SEPA welcomes Audit Scotland report on Scotland's
environment
EXT01 – A08
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has welcomed
the key findings from Audit Scotland's report on 'Protecting and
improving Scotland's environment' which was published today
(Thursday, 14 January).
The report found that the overall quality of Scotland's
environment is good, and that the environment remains central to
meeting the Scottish Government's aim of achieving sustainable
economic growth.
SEPA Chief Executive Campbell Gemmell said: "This is an
important report that reinforces how vital the environment is to
the Scottish economy. It highlights Scotland's success in meeting
key Scottish and European environmental targets and it acknowledges
SEPA's key role in controlling pollution from industry, in
improving air quality, improving the water environment and in
Scotland's zero waste plan. I am particularly pleased to see
that the report emphasises the importance of increased partnership
and cooperation, for instance through local authorities' Single
Outcome Agreements and in more coordinated data collection and
sharing.
"There are however a number of areas of concern, including mixed
progress on biodiversity issues. The United Nations has declared
2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. SEPA, with other
Scottish organisations, has signed up as a partner, with a
commitment to enhancing, protecting and promoting biodiversity in
Scotland.
"Achieving Scotland's future environmental targets will prove
challenging. As the report says, public bodies like SEPA have
a major role to play in protecting and improving the environment
but they cannot do this alone."
Ends