Environmental Policy
Staffordshire County Council recognises that we are able to have a major effect on the environment, through our own activities and our influence over others.
We are responsible for delivering many services which have a direct impact on our environment some of these are duties which the Council must carry out by law.
In addition to these functions, the County Council affects the environment as a large employer and landowner in Staffordshire.
We try to keep the negative effects that our activities have on the environment to a minimum. We also try to make sure that our activities have as large a positive effect on the environment as possible. We consider environmental issues as part of our decision‑making processes and try to achieve an appropriate balance between our community's short-term economic needs and its long-term environmental needs.
To meet these aims and to promote the principle of sustainable development, the Council will work towards:
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assess the impact of our existing and proposed activities and policies on the environment and act on the findings.
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reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050, from a 1990 baseline, with interim targets of a 48% reduction by 2015, 55% by 2020, 65% by 2030 and 73% by 2040;
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put in place measures to ensure as far as possible, that the Council can maintain its delivery of services despite levels of climate change that are now inevitable;
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conserve, restore and enhance the County's natural and built environment, keeping and making it diverse, safe and pleasant to live in;
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avoid the unnecessary use of materials and energy, minimising the production of pollution and waste and giving consideration to sustainable technologies in all of our own activities; and look to our suppliers and contractors to apply standards equivalent to our own.
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endeavour to prevent environmental accidents wherever possible and establish contingency procedures to minimise the effect of such accidents if they do happen.
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foster a sense of responsibility for the environment among employees of the County Council at all levels and encourage greater awareness of environmental issues;
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work with others at local, national and international level, to develop good environmental practices;
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aim for continuing improvements in environmental performance, meeting and where possible, exceeding minimum standards set by law;
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regularly review and update the County Council's environmental policies in consultation with the wider community, setting publicly available environmental objectives and targets and regularly reporting on performance.
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