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Sustainable Development The Government's approach - delivering UK sustainable development together |
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Part A of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate (Framework), published in July 2002, outlines the scope of the Framework and sets targets for Government Departments for the adoption of environmental management systems (EMSs) and for public reporting. The Government Estate covers more than a quarter of a million hectares, comprises over 50,000 buildings and houses, and employs over 650,000 staff[1]. Most Departments have mainly office buildings, with the exception of MoD (military estate), LCD (courts), HO (prisons), ONS (census and registration records[2]) and DCMS (Royal Parks). Most of the Estate is covered by the Framework, but Departments have flexibility to decide and justify which parts of their estate to include. More details on the performance of individual Departments can be found on departmental Framework progress sites. Identifying impacts (Target A1)All Departments have descriptions of their estate on their websites, have identified their most significant sustainable development impacts and those parts of their estate which will not be covered by the Framework. Delivery plans (Target A2)The following Departments published delivery plans for all of the first set of targets (Overarching, Travel and Water Services) within the reporting year: C&E, Defra, DfES, DfID, DWP, DoH, ECGD, FCO, IR, MoD, ODPM, ONS. By the publication of this report in November 2003, all delivery plans have been published except those of HMT. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) (Target A3)Last year, 14 Departments had achieved ISO 14001 certification on all or some of their EMSs, covering varying proportions of their estate. This year, all Departments except CO[3], DfES[4] and LCD have an EMS covering all or part of their estate. 13 Departments have ISO 14001 certification in whole or part, covering around 20 per cent of total office staff. (The apparent reduction in Departments with certification (from 14 to 12) is accounted for by the changes in CO and DFES reported in the footnotes below). Public reporting (Targets A4 and A5)17 Departments now report on their sustainable development impacts: five in separate reports, seven within their Departments' annual reports and five in another way, mostly on their websites. HO report in all three ways. Those not currently reporting are LCD and IR, although LCD will be reporting from September 2003. All Departments except HMT have reviewed how they report, and most will continue as they do now, with a few using SDiG Annual Reports as a key part of their public reporting. Reporting on food procurement is covered in Part F of this Report and reporting on social impacts is covered in Part I. Verification18 Departments have arrangements in place to verify their data, around half using external and half using internal verifiers. ECGD and LCD do not yet use verifiers but will be reviewing the situation next year. Environmental management system in the Royal ParksCovering an area of approximately 5000 acres, the London-based parks: Bushy Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regent's Park (with Primrose Hill), Richmond Park, St James's and Green Park. ISO 14001 was implemented in to all 8 Royal Parks with the help of environmental consultants. This implementation process took place in two phases, in June and December 2002. This approach enabled the process to be smooth and manageable. This was particularly important as the Royal Parks only directly employ approximately 250 staff, 148 of which are the Royal Parks Constabulary (RPC). Certification to ISO 14001 gives the Royal Parks credibility through ongoing independent assessment, enhancing the reputation of the Royal Parks as a leader in the sustainable management of the urban park environment and promotion of sustainable development to the wider community. Public reporting of Sustainable Development in DWPDWP published Sustainable Development Annual Reports in 2001 and 2002. Its third Annual Report to be published in late 2003 aims to report progress against both the Government's and its own sustainability objectives and targets. The Report broadly follows the structure laid out by the Framework and will cover issues from social reporting to recycling and renewable energy procurement. The reports are available on the Internet, with only 100 hard copies printed for senior management. The Intranet version, for DWP staff, is updated throughout the year. In its 2002 Report, DWP made a commitment to look at all the stakeholder groups involved with social reporting (employees, customers, suppliers and community) in turn, and to develop a plan for taking forward social reporting within the Department. This year DWP has focussed on identifying employee issues that have a clear relationship with the UK Strategy for Sustainable Development. The core business policies of DWP make a significant contribution to the Headline Indicator on Employment, by promoting work as the best form of welfare and encouraging the development of opportunities in employment. DWP has sought to develop opportunities for its own staff, and within the Department for others seeking work. DWP has also chaired the inter-departmental working group for developing social reporting in a sustainable development context. The group's work has informed the Department's Annual Report as well as the Government's agenda in this area. Awareness raising in C&E - the Sustain IT learning packageEducation and awareness raising are key to the successful delivery of Environmental Management Systems by motivating staff to change their working practices. Working in partnership with BAA, Surrey County Council, and Forum for the Future, and supported by sustainability consultants and education specialists, C&E have developed Sustain IT. This learning package is designed to help employees from the partner organisations to understand more about sustainable development globally, what it means to them as individuals, and to their organisation. It provides support and guidance so that learners can make a difference in operations and in decision-making. Sustain IT uses a blend of delivery media - face to face training, printed materials, and an interactive online module, which can be completed within 30 - 40 minutes at the operator's own pace and is available to all employees via their intranets. Four further modules have been tailored to the requirements of specific groups of staff in facilities management, procurement, human resources and for Board members. 1: This includes military personnel as MoD have agreed to include the military estate within the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. 2: Deaths, marriages and births. 3: Last year, CO had an EMS with ISO 14001 certification covering 10 per cent staff in the Government Car and Despatch Agency; GCDA is not covered by the Framework (see CO response to target A1 for reason)and information has therefore not been included this year. 4: DfES had one main building with EMS accreditation but this was transferred to DWP as part of the legacy Employment Service estate in June 2001. Departmental DataFor more detail on the how specific Departments within the UK Government are achieveing these targets, please access our Search Departmental Data section. |
Report 2003 |
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Updated: 07 March 2005 |
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