IEMA impact over 25 years

It’s amazing to see how much has changed over the last 25 years since IEMA was formed from a merger between the Institute of Environmental Assessment, the Institute of Environmental Management, and the Environmental Auditors Registration Association. 

It’s also worth highlighting how IEMA was ahead of the game in many aspects of environment and sustainability which more recently have come to the fore. 

Established with the objective of promoting the goal of sustainable development at its heart, it’s fascinating to see how sustainability has moved from a "desirable" to an "essential" part of our economy and society.

In IEMA’s evidence to the 2003 Environmental Audit Committee parliamentary inquiry into “Setting a Framework for Education for Sustainable Development”, there is reference to a project in early 2001 exploring the "desirability of establishing national Sustainable Development Standards", with findings reported to the Department for Education and Skills.

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Fast forward to the present day and embedding sustainability and climate change into the curriculum has become more established, although further work is needed. 

In its early years, IEMA recognised the need to provide support for businesses in tacking climate change.  Our Practitioner series was launched in 2001 with the publication of “Managing Climate Change Emissions: a Business Guide” and climate change has, unsurprisingly, remained a high priority for IEMA ever since.

In its early years, IEMA recognised the need to provide support for businesses in tacking climate change.  Our Practitioner series was launched in 2001 with the publication of “Managing Climate Change Emissions: a Business Guide” and climate change has, unsurprisingly, remained a high priority for IEMA ever since. 

Our contribution to the development of UK government guidance on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reporting in 2009 was recognised in the foreword by the Secretary of States for Environment, and Energy & Climate Change; while further work with Government economists on the cost/benefit analysis paved the way for a change to the Companies Act and the introduction of mandatory GHG emissions reporting. 

Our GHG Management Hierarchy was taken up by UNFCCC and ISO to help guide organisations in driving climate action, and more recently, our Impact Assessment Guidance was cited by the Supreme Court as the underpinning methodology for assessing the GHG emissions of new development projects. 

We have long advocated for the need to make ‘all jobs greener’. Our approach to upskilling the workforce to drive the transition to a sustainable future, was provided in evidence given to Environmental Audit parliamentary inquires in 2009 and 2021 – a theme that continues to resonate in policy and business agendas today. 

Our joint work with CIEEM and CIRIA in 2016 to publish “Biodiversity Net Gain: Good Practice Principles for Development” and subsequent practical guidance paved the way for mandatory BNG to be introduced for new development projects. 

IEMA’s evidence is cited by the European Commission in its proposal to revise the EIA Directive. and there is much, much more we could cite to showcase our professional influence.

As we look forward to the next 25yrs of IEMA’s journey, it’s clear that we need to remain at the forefront of sustainability and drive the changes that need to be made for a sustainable future. 

By harnessing the insights from members around the world, equipping them with key sustainability skills, and supporting them as change makers, I’m confident that IEMA will be successful long into the future.  


Published by:
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Martin Baxter FIEMA

Deputy CEO

Martin Baxter is Deputy CEO at the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). He works in the UK and internationally to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future and support people in the development of sustainability skills and green careers. Martin has national and international experience in developing and negotiating global and European environmental management standards and developing capacity for effective and widespread implementation. Martin heads the UK delegation to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) on environmental management and chairs the ISO environmental management systems committee of ~100 countries. He is also vice-chair of the European Standards CEN/CENELEC Strategic Advisory Body on the Environment. Martin is a Board member of IEMA, the Society for the Environment (SocEnv) and the Broadway Initiative.