Protection of the environment requires activity on many different fronts - from acting to limit global environmental threats, such as climate change, to safeguarding individuals from the effects of poor air quality or toxic chemicals. Such actions also produce benefits for housing (through improved energy efficiency of buildings) and economic growth (through more efficient use of resources, such as re-use, recycling and recovery of waste).
More information on the national picture
We work with the East Midlands Regional Assembly, East Midlands Development Agency (emda), Environment Agency, and other key stakeholders on agreeing the region’s sustainable development priorities, making sure they are in line with Government principles and policies. We also negotiates on behalf of Government to ensure that its priorities for the environment are reflected in Local Area Agreements (LAA) negotiated with the nine Unitary and County tier authorities across the region.
For the three year period 2008-09 to 2010-11 all LAAs in the East Midlands will feature environmental priorities including addressing climate change, improving waste management and enhancing street and environmental cleanliness.
Regional strategies, policies and action plans come together in the Integrated Regional Strategy (IRS), developed and maintained by the East Midlands Regional Assembly. The IRS also provides the framework for the Regional Spatial Strategy (a broad development strategy for the East Midlands), and the Regional Economic, Housing and Environment Strategies addressing Energy and Waste. A revised RSS has been developed and revised following an Examination in Public during 2007.
We also aim to make regional policies and strategies relevant to local residents. GOEM is a member of the Promoting Sustainable Development Group, a cross-sectoral group which uses its networks to encourage behavioural change through education and awareness raising, sharing of good practice and integrated regional activity.
GOEM and its regional partners regularly promote free conferences such as the annual Expo for businesses, local authorities, community and voluntary groups, to help them understand the relevance and implications of current sustainability issues. The October 2007 Expo focused on low carbon solutions.
The Regional Climate Change Steering Group, has developed a Climate Change Programme of Action which will give the region a clear steer on how to reduce its carbon footprint and maximise the business opportunities that may arise. In Spring 2008 GOEM published a booklet “Acting on CO2 in the East Midlands” to highlight some of the successful activity undertaken during the last year or so in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases in the region. An electronic version is available below.
GOEM is responsible for ensuring that Local Transport Plans produced by Local Highway Authorities meet the requirements of the Department of Transport with regard to improving accessibility, air quality and road safety as well as reducing congestion.
