Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is committed to embracing environmental sustainability in the delivery of Service excellence. We continue to strive to achieve this goal by reducing energy demand, working towards zero waste sent to landfill and reducing our Service wide carbon footprint year on year.
Our vision remains to be a Fire and Rescue Service where the sustainable use of resources and associated environmental issues are embedded in all our decision-making processes and enhancing the economic, social and environmental well-being of our communities.
We are fully aware that our operations influence the global and local environment and therefore we are committed to minimising any adverse impacts wherever finances, operations and resources allow.
The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, sets a requirement for the Fire and Rescue Service, as a Statutory Member of each Public Service Board (PSB), to collaborate and work towards improving the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being in our area by strengthening joint working across all public services in Wales. We attend PSBs in all 6 counties which ensures we support and set objectives to maximise the PSBs contribution to the well-being goals.
Our Sustainability and Environmental Strategy 2020-2025 sets out the main principles, proposals and required actions to reduce the environmental impacts of the Service’s activities and operations. Maintaining certification to the highest level of the Green Dragon (2016) Environmental Management Standard year on year ensures that we continue to challenge ourselves and stimulate sustainable and environmental improvements.
Looking towards the future, we continue to have even greater challenges to meet on our journey to minimise our impact on the environment. We have made great strides forward in the last year despite the difficulties resulting from the Global pandemic, by reducing our carbon footprint, growing our fleet of electric vehicles and electric charging infrastructure, improving the energy efficiency of our estates and working towards enhancing biodiversity to our sites.
I believe we are providing a leading role in environmental issues for others in the public sector in Wales. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all employees and other Stakeholders for their continued support and valued contributions in helping to achieve our sustainability aims. I look forward to the year ahead as we continue our sustainability journey.