Environmental management
Fire & Rescue Authorities are ideally placed to promote a better understanding of how fire protection and prevention measures can reduce the risk to life and limit the detrimental impact of fire on the environment. Going forward the impact of climate change, the threat of terrorism, an aging population and other environmental, economic and social factors will all present further challenges for Fire & Rescue Services.
Managing the impact of the fire & rescue service on the environment is important. As publicly accountable bodies, we have a duty to ensure that the buildings we own and deliver services from meet expectations in terms of energy efficiency and where they do not, that an asset management plan is in place to address this. Secondly, fire & rescue authorities have a wider role, linked to the government’s ‘safer, cleaner, greener’ agenda to promote lifestyles which do not adversely affect the environment. It also has a role in promoting community cohesion by being accountable and open to the scrutiny of the public.
Our key projects for 2008/11 are:
- Support the national study on the contribution made by FRAs to reducing CO2 emissions: This project will contribute to a study to examine the levels of unwanted CO2 emission that are prevented each year by FRAs, and will put them into perspective against the best national figures for emissions
- Reduce business miles covered in relation to transacting regional business: This project will roll out video conference facilities across the region and measure its impact on business miles covered
- Agree a common model for measuring the environmental impact of FRAs: This project will seek to develop and agree a common model for assessing the carbon footprint of FRAs both as a service provider and as a owner of buildings and other property
- Undertake a baseline study of environmental and sustainability management practice across all FRAs: This project will seek to undertake a programme of baseline assessments of FRAs in relation to best practice in relation to environmental management and to share good practice where it is identified.