The organization has a process for identifying internal and external issues that are relevant to its purpose and environmental management system (EMS). This can be implemented through strategic planning, environmental context analysis, or tools such as SWOT (for internal issues) and PESTLE (for external issues).
The process includes describing how relevant issues are monitored and how they may lead to environmental risks, opportunities, changes, improvements, or actions within the EMS. The aim is to ensure that the organization can properly anticipate and respond to internal and external factors affecting its environmental performance.
Examples of relevant internal issues include:
- organizational values related to sustainability
- environmental culture and employee awareness
- structure, governance, and roles influencing environmental responsibilities
- organizational knowledge related to environmental impacts
- current environmental performance and operational practices
Examples of relevant external issues include:
- new or changing environmental legislation and regulations
- technological developments that affect environmental impacts
- environmental expectations from stakeholders, customers, or communities
- climate-related risks or changing environmental conditions
- market or industry trends that influence environmental sustainability
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