The main components of ISO 14001 are the mandatory clauses 4 to 10, which set the requirements for an Environmental Management System (EMS). These components apply to an organization as follows:

1. **Context of the organization (Clause 4)**: Requires consideration of external and internal issues, interested parties and their requirements, and defining the EMS scope. This helps organizations examine crucial inputs when defining and designing their EMS.

2. **Leadership (Clause 5)**: Involves defining top management responsibilities, setting roles and responsibilities for the EMS, and defining the Environmental Policy. It ensures clear business goals for the environment and main responsibilities.

3. **Planning (Clause 6)**: Focuses on environmental risks and aspects assessment, compliance obligations determination, and treatment requirements, setting environmental objectives. It ensures the EMS effectively addresses risks and opportunities.

4. **Support (Clause 7)**: Defines requirements for resources, competencies, awareness, communication, and control of documents and records. It is essential for activities crucial for environmental success.

5. **Operation (Clause 8)**: Encompasses planning, implementing, and controlling processes needed to achieve required performance, avoid non-conformities, and respond to environmental emergencies. It defines daily use of the EMS.

6. **Performance evaluation (Clause 9)**: Involves monitoring, measurement, compliance evaluation, analysis, evaluation, internal audit, and management review. It determines if the EMS is performing as expected.

7. **Improvement (Clause 10)**: Defines nonconformities, corrections, corrective actions, and continual improvement requirements.

These components help organizations improve their environmental performance, meet legal requirements, and demonstrate commitment to environmental responsibility.