Ten leading Professional Institutions and Learned Societies with a wide range of environmental interests have come together to form a new umbrella body for environmental affairs. Between them they represent the primary environmental disciplines. The new body is called the Society for the Environment, and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management has played a full role in establishing this group. The Society was granted a Royal Charter in May 2004.

The Society aspires to champion the culture of a sustainable environment by nurturing and harnessing the resources, knowledge, expertise and achievements of its constituent bodies, fostering a culture of inclusivity and ethical behaviour for the common good. Importantly, the identity and independence of the constituent professional bodies and learned societies will be maintained, and their primacy as centres of excellence in their own field recognised. Membership of the Society for the Environment is open only to qualifying organisations, and not to individuals, and the present membership of the Society is expected to increase now that the Society is formally established.
One of the early key objectives of the Society for the Environment has been to establish a new qualification to be known as "Chartered Environmentalist". This is now available, but only to those individuals who are in full membership of one of the constituent bodies, and who fulfil certain criteria relating to education and experience in their own field. Application for Registration as a Chartered Environmentalist is only through an individual's own professional body, and not direct to the Society.

For more information, visit the Society for Environment's website at www.socenv.org.uk

 
CIWM Contacts:-

Steve Lee
Chief Executive CIWM
e-mail steve.lee@ciwm.co.uk

Roger Hewitt
Honorary Treasurer CIWM