Environmental policy

We recognise 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 we must carry out by law.

In addition to these functions, we affect 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, we will work towards:

• assessing the impact of our existing and proposed activities and policies on the environment and act on the findings
• reducing our carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050, from a 1990 baseline, with an interim target of a 3% average reduction per annum by the end of 2016/17 (2011/12 baseline)
• putting 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
• conserving, restoring and enhancing Staffordshire's natural and built environment, keeping and making it diverse, safe and pleasant to live in
• avoiding 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. Looking to our suppliers and contractors to apply standards equivalent to our own
• endeavouring to prevent environmental accidents wherever possible and establish contingency procedures to minimise the effect of such accidents if they do happen
• fostering a sense of responsibility for the environment among our employees at all levels and encourage greater awareness of environmental issues
• working with others at local, national and international level, to develop good environmental practices
• aiming for continuing improvements in environmental performance, meeting and where possible, exceeding minimum standards set by law
• regularly reviewing and updating ourenvironmental policies in consultation with the wider community, setting publicly available environmental objectives and targets and regularly reporting on performance