The South Gloucestershire Environmental Policy, adopted in 2009, sets out the council's environmental vision, values and objectives. It demonstrates our commitment to managing the environmental impacts of our operations and improving our environmental performance. Please see the read more section of this page to download a copy of the Environmental Policy.
The council’s environmental performance is reported annually against each of the environmental objectives:
• Reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
• Reduce energy use and increase development and use of renewable energy
• Reduce transport emissions
• Reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling
• Use water efficiently and sustainably manage the water environment
• Use materials efficiently and procure materials and services from sustainable sources
• Prevent pollution of land, water and air
• Protect and enhance biodiversity
• Use land wisely and conserve and enhance local environmental quality
Please see the read more section of this page for copies of progress reports.
An annual Environmental Action Plan is also prepared, setting out proposed actions to improve our environmental performance over the forthcoming year.
The council has an internal communications programme which aims to improve our environmental performance. This programme, called Resourceful, brings together expert officers and volunteer staff champions to deliver behaviour change campaigns and programmes.
The council is committed to identifying and managing significant environmental aspects relevant to council activities and services. Data is collected on greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the council’s energy use, and this is set out in the council’s first annual Local Greenhouse Gas Report. The report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Energy and Climate Change http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/indicators/ni185/ni185.aspx . Please see the read more section of this page to view the Local Greenhouse Gas Report (‘South Gloucestershire Council Local GHG Report January 2012’).
Several departments are in the process of developing Environmental Management Systems to manage their impacts. Since July 2005 Traded and Support Services (providing catering and cleaning services) have held accreditation to ISO14001, the international standard for environmental management.