SEPA unveils vision for the future

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has announced its vision for the future and plans to release a comprehensive report on the state of the environment north of the border next year.


This week the agency published its corporate plan for 2005-2008 hoping it will help preserve Scotland’s environment,
which it believes provides the foundation for a healthy society and economy.

In the introduction to the report Ken Collins, SEPA’s chairman, said: “The Scottish Environment Protection Agency plays a key role in contributing to sustainable development, a theme running throughout our work and this document.

“Put simply, sustainable development is about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come; economically, socially and environmentally.

“The environment is a tremendous resource for Scotland, and it must be continually protected and improved to ensure it stays this way, as the basis of a healthy society and a thriving
economy.

“That is what SEPA is about.”

The three-year plan is the first SEPA has produced in its ten-year history and it was developed in consultation with the public and other organisations within the private sector and government as well as with partners in the environmental, social and economic fields.

SEPA’s Chief Executive, Dr Campbell Gemmell said: “SEPA must be forward looking, effective and dedicated to its work to ensure that we are even better placed to protect Scotland’s environment. “Although this is SEPA’s tenth year, it is the first time we have produced a corporate plan covering a three year period.

“This approach will allow for effective integrated planning of our activities and resources.
“We are determined to deliver on our vision of a protected and improving environment as the basis for a vibrant, prosperous Scotland.”

The next landmark document to be produced by SEPA will be the 2006 State of Scotland’s Environment Report, a sister document to the Environment Agency’s State of the Environment Report published earlier this year (see related story).
The report will outline the challenges faced by the Scotland and an invaluable overview of trends, impacts and overall quality of the environment.

By Sam Bond

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