Project description:

Across the European Union, most armed forces operate with comparable tasks, equipment, and infrastructure, as a result, they face similar challenges in addressing environmental impacts. To manage these challenges, Ministries of Defence and the armed forces should adopt a systematic way and tools to deal with Energy-Environment-Climate Change issues. Environmental Management Systems, and specifically the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) as a premium management tool, offers a suitable framework for this.

The CEDSEMAS project is fully aligned with the European Defence Agency priorities, the Incubation Forum for Circular Economy in European Defence (IF CEED) initiative and recent EU advancements in environmental management and green procurement. It addresses the specific requirements and opportunities of military operations and installations, supporting their transition towards sustainability and resilience.

CEDSEMAS aims at capacity-building on use of the Eco-Management Audit Scheme (EMAS) in the Defence sector, by developing a specific tool for the Defence Sector to be used by the personnel, setting-up a platform to facilitate cooperation among Ministries of Defence and implementing a pilot training and coaching programme in 10 Military installations across Europe. This starter project executes a first step, producing tangible results and preparing the ground for further exploitation, replicability and development.

The project structure is as follows:

• Project Management ensures overall coordination and administrative oversight throughout the duration of the project.
• Preparatory Actions establish the framework for project activities implementation.
• Implementation phase and demonstrative actions: focus on the EMAS implementation in 10 military installations in Cyprus, Greece and Portugal, including on-the-ground testing of methodologies, material and tools, training and coaching/mentoring activities and a «learning by doing» process.
• Project final outcomes – findingswill take input from the previous activities, develop the final outputs, project findings and propose the way ahead.
• Communication – Dissemination and outcomes Exploitationinvolves compiling, publishing, and disseminating results, as well as sharing the knowledge and experience gained to support replication and further development.

Expected Results:

• Rational use of resources and sustainable operation
• Mitigation of significant environmental aspects
• Recycle, reuse, circularity
• Improved environmental performance
• Operational cost reduction
• and long-term operational viability and readiness
• Simplification, reduction of time and effort required for the implementation of the Environmental Management System
• Adoption of sustainable practices by the Ministries of Defence and Military installation personnel
• Market opportunity for the deployment of EMAS in Defence and other public sectors across the EU
• Alignment with EU Policies
• Defence sector transition towards circular economy principles