378
M. do Perpétuo Socorro Lamego Oliveira et al.
advantages are obtained through improved public image and reputation; pollution
prevention and waste reduction have beneficial impacts both at the local and global
scales; SR leads to organizational improvements, namely increased productivity,
enhancement of innovation skills, and more efficient communication processes; the
promotion of active changes in behaviours and practices has relevant impacts both
at internal levels as well as throughout the value chain (Lozano 2015; Sukitsch et al.
2015; Baumgartner and Rauter 2017; Martinez-Conesa et al. 2017).
In 2015 the General Assembly of the United Nations defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing social and environmental challenges currently
faced by humanity. In the pathway to achieve the SDGs, deep transformations are
necessary in all society levels and activity sectors, and this will require complementary actions by governments, civil society, academia, and business companies
(Scheyvens et al. 2016; Leal Filho et al. 2017; Sachs et al. 2019).
To enhance a valid contribution of companies towards Sustainable Development,
adequate guidance, regulations and surveillance from governments and public administration are widely important, as recognized in the literature review described in the
following section of this paper. The questions that the present study aims to answer
are:
• In the context of a developing country with a growing economy (Brazil), how
effective are surveillance plans implemented by local administration bodies in the
prevention of inadequate practices regarding Sustainable Development?
• In this context, how can local administration bodies effectively promote
sustainability-oriented practices among professionals and companies?
As a contribution to answering these questions, the present paper describes a
research study on the activities of a local administration body operating in the
Brazilian Amazon region—the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy
of Amazonas (CREA-AM), focusing on environmental surveillance and promotion
of adequate sustainability practices. The analysis of administrative processes on
detected environmental irregularities, in 2017 and 2018, enables the identification of
the most frequent procedures/actions performed by engineering and technical professionals that cause damage to the environment. Through this analysis, improvement
opportunities were identified, resulting in the proposal of new procedures regarding
environmental inspection and surveillance in CREA-AM, to be implemented in 2021
and 2022.
The results of the present study are expected to contribute to raise awareness of
companies and professionals operating in the Amazon region on the importance of
adequately planning and executing their activities to reduce negative environmental
impacts, and therefore contribute to the preservation of this internationally important
region of the globe. It is also expected that the improvement opportunities identified,
and the new procedures proposed, can be useful to other local administration bodies
with responsibilities in environmental inspection and surveillance, thus contributing
to a wider promotion of sustainability-oriented practices.
M. do Perpétuo Socorro Lamego Oliveira et al.
advantages are obtained through improved public image and reputation; pollution
prevention and waste reduction have beneficial impacts both at the local and global
scales; SR leads to organizational improvements, namely increased productivity,
enhancement of innovation skills, and more efficient communication processes; the
promotion of active changes in behaviours and practices has relevant impacts both
at internal levels as well as throughout the value chain (Lozano 2015; Sukitsch et al.
2015; Baumgartner and Rauter 2017; Martinez-Conesa et al. 2017).
In 2015 the General Assembly of the United Nations defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing social and environmental challenges currently
faced by humanity. In the pathway to achieve the SDGs, deep transformations are
necessary in all society levels and activity sectors, and this will require complementary actions by governments, civil society, academia, and business companies
(Scheyvens et al. 2016; Leal Filho et al. 2017; Sachs et al. 2019).
To enhance a valid contribution of companies towards Sustainable Development,
adequate guidance, regulations and surveillance from governments and public administration are widely important, as recognized in the literature review described in the
following section of this paper. The questions that the present study aims to answer
are:
• In the context of a developing country with a growing economy (Brazil), how
effective are surveillance plans implemented by local administration bodies in the
prevention of inadequate practices regarding Sustainable Development?
• In this context, how can local administration bodies effectively promote
sustainability-oriented practices among professionals and companies?
As a contribution to answering these questions, the present paper describes a
research study on the activities of a local administration body operating in the
Brazilian Amazon region—the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy
of Amazonas (CREA-AM), focusing on environmental surveillance and promotion
of adequate sustainability practices. The analysis of administrative processes on
detected environmental irregularities, in 2017 and 2018, enables the identification of
the most frequent procedures/actions performed by engineering and technical professionals that cause damage to the environment. Through this analysis, improvement
opportunities were identified, resulting in the proposal of new procedures regarding
environmental inspection and surveillance in CREA-AM, to be implemented in 2021
and 2022.
The results of the present study are expected to contribute to raise awareness of
companies and professionals operating in the Amazon region on the importance of
adequately planning and executing their activities to reduce negative environmental
impacts, and therefore contribute to the preservation of this internationally important
region of the globe. It is also expected that the improvement opportunities identified,
and the new procedures proposed, can be useful to other local administration bodies
with responsibilities in environmental inspection and surveillance, thus contributing
to a wider promotion of sustainability-oriented practices.