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Environment Agency spotlights companies

 


The Environment Agency has launched its sixth annual ‘Spotlight’ report on the environmental performance of businesses in England and Wales.

This year’s report ‘Spotlight on business: environmental performance in 2003’ shows the number of pollution incidents from industry was down 12% on 2002, and decreased 43% over the last two years. Moreover, the Environment Agency's system of scoring site by site operational performance shows that standards of environmental management are improving.

Baroness Barbara Young, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency comments: “Our risk-based approach – paying more time and attention to high risk, poor performers and taking a lighter touch with those who demonstrate responsible environmental management - is paying off for both business and the environment.”

Some sectors showed significant improvement. The farming and waste management industries both reduced their number of serious pollution incidents by around 25 per cent in 2003, the best results for pollution incidents from these sectors since Environment Agency records began. In 2003, the chemical industry more than halved its serious pollution incidents.

Other sectors failed to perform as well. The construction industry was responsible for 3% of all pollution incidents and produced 80 million tonnes of waste per year, a figure which is increasing with redevelopment and regeneration, but which could easily be reversed with waste minimisation and readily available clean-up techniques. The water industry reversed some of the advances made in the past, as pollution incidents in the sector rose by 25 per cent in the last year.

In a new turn, this year's report highlights a growing trend of personal liability for corporate environmental crime. White-collar workers - including company directors and sole traders - are finding themselves at increased risk of incurring high personal fines, community punishment orders and even custodial sentences when breaking environmental law.

"It is important to bear in mind that there are many companies and farmers out there who are working to minimise their impact on the environment and are doing so innovatively. Not only do environmental criminals tar industry reputations, they also undercut these legitimate businesses”, added Baroness Young.

Overall, the Environment Agency prosecuted a total of 266 companies in 2003, resulting in total fines of over £2.2 million. The average fine for businesses fell from £8,622 to £8,412, but is still higher than in 2000 or 2001.

Jim Haywood, Business in the Community’s Environmental Director, attended the launch of the Agency’s report and comments: “It is good to see the Agency recognising the effort made by many responsible companies in successfully managing environmental risks, as well as highlighting the poorer performers through this report. The results show that there is clearly a strong case to be made for keeping the environment high on a company’s Board agenda.



“Business in the Community encourages its own members to take a lead with improving performance, particularly by working with their supply chain to influence smaller companies. We are keen to work closely with the Agency on a number of fronts to see how we can help companies ensure good environmental performance is an integral part of their business thinking.”

http://publications.environment agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEH01204BKFD-e-e.pdf.

 

 

Tasks to the text “Environment Agency spotlights companies”


Date: 2015-12-18; view: 687


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Task 1. Match the terms and their definitions[2]. Note that some terms have more than one definition. | Environment Agency (spotlight)1 companies
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