Pollution is still being treated as an acceptable risk by too manybusinesses in England and Wales, the Chief Executive of theEnvironment Agency said today. A culture change is needed acrossmanagement, Barbara Young said, with zero tolerance for pollutionreplacing apathy and acceptance of poor environmental performance.
Spotlight
Publishing Spotlight on business environmental performance, itsthird annual report on good and poor performance by businesses inEngland and Wales, the Environment Agency highlights substantial cutsin emissions of dioxins, sulphur dioxide (SO2), volatile organiccompounds (VOCs) and particulates (PM10) from power stations, and thechemical, mineral and metals industries, but an increasing number ofprosecutions for environmental crimes.
During the year 2000, the Environment Agency prosecuted nearly 700businesses and individuals for serious pollution offences which leftthe public and the environment exposed to – amongst other things– raw sewage, acid and fuel leaks.
Seven company directors and senior managers were personallyconvicted or fined as a result of prosecutions taken by theEnvironment Agency during 2000. A further two directors werecautioned. The Agency’s report calls for greater considerationof environmental issues at board and senior management level inorganisations of all size.
Barbara Young said:
“These pollution offences are the result of negligence, deliberateacts, or basic management failings. Businesses must understand theirresponsibilities to the public and the environment. We need to see aculture change across management, with zero tolerance for pollutionreplacing apathy and acceptance of poor environmentalperformance.
“Company directors are personally responsible for complying withthe law. Analysts, investors, journalists and investor relationsmanagers all rate quality of management as the most important factortaken into account when judging a company – what good ismanagement when a CEO is convicted for avoidable pollution?”
Today’s report lists the companies most regularly prosecutedby the Environment Agency for pollution in 2000, and also ranksoffenders by the amount of fines levied by the courts. The reportfocuses on the low level of fines imposed by the courts for pollutionoffences. The average fine for businesses prosecuted by theEnvironment Agency rose in 2000 to £8,532, compared to£6,800 in 1999.
“The Environment Agency takes a tough line with businesses thatpollute, but, with a few exceptions, the scale of penalties levied bythe courts makes pollution – and prosecution – an acceptable risk andan acceptable business expense for too many businesses across Englandand Wales.
“By contrast, the first two penalties exacted by the Office ofFair Trading for breaches of competition law were £1.2m and£3.2m. We welcome new guidance from the Magistrates Associationfor sentencing environmental offences. I hope that in the futurethese guidelines will mean that there will tough fines and otherstrict penalties for those who fail our environment.”
