Public sector sustainability reporting – Lessons learnt

2. Public sector sustainability reporting – Lessons learnt Ruth Tipping Senior Team leader (Sustainable Development) Date 9 September 2011

4. EA Wales 1,030 Employees Annual budget of (£93M) 2,900 km of flood defences 11,500 employees Annual budget of over £1.1bn 24,000 miles of flood defences

5. Why are we doing this ? • History of environmental accounting • Internal environmental management team • HMT issued guidance on public sector sustainability reporting

6. What have we reported ?

7. Sustainability performance summary

9. The benefits of doing this • What gets measured gets managed • Reducing environmental impact • Saving money! • Better control/sight of data • Developed links across the organisation

10. How do we do this • Finance data from bills • Site level data check and approval • Meter readings taken weekly/monthly • Ensure estimated bills don’t get too far off the reality mark Who does it • Finance lead • Facilities teams and responsible officers at depots/offices input • IEM team set targets and monitor progress • Feedback loop into business and personal objectives to ensure delivered

11. Targets are set: CO2 Target: • Reduce CO2 emissions by 33% from 2006/07 levels by March 2015 Water Target: • Reduce mains water consumption by 25% by March 2015 from 2005-06 levels.

12. Targets cont’d • Zero office waste to landfill by March 2015. • By 2015 we will reduce the total office waste arisings by 20% from the baseline year 2008/09. • Reduce our total business mileage (Lease, casual, badged, and hire car mileage) by 25% by March 2015 from 2005/06 level.

13. Internal guidance - Waste

14. Internal Guidance - mileage

15. Examples of “points to remember” • Check what unit your meter reads in e.g. ft3 or 100’s ft3 - it may not measure in what it states on the front of the meter! ( if unsure check bill ) • Leased sites: obtain monthly meter readings. If this is not possible kWh data should be obtained from invoice information from the landlord. • Shared sites: energy consumption should be allocated on the basis of proportion of Agency occupied net internal area & reported in kWh

16. What did we learn • No one team can do it all • Should be Finance department led • Senior corporate commitment • Raises profile of this information both inside and outside organisation • Data quality/integrity is a big issue • Supplier/contractor engagement is key • Plan ahead

17. Reference material • Our annual report and accounts: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/aboutus/work/35704.aspxRelevent sections on sustainability reporting can be found on pages 9-11 and in appendix A. • Other materials: • Defra's Greening Government Commitments: http://sd.defra.gov.uk/documents/Greening-Government-commitments.pdf2015 'targets' to reduce GHG emissions, waste, water and improve the sustainability of procurement. • HMT Guidence on sustainability reporting: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/frem_sustainability_reporting_201011.pdfGuidence on sustainability reporting with examples. • ICAEW : Environmental issues and annual financial reporting: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/TECPLN8045_env_report_aw.pdfReport jointly published by EA + ICAEW.  Provides guidance to both public and private sector organisations on reporting their environmental impacts  • Defra GHG reporting guidelines: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13309-ghg-guidance-0909011.pdfDefra have produced practical guidelines on sustainability reporting. Easily digestable.  • Sustainability Reporting and Accounting Oct 2010 WLGA and PWC • Envirowise practical guide to environmental management accounting - http://envirowise.wrap.org.uk/uk/Our-Services/Publications/GG374R-Reduce-yours-costs-with-environmental-management-accounting.htmlUpdated publication by Envirowise, supported by many organisations including the EA on benefits of environmental management accounting. 

18. Any questions ? • Contacts: • Chris.knight@environment-agency.gov.uk • Ruth.tipping@environment-agency.gov.uk