NEBOSH International Environmental Diploma
September 2016 specification, current guide v5.3 (April 2026): element-by-element breakdown of the NEBOSH International Environmental Diploma — ED1 knowledge syllabus, IDEM2 environmental regulation assignment, and the official NEBOSH guidance.
2 Units
ED1 (12 elements) + IDEM2 (environmental regulation).
Sustainability Focus
Climate change, ESG, ISO 14001, circular economy and pollution control.
2 Assessments
Three-hour written exam (ED1) + written assignment (IDEM2).
ED1 Controlling Environmental Aspects
Element 1: Key environmental cycles and the effects of human activity on the environment
Element 2: Environmental leadership
Element 3: Environmental management systems and emergency planning
Element 4: Environmental risk evaluation and control
Element 5: Environmental performance evaluation
Element 6: Sustainability
Element 7: Waste management
Element 8: Managing emissions to the atmosphere
Element 9: Managing emissions to the water environment
Element 10: Control of environmental noise
Element 11: Hazardous substances and contaminated land
Element 12: Energy use
IDEM2 Environmental Regulation
IDEM2 — Environmental regulation
International environmental regulation, including enforcement and pollution prevention and control multilateral treaties. The assignment reviews and critically analyses an organisation’s environmental management system and applicable regulation.
- ▸ Enforcement of environmental legislation.
- ▸ Pollution prevention and control multilateral treaties.
- ▸ Review the environmental management system in eight areas using the official assignment brief.
- ▸ Evaluate three environmental concerns and justify improvement recommendations for top management.
Assessments
Three-hour written examination
Answer five of eight long-answer questions across the 12 ED1 elements. Provisional pass mark: 45%. This is not an open-book online examination.
Environmental regulation assignment
Approximately 8,000 words, excluding references, bibliography and appendices. Review and critically analyse an organisation’s environmental management system and applicable regulation. Pass mark: 50%. Follow the official submission schedule and assignment brief.
Official NEBOSH Resources
Always cross-reference your study with the official NEBOSH publications: