sportscotland and the environment

sportscotland recognises the impact it has on the environment and aspires to be an exemplar of environmental best practice. This section sets out the background to our Environmental Management System and, through this, how sportscotland is working to meet our environmental responsibilities.

Background

In late 2004, sportscotland undertook work to develop an environmental management system (EMS) to ensure that sportscotland’s environmental impacts can be monitored and managed.  This project was undertaken in response to a request by the then Environment Minister for all Scottish public bodies to seek to reduce their environmental impacts.  It was also undertaken in order to best ensure compliance with the increasing number of environmental regulations and policy initiatives.

The purpose of the EMS is to ensure:

• mechanisms are in place to facilitate realisation of sportscotland’s environmental performance targets;
• all legislatory, regulatory and other requirements are complied with;
• awareness of and commitment to our Environmental Policy Statement and principles from senior management and throughout the organisation;
• environmental performance is monitored, reviewed, audited and reported;
• demonstration of compliance with our environmental obligations;
• a lead on environmental management to Scotland’s sporting community is provided;
• environmental best practice is identified and adopted and that instances of non-compliance are identified and rectified;
• a systematic approach to our environmental management and to allow sportscotland to aim for continuous improvement in its environmental performance.
• The scope of the EMS covers those significant environmental aspects which relate to the activities of sportscotland and which the organisation can either control or exert significant influence upon.
• The scope extends to both the operations of sportscotland and to its functions as the lead agency for the development of sport in Scotland.  It includes the operations and functions of our headquarters (Caledonia House) and our three National Sports Training Centres (Glenmore Lodge, Inverclyde and Cumbrae).  It also includes the Scottish Institute of Sport which, although a separate organisation with its own governance structures, is wholly funded by sportscotland and part of the sportscotland group of companies.

The Board of sportscotland has adopted an Environmental Policy Statement, and a key function of the EMS is to ensure that sportscotland operates in accordance with this policy statement.  This statement can be viewed at using the links opposite.

EMS project

The project is managed on a day-to-day basis by the Project Manager.  Lead Officers are responsible for progressing the project in relation to specific environmental aspects as they relate to operations at sportscotland Head Office (Caledonia House). The Lead Officers each report to the Project Manager in this regard.

The Project Manager liaises with a Lead Officer for the project at each of the National Centres and at SIS.  The Lead Officers at the Centres, together with the Project Manager, are responsible for setting targets and delivering the project at each Centre.  The SIS is responsible for setting its own targets, delivering the project and reporting performance to sportscotland.

The Project Manager reports to a Project Champion and Project Steering Group. This Group is chaired by the Project Champion and is responsible for the strategic direction of the project and for agreeing project plans, setting targets and general oversight of the project.  Major decisions on the project scope and direction and on budgeting are subject to approval of the Senior Management Team. sportscotland’s Board, who approved the Environmental Policy Statement, receive reports on project progress as and when appropriate.

Targets have been set for environmental aspects, where sportscotland has a significant influence, and sportscotland publishes annual reports setting out progress against our environmental targets. These are stand-alone documents, posted on the website and with written copies available on request.  Copies of the annual environmental performance reports are also sent to the Scottish Government and other key partners.  The performance report for 2006/07 can be viewed using the link opposite.