Sustainable development action plan

Cefas' role in delivery of Sustainable Development (SD)

The Government's SD goal is:

'to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations'.

To achieve this goal, the UK Government's SD strategy, Securing the Future describes four shared priorities for UK action:

• Sustainable consumption and production
• Climate change and energy
• Natural resource protection and environmental enhancement
• Creating sustainable communities and a fairer world

Securing the Future also describes the shared UK principles that will be used to achieve the four shared priorities:

Defra champions Sustainable Development across government, the UK and internationally and has Public Service Agreements (PSAs) that reflect the need to deliver economic, social and environmental sustainability. The PSA are:

• securing a healthy natural environment
• tackling the causes and consequences of climate change.

PSAs are achieved through eight Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs):

• tackling climate change
• a healthy natural environment
• sustainable consumption and production
• addressing environmental risk and emergencies
• a thriving farming and food sector
• championing sustainable development
• strong rural communities
• a respected department.

As an executive agency of Defra, Cefas' business is inextricably linked to supporting Defra's PSA and DSOs. We work alongside Government and other agencies both in the UK and internationally to play a vital role in securing healthy marine and freshwater environments for everyone's well-being, heath and prosperity. This includes providing leadership in understanding the challenges presented by climate change on aquatic environments and ecosystems, and associated options for mitigation and adaptation.

This is achieved by providing evidence based scientific advice, managing related data and information, conducting world-class scientific research, and facilitating collaborative action through our wide ranging international relationships.

We apply expertise and knowledge gained through over 100 years of applied science and research to support DSOs (as outlined in Annex A), examples being our work to:

• conserve and enhance marine and wider aquatic environments and ecosystems.
• ensure effective and sustainable use of natural resources, in particular fish stocks
• collect, interpret and manage data to underpin decisions and performance assessments
• protect society and the economy from the effects of aquatic contaminants and fish diseases
• promote adaptation to the impacts of climate change on the aquatic environment and ecosystems
• enable Government and other customers' response to emergencies

Cefas incorporates SD into its scientific advice and consultancy, and its operations. It encourages its people to address SD in their day-to-day working lives. This is done to provide an integrated approach to support and achieve the shared UK priorities and principles, and Defra's PSAs and DSOs.

Benefits to Cefas

SD is at the heart of Cefas’ business. In running the estate, this means we take action to reduce the environmental impact of our activities by reducing the use of utilities, reducing waste, increasing recycling, sustainable procurement and travel, and promoting biodiversity. In addition, the advice we provide to government and others, to use in formulating sustainability policies, is based on sound scientific evidence and promotes sustainability. Working with partners and building capacity also feature strongly within Cefas’ science. In being an employer this means raising awareness of SD, equal opportunities, promoting wellbeing, meeting diverse needs, volunteering and also engaging with the community to promote training opportunities and knowledge within our competences.

By implementing sustainable development throughout our business, Cefas benefits by:

• meeting the UK Government sustainable development strategy commitments
• demonstrating to stakeholders, customers and staff that Cefas is environmentally, socially and economically responsible
• reducing the environmental impact of its activities
• working efficiently (procure less, use less, waste less)
• increasing its competitive edge.

Building on Cefas’ first SDAP report

Cefas’ first Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) was published in December 2005. The Sustainable Development Commission’s (SDC) assessment of the SDAP was ‘Gaining momentum’, and the SDC suggested strengths to build upon and challenges for the 2007 SDAP.

The SDC has recently published a progress report on the Cefas SDAP, which summarised that ‘Cefas reported good progress against its SDAP actions, and varying levels of progress on how it was embedding sustainability across the organisation’. In the self-assessment section of this progress report, Cefas assessed the agency as follows:

• Policies: 6/10 (on course)
• People: 5/10 (some progress)
• Operations: 7/10 (on course)
• Governance, monitoring and reporting: 5/10 (some progress)

This SDAP intends to build on the progress already made. It highlights the key priority actions for 2007–09 where delivery will impact most towards Cefas’ and the Government’s commitments in Securing the Future. Each action is linked to a UK shared priority.

Cefas’ transformation programme

Over the next three to five years Cefas will undergo major change activities relating to its estate and business management systems. These changes will have a large impact on operations in terms of reducing the impact of our activities on the environment. Most of Cefas’ work will be consolidated onto two sites. The Burnham laboratory will be closed by 31 March 2009 with staff from that site transferring to the Lowestoft site by December 2008. The Lowestoft site will close in autumn 2010 with relocation to a new purpose-built complex called the Waveney Campus. This new build is a joint venture between Cefas, Waveney District Council and part of Suffolk County Council. Cefas will move into new laboratory facilities and office accommodation that will provide for effective and flexible ways of multidisciplinary working. The Business Plan 2007–08 provides further details. These activities are included within this SDAP and provide an ideal opportunity for Cefas to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development in the design and specification for the new building. The Waveney Campus building is being designed to achieve a BREEAM excellent rating which means that at least 10% of the Campus energy requirements will be met from zero and low carbon technologies.

Building capacity and SD communications

Whilst Cefas business is inextricably linked to SD through complying with the shared priorities for UK action – particularly natural resource protection and environmental enhancement – Cefas further embeds SD into the business through its business planning system and communications strategy. The SDAP actions from this plan are included within the annual plans of Business Units and the Corporate Centre to ensure delivery and outcome. SD objectives are agreed with Division Directors and Corporate Centre Group Managers. The intention is to progress the ‘people’ self-assessment score by continuing to raise awareness of SD. Although the output of Cefas’ work supports SD, staff are still developing their understanding as to how it best integrates into their work.

Cefas will communicate this plan to employees via the intranet, team meetings and notice boards. The plan is communicated to stakeholders and the public through the Cefas website.

Cefas supports the ‘Defra as Sustainability Leader’ (DaSL) programme and staff will attend workshops that Defra provides as part of this programme.  

Cefas as an employer and member of the community

Cefas aims for SD to be at the core of its HR policies and activities. Cefas continues to encourage a culture of continuous learning and development within the organisation and works with the Professional Skills for Government (PSG) initiative. The future of Cefas is dependant on the knowledge the organisation has and the application of this knowledge to customer requirements. Staff are consulted and involved in decision-making through staff committees. Cefas offers a flexible workplace that enables work-life balance issues to be met in addition to meeting customer needs.

CSR will also continue to be demonstrated through the following initiatives:

• Participation in National Science Week and at the BA Festival of Science
• Project Trident at Burnham (two-week work placements for 14–15 year olds)
• Affiliation with Abilities at Weymouth. Abilities is a continuous work placement programme for those experiencing difficulty returning to work
• Science master class at Lowestoft (50 students for one day)
• Science Student Partnership (mentoring for two sixth-form science students)
• Collaboration with Weymouth College forensics course involving student placements, lab demonstrations to the course and participation in the steering committee
• Ad hoc participation in lessons and science projects at 2 local schools

With Diversity being taken up as a major initiative within core Defra and more broadly, Cefas intend to further strengthen our own good record through full compliance with the Disability Rights Commission (DCR).

SD in our scientific advice and research

Cefas provides multidisciplinary scientific research and consultancy to government departments and other customers on the status and management of UK and European fisheries; environment and ecosystems; and aquatic health and hygiene. Further details can be found in the Cefas Science Strategy 2005-2010. Cefas is not involved directly with national policy-making and hence does not routinely use Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIA). Cefas supports policy-makers by using ‘sound science responsibly’. Research and consultancy scientific advice to Government assists their policy and implementation decisions on key sustainable issues. These include global conventions e.g. the OPSPAR Convention for Protection of the Marine Environment of the North Atlantic, and the Bergen Declaration; European Direction e.g. the Common Fisheries Policy; and national direction e.g. the Marine Bill 2005. Cefas’ main focus is on natural resource protection and environmental enhancement, climate change and energy, and sustainable consumption and production.

Cefas increasingly provides research and consultancy work for overseas governments, the European Commission, national and multi-national industries (oil, energy, chemical aggregate, marine), regulators, enforcement agencies and other managers of coastal resources. All customers stipulate the scope of the research and consultancy work Cefas undertakes.

The business Divisions that undertake research and consultancy work are:

• Fisheries
• Aquatic Health and Hygiene
• Environment and Ecosystems
• Monitoring and Programme Management

Fisheries Division

This Division undertakes scientific investigations and analyses required to evaluate the status of populations of target and non-target species, the marine ecosystem, the marine environment and biodiversity as a basis for formulating advice for the management of fisheries. In undertaking this work, Cefas’ scientists participate in national and international organisations of relevance to UK fisheries management including the Working Groups, their Advisory Committees and management of ASCOBANS, ICES, NAFO, NEAFC, and STECF.

This Division also supports the work of the NSRAC and NWWRAC and their various working groups; together with the management of the Fisheries Science Partnership – an industry-initiated collaboration with scientists who work towards achieving an efficient fishing industry and sustainable fish stocks. Collectively, this work fully supports the shared UK priority for natural resource protection and environmental enhancement. This work contributes directly to the Defra DSO of a healthy natural environment and its corresponding intermediate outcome and indicators (Annex A).

The key area of the work that contributes most to sustainable development is described below.

Aquatic Health and Hygiene Division

This Division focuses on the detection and control of disease in fish and shellfish including pathogen characterisation; the environmental impacts of disease on fish and shellfish health and fish welfare; and food safety to ensure food marketed does not pose a public health risk. This work is conducted for Defra, FSA, and other public bodies and commercial enterprises.

Disease: The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) monitor all fish and shellfish farms in England and Wales to ensure all stocks are free from notifiable diseases. In addition, the FHI assess the farms to ensure that the welfare of the fish has not been compromised. Thus sustainability is developed by promoting fish health and hence the sustainability of farm businesses. This supports natural resource protection.

Environment and animal health: Work includes the monitoring of the health status of wild stocks in selected areas around the English and Welsh coast and assessing flatfish for any abnormal tissue pathologies that would indicate environmental chemical contamination. This supports the Defra Clean Seas Environment Monitoring Programme, with resulting data reported to the International Committee for Exploration of the Seas (ICES). This work contributes to natural resource protection and environmental enhancement, i.e. sustainability of marine fish.

Food safety: Bivalve shellfish in England, Wales and Scotland are monitored for biotoxins. Shellfisheries exhibiting biotoxins above the critical level are notified to the Foods Standards Agency (FSA) who implement legislation to ensure that affected shellfish do not enter the human food chain until their biotoxin level has decreased to an acceptable level.

The above projects are conducted under contract from government organisations and all help government to reach its sustainability goals.

Environment and Ecosystems Division (E&E)

The E&E Division conducts rigorous and internationally respected science that underpins the ecosystem approach to the management of resources. E&E science focuses on describing and predicting physical, chemical and biological processes in order to understand how they affect, and are affected by, human activities and change. This science supports the delivery of rational management of finite resources in order to provide a clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse environment, to help society to prepare for and to tackle the consequences of climate change, and to assess and to deal with environmental risks and emergencies. Customers include Defra, industry, the EU and overseas clients. This science activity contributes to the shared UK priorities for natural resource protection and climate change and energy.

Monitoring and Programme Management (MPM)

The MPM Division is directly involved in operationally delivering data and programmes to customers through:

• conducting direct marine environment and resource data monitoring through Cefas’ custom built research vessel, other moving platforms and a range of fixed platforms
• developing and supporting technological solutions to collect and manage customer data to solve marine and environmental needs
• managing complex marine environment and resource programmes on behalf of customers to combine necessary Cefas and external collaborators to deliver a required outcome.

Sustainable operations on the government estate (SOGE)

The Cefas Environmental Policy Statement commits Cefas to maintaining ISO 14001 environmental management systems (EMS). The SOGE targets for Government are reflected in Cefas’ EMS targets and the agency reports on these annually to Defra. The closure of the Burnham site and transfer of staff to Lowestoft will result in a reduction in site carbon emissions (e.g. savings on gas at Burnham) and a temporary increase in travel carbon emissions and waste at both Lowestoft and Burnham as the move occurs.

In preparation for the transfer to Waveney Campus, Cefas plans to roll out information technologies described below at Lowestoft in preparation for the move to Waveney Campus.

• ‘Thin client’ IT- reduced carbon emissions compared to conventional PCs (i.e. power use is 20W/work station compared to 100W/work station). Approximately 30 staff are already using ‘thin client’
• network printing – to reduce the number of local printers
• server virtualisation, i.e. to reduce the physical population of servers therefore requiring less power and air conditioning and thus lower heat emissions. Thirty servers have been virtualised since April 2007.

At Weymouth electrical consumption will be reduced through the following actions. 

Sustainable procurement

Cefas carries out its major procurement activity (Facilities Management, research vessel services, travel, stationary, PCs) through Defra Procurement and Contracts Division and the Office of Government Commerce’s (OGC) list of suppliers. For this procurement activity Cefas is assumed to be at the same level of the Flexible Framework as Defra. Cefas does not have a procurement team, procurement is undertaken by staff within the Business Units and the Corporate Centre. To progress sustainable procurement in this area Cefas has focused on embedding level 1 of the Flexible Framework. The Head of Supplier Management is the sustainable procurement champion. Cefas will participate in the sustainable procurement training that Defra provides. 

Sustainable travel

Cefas business requires travelling to undertake scientific activities (sampling, inspections) and to liaise effectively with our customers and stakeholders. Whilst staff are encouraged to only travel when necessary, the choice of travel mode needs to be the most safe, sustainable and cost-effective.

The Bicycle Users Group continues to progress issues relating to cycling to and from work.

Cefas continues to offset unavoidable emissions from air travel through the Government Carbon Offsetting Scheme.

A staff survey has been undertaken on commuter travel arrangements and the results of this have informed the Waveney Campus Travel Plan, which is to be finalised by February 2008.

Governance and accountability

The Chief Executive has overall responsibility for sustainable development. At Cefas Management Board (CMB) level, the Finance Director has responsibility for progressing this plan and reporting on how SD is embedded and implemented within Cefas. The SDAP and central policies are set to drive SD improvement. Managers in the line are then responsible for implementation, co-ordination and monitoring the actions and policies within the Divisions and the Corporate Centre.

All board papers are required to consider sustainability before approval and all staff are encouraged to work in a sustainable way.

The progress against the targets set in this plan will be monitored and evaluated every six months with progress reported to the SMT in the standard format. An expanded version of the end of financial year management performance report incorporating SD performance will be evaluated by the CMB. A report on this plan will be included in the Cefas Annual Report and Accounts, which is produced at the end of each financial year. The plan itself will be reviewed in January 2009 and updated for the next period of the plan.

This action plan was approved by the Cefas Management Board on 30 November 2007.