the Environment. Key aspects of the study included coastal processes, dune dynamics, traffic and transport, air quality, marine and terrestrial ecology, noise and vibration and the construction environmental management plan.
Environmental Flows Baseline Study
Technical assistance was provided for macro-invertebrate sampling in Sydney Water catchments. Responsibilities included scientific sampling of invertebrates using 63 micron sieves, water quality testing, invertebrate sorting, flora survey, navigation to remote sites using 1:25,000 topographic maps and remote area four wheel driving.
Queanbeyan City Council Sewage Upgrade
Project management and technical assistance was provided to complete a Review of Environmental Factors (REF). This project involved liasing with the council and engineers for the production of the required REF.