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Targets A2-A5: publishing delivery plans, Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and public reporting

  • Last modified date:
    8 February 2007

Under target A2, departments should make public a strategy showing how they plan to deliver targets. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) have a valuable role to play in supporting delivery of improvements in performance, particularly in key areas such as energy, water and waste. EMS are covered by target A3. Targets A4 and A5 cover public reporting on departments' key sustainable development impacts.

Target A2: publishing delivery plans

The corporate governance systems operated by the Department have been designed to ensure that it operates in a way that ensures openness, integrity and accountability and that these principles are equally adopted by all bodies with a direct association to it.

All central business units, agencies, arms-length bodies, NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities have clearly defined roles and responsibilities. There is a robust structure through which they report internally, and for some, externally, for their decisions and actions.

The Department of Health has a robust procedure for data collection, through its Environmental Management System (EMS) operated on the Department's behalf by its facilities management company. This consolidates previous monitoring of environmental performance of our London estate, which was in existence prior to the Sustainable Development Framework being published. This information helps fulfil the requirement for establishing baseline performance data. Relevant information will be published in this section.

The 2004 Departmental Report included reference to sustainable development activities as will the 2005 Departmental Report.  We will continue to report sustainable development impacts through this annual publication.

A review of responsibilities for sustainable development policy is being undertaken as part of the Department's Change Programme.

Executive Agencies of the Department report sustainable development impacts separately and the NHS Purchasing Supply Agency (PASA) won an award for its 2002/3 environmental report Towards Sustainability.  NHS PASA was the only public sector organisation to win an award. The UK awards scheme, run by ACCA, (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is for sustainability reporting.

Target A3: Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

Environmental Management Systems (EMS) have a valuable role to play in supporting delivery of improvements in performance, particularly in key areas such as energy, water and waste.

They can help departments to improve existing management systems and efficiency, reduce costs and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. They may be particularly useful in helping to ensure that data collection and monitoring is systematic and robust and in generally improving the efficiency of management processes.

The Department has completed a comprehensive review of its existing Environmental Management System (EMS) under the auspices of its facilities management supplier. The EMS has been adopted and refined and data collection processes are in place.

The Department has recently put in place a web-based system for recording and monitoring its environmental performance in its three main London buildings.  This will improve our ability to track and report progress against targets.

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Public reporting

These targets cover public reporting on departments' key sustainable development impacts.

The 2004 Departmental Report included reference to sustainable development activities.  The relevant paragraphs are at Chapter 2, paragraphs 42-46, and Chapter 8, paragraphs 45-48. We have reviewed these arrangements and will continue to report sustainable development impacts through this annual publication.

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