Electricity production, distribution and use result in a number of environmental impacts. These occur at local, regional and global levels. Greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity losses, for instance, are best addressed globally. Emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides have more of a regional impact. Local issues might include airborne pollutant emissions, cooling water intake and discharges, landfills, injury to animal and plant populations, and land use changes.

Over the last several decades the electricity industry has gained much experience in understanding and addressing these impacts and has achieved remarkable reductions in these, without compromising growth in electricity supply.

At Powergen, we recognise the environmental impacts of our activities and that is why we are committed to high standards of environmental care and to continually improving our environmental performance.

Our Environmental Policy commits us to improve our environmental performance by:

• Complying with legislation and if possible exceeding minimum legal requirements;
• Maintaining effective and efficient Environmental Management Systems;
• Minimising environmental risks and preventing pollution;
• Reducing the visual impact of our operations;
• Promoting the efficient use of transport in all our activities;
• Managing our land sensitively and promoting nature conservation.

We also recognise that our stakeholders have a role to play and aim to:

• Educate and train our staff to conduct their activities in an environmentally responsible manner;
• Inform our suppliers and contractors of our high environmental standards;
• Encourage high standards throughout our supply chain;
• Encourage all our stakeholders to use energy and resources efficiently.
  

We have an 'Environment Forum', comprised of senior managers which meets regularly to review and address environmental issues across the UK business. The main aims of the Forum are to :

• Guide decisions on environmental consequences;
• Ensure consistent application of policy and approach to environmental issues across the UK business;
• Secure sign-on to environmental policy and its associated guidance.