Journal of Global Resources
Volume 5 (02)
July 2019
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

Page 35-40

05
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION IN CEARÁ (BRAZIL) FOR PROTECTION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABILITY
Nájila Rejanne Alencar Julião Cabral, Patrícia Verônica Pinheiro Sales Lima andAdeildo Cabral da Silva
Instituto Federal de Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará – IFCE; Universidade Federal do Ceará– UFC; Instituto Federal de Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará, Brazil
Email: najila.cabral@gmail or najila@ifce.edu.br; patricialima@ufc.br; cabral@ifce.edu.br
Abstract: The environmental certification of the State of Ceará, established by the Seal
Municipality Green Programme (PSMV), verifies the commitment of urban environmental
management facing challenges of sustainability in the territory of the local governments,from a set of environmental indicators. The PSMV’s indicators can easily be monitored,
because they are both qualitative and quantitative, and they should indicate if municipalities
are achieving the goals of local sustainability. The objective of this paper was to analyze theindicators used in this certification under Brazilian and Ceará legislation, considering theprotection of natural resources and the promotion of sustainability. For this purpose, it was
carried out a documentary research. The PSMV’s indicators were classified in four
dimensions of sustainability. The results indicate that the requirements of the PSMV are
getting along with the national and state policies, correlated to the environmental area. The
PSMV respects the dimensions of sustainability and identifies environmental restrictions,which decision makers can use to improve their environmental performance and to achievesustainability in the territory of the municipality. The environmental certification program,
therefore, represents an important strategy for achieving sustainable cities.
Key words: Environmental Management; Certification; Sustainability Performance.
Introduction
Over the past years, public organizations have become more concerned and aware of theirimportance in reducing environmental impacts and influencing citizens in direction ofsustainable attitudes (Alpenberg et al., 2018, Navarro-Galera et al., 2014, Rodriguez Bolivar
et al., 2016). The growing demand for sustainable actions has reached different actors andlocal governments (Mercer and Jotkowitz, 2000; Campos et al, 2015). In this context, local
governments are reorganizing and creating strategies for environmental management(Bellinger et al., 2011). However, changes in this direction are slow. An innovative
experience to encourage a greater insertion of local power in matters related to sustainability
is the environmental certification programme of the State of Ceará - Brazil, called the Seal
Municipality Green Program (PSMV). One of the challenges of the PSMV is placing theenvironmental variable in the decision-making process at local level. The Program has been
evaluating local governments since 2003. The municipalities have constitutional duty toestablish the use of environmental resources according the maintenance of environmental
quality, required over time, associated with the productive capacity of different
socioeconomic activities.
Incorporating the environmental dimension into the decision-making process is not aneasy task. It requires commitment of civil society and public authorities. The environmental
certification, called the Seal Municipality Green Program (PSMV), has contributed to theimplementation of environmental policy throughout the state of Ceará. The result of the
PSMV identifies the Environmental Sustainability Index (ISA). ISA represents, therefore, themunicipality's commitment to environmental sustainability in its territory, constituting itself asa tool to support society and the municipal public power to protect environmental resources
and to approach the complex challenges of environmental issues. The objective of thispaper was to analyses the indicators used in this certification under Brazilian and Ceará
35

legislation. The approach also studied the environmental indicators according to theprotection of natural resources and the promotion of sustainability.
The Seal Municipality Green Programme
The Seal Municipality Green Program was established by State Law No 13,304/2003,
regulated by State Decrees No 27,073 of June 2, 2003 and No 27,074 of June 2, 2003 andmodified by State Law No 16,128/2016. The PSMV is the tag that identifies the municipalities
of Ceará that develop environmental protective actions with the best possible effects in theenvironmental safeguard, according to State Law Nº 13.304/2003. For the development of
the methodology and the implementation of the PSMV, the Management Committee and theTechnical Commission were created, composed by 20 different institutions (public authority,
civil society and Scientific & Technology institutions), coordinated by the State Secretariat of
the Environment (SEMA), according to State Decree No 27,074/2003. The PSMV is given
every two years.
The Management Committee is responsible for admitting the environmental indicatorsof the Seal Municipality Green Program. These indicators follow the requirements of the
Ministry of the Environment to ensure environmental quality. The criteria include: thematic,
focus, geographical and temporal coverage and conjuncture (MMA, 2011). About thethematic, the indicator should measure some important aspects of environmental quality thatreflect its integration with the concept of sustainable development (MMA, 2011). About theapproach, the information generated by the indicator should be addressed to general publicand decision makers (MMA, 2011). Regarding geographic and temporal coverage, theindicator should contemplate the changes in different geographical scales (national, stateand local) and timing (MMA, 2011). Concerning the conjuncture, the indicators’ choiceshould ensure a long-term perspective on data management (MMA, 2011). In addition,“Sustainability indicator systems should, however, enable the sustainability-based
management of local affairs” (Hartmuth et al, p. 261, 2008).
Study Area
The State of Ceará is located in the Northeast of Brazil. Ceará has 184 municipalities and 93
percent of its territory is in the northeastern semi-arid region, which has characteristics ofvulnerability to drought and precipitation irregularity (IPECE, 2019). Figure 1 shows thelocation of Ceará, in the Northeast of Brazil. The geographical extension of the study area is148.825,6 km2 (IPECE, 2019).
Figure 01: Location of Ceará in Brazil

Source: IPECE, 2019.

36

The land use is a significant factor of pressure on the environment in areas withsingular characteristics such as Ceará. Thus, the protection of natural resources is an
important strategy for stocks maintenance. In Brazil the competency to discipline land use isgiven to the municipalities, according to Article 30, of the Federal Constitution.
Methodology
Data collection was done from the secondary data, through documentary research. The
documents for the examination were provided by the State Secretariat of the Environment(SEMA) and by national and regional legislation. The five thematic axes of the Seal
Municipality Green Program were analyzed, namely: Municipal Environmental Policy;
Environmental Sanitation and Public Health; Water resources; Sustainable Agriculture andBiodiversity. In each of the thematic axes, the specific environmental indicators wereanalyzed, totalizing 16 environmental indicators. For each indicator, we made notes
concerning Malheiros and Philippi methodology (MALHEIROS and PHILIPPI, 2007), a
qualitative approach. The notes contain information about relevance, threats, weakness,scale, data source, periodicity, institutional composition and its relation to public policies.
The notes helped in indicators’ classification.
Regarding the indicators’ classification, we used the methodology elaborated byRabelo (2007), considering the scopes: social, economic, environmental and institutional.
The 16 environmental indicators in the methodology and its scores are:
1. Environment Structure (maximum score 15);
2. COMDEMAS Effectiveness (maximum score 4);
3. Implementation of the Environmental Education Policy (maximum score 12);
4. Implementation of Sustainable Technologies (maximum score 1);
5. Integrated Solid Waste management (maximum score 10);
6. Final Disposal of Urban Solid Waste (maximum score 4);
7. Social Inclusion of Collectors of Recyclable Materials (maximum score 6);
8. Aedes aegypti Infestation (maximum score 5);
9. Sanitary Sewage System and Water Supply System (maximum score 11);
10. Improvement of Water Quality (maximum score 7);
11. Sustainable Management of Agricultural Production (maximum score 3);
12. Training in Sustainable Agriculture (maximum score 2);
13. Municipal Conservation Unit (maximum score 5);
14. Urban Green Areas (maximum score 5);
15. Preservation and Conservation of Biodiversity (maximum score 5);
16. Deforestation and Burning Control (maximum score 5).
We showed the scores above, next to each indicator. The sum of the maximum scoresis 100. The score for each indicator was defined by Delphi method (CHOI and SIRAKAYA,
2006). The sum (aggregation) of scores of each indicator in the municipality corresponds toEnvironmental Sustainability Index (ISA). The Organization for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment (OECD) has developed the Pressure-State-Response methodology (LEVRELet al, 2009) based on the concept of causality, whereby human activities exert pressure on
the environment by changing natural resources quality and quantity. Society responds tothese changes through environmental, economic or sectorial policies (OECD, 1993).
Therefore, the 16 indicators also follow the OECD methodology. Then, we studied Brazilian
and Ceará environmental laws in view of the PSMV to support our discussion.
Result and Discussion
The 16 environmental indicators of the Seal Municipality Green Program - PSMV comply thePressure-State-Response (PER) methodology. This methodology allows a group of
indicators to relate the sources of pressure to each environmental issue, the situation of theenvironment linked to that issue and the procedures adopted by society to deal with or tosolve the problem (MMA, 2011). Thus, the cause or source of the environmental problem isassociated to the results of corrective actions to solve the problem. (MMA, 2011). Figure 2
shows the environmental indicators in relation to environmental, social / cultural, economic
and institutional scopes, according to the dimensions of sustainability established by37

economists (Spangerber and Bonniot, 1998, Rabelo, 2007), for the organizational context.
Therefore, the economic, social and institutional dimensions of sustainability are on an equal
footing with environmental concerns.
Figure 02: Classification of PSMV indicators based on dimensions of sustainability
DIMENSION/SCOPE

Environmental

Social/Cultural

I5 - Integrated Solid
Waste Management
I6 - Final Disposal of
Urban Solid Waste.
I9 - Sanitary Sewage
System and Water
Supply System.
10 - Improvement of
Water Quality.
I13 - Municipal
Conservation Unit
(UC).
14 - Urban Green
Areas.
15 - Preservation andConservation of
Biodiversity.
16 - Deforestation
and Burning Control.

I4 - Implementation of
Sustainable
Technologies.
I7 - Social Inclusionof Collectors of
Recyclable Materials.
I8 - Aedes aegypti
infestation.

Economic
11 - Sustainable
Management ofAgricultural
Production.
12 - Training in
Sustainable
Agriculture

Institutional
1 - Environment
Structure
2 - COMDEMAS
Effectiveness.
3 - Implementation of
the Environmental
Education Policy.

The analysis identified the relevance of each indicator for PSMV and protection ofnatural resources, based on Brazilian and state legislation. Some analyzes are highlighted inthis work. About the environmental dimension, the indicator "Green Urban Areas" is in thebiodiversity aspect. It has relevance because it establishes open public spaces, according to
the constitutional prerogative of regulating the land use by the municipality. The indicator isvery important because it complies with Federal Law No 6,766, dated December 19, 1979
and Federal Law No 10,257, dated July 10, 2001, which regulated Articles 182 and 183 of
the Federal Constitution. Urban green areas are an exigency for local governments, and themunicipality is responsible for establishing the percentage of green areas by municipal law.
Another indicator of the environmental dimension, the indicator "Improvement of Water
Quality" establishes the institutional arrangement, compulsory for the municipalities,
regarding the provision of clean and safe drinking water to supply the population. Drinking
water is a fundamental requirement for the maintenance of the dignity of human life,
considering its availability and quality to human health and to reduce the consequences of
diseases. The indicator complies with the criteria of the Basic Sanitation National Policy(Federal Law No 11,445, of January 5, 2007). The indicator also complies with water quality
standards, including the portability standards required by Administrative Ordinance M.S. No
2,914, of December 12, 2011; and the Consolidation Ordinance M.S. No 5, dated September
28, 2017. Some other laws are connected with this indicator, such as Water Supply andSanitary Sewage State Policy of Ceará (Complementary State Law No 162, of June 20,2016); and the Health Promotion National Policy, of 2014.
Regarding the economic dimension, the indicator "Sustainable Management ofAgricultural Production" refers to the institutional arrangement that promotes sustainableagricultural production. The land use is an example of activity that can influence the balanceof the environment. Thus, it is essential that the land use is compatible with the ecosystems’capacity of résistance. Constitutionally, it is up to the municipality, according to Art. 30, thediscipline of the land use and it is up to local governments to legislate about environmental
38

matters, concerning local specificities. Then, agricultural sustainable practices can achievecommitments voluntarily assumed by Brazil, like, for example, the reduction of greenhousegases (GHG). Furthermore, "Sustainable Management of Agricultural Production" is directly
related to the climate-friendly food production practices, and consequently the Sustainable
Development Goal - SDG 2 (Leal Filho et al, 2019).
Regarding the social/cultural dimension, the indicator called "Social Inclusion ofCollectors" complies with the provisions of Solid Waste National Policy (Art. 10, Federal Law
No 12,305, of August 2, 2010) and Solid Waste State Policy (State Law No 16,032 of June20, 2016). Both laws give the collectors the primacy in the execution of the works related tothe selective collection, reuse and recycling of solid wastes collected by the municipality.
The local government, as responsible for the execution of sanitation services, including solid
waste management, should promote actions that integrate collectors into shared
responsibility for the product life cycle. So, it is up to the municipalities observe all criteria of
Solid Waste National Policy, which establishes the need to encourage the creation anddevelopment of cooperatives or other ways of collectors’ association.
Regarding institutional dimension, the indicator “Environmental Structure” allows theinstitutional necessary arrangement for the implementation of local environmental
management. The municipality needs to establish its municipal environment system,
according to the Environmental National Policy (Federal Law No 6,938, dated August 31,
1981) and Complementary Law No 140, of December 8, 2011. According to Complementary
Law No 140/2011, this regulated Art. 23 of the Federal Constitution, municipalities must
execute and enforce, at the municipal level, the National and State Environmental Policies
and other national and state policies related to the protection of the environment. Local
governments must exercise control and oversee the activities and projects whose attribution
for licensing or authorizing is attributed to the municipality.
Moreover, about institutional dimension, the indicator "Comdemas Effectiveness"represents the installed capacity of social participation in local environmental management.
The Municipal Council of Environment (CMMA or COMDEMA) must be established bymunicipal law; must have equal participation (organized civil society and public power) in theexecution of environmental policy; should be consultative and deliberative (and may berecursive); should establish standards of prevention, control and monitoring of theenvironment; should be able to propose plans, projects, programs and actions for theprotection, conservation and sustainable use of environmental resources; its ordinary andextraordinary sessions must be regular and uninterrupted, ensuring the operation andcontinuity of the council over the years; must have internal rules, approved by Municipal
Decree, which establishes the competencies of the collegiate, composition, organization andthe competencies of the Presidency, the Executive Secretariat and the Directors. This
indicator is very important for the PSMV, since it is the only compulsory criterion for the
inscription of municipalities in the certification program. Furthermore, the SDGs into a local
level require active participation of citizens (GallI et al, 2018).
Conclusion
The Seal Municipality Green Program - PSMV has four dimensions of sustainability, which
support 16 environmental indicators from five thematic axes, allowing the evaluation of theurban management effects on the environment. Environmental indicators are correlated withthe legal requirements of national and state policies, which promote the protection ofenvironmental resources. The PSMV evaluation is focused on achieving sustainability in thelocal territory, which minimize the social and environmental costs of negative externalities.
The environmental indicators incorporate ecological prudence, economic viability and social
equity in territorial management. The environmental certification of the State of Ceará/Brazil
represents, therefore, an important strategy in the search for sustainable cities.
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