As Emergency Services are funded publicly from Central Government and revenue raised locally, it is vital that they act as leaders in innovation to reduce their impact on climate change and in turn reduce costs. The risk of extreme weather events, such as flooding and heatwaves, is increasing pressure on our emergency services and damage to our ecosystems. In collaboration of Essex Police and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, I have produced an environmental strategy, to ensure that both organisations are aligned with other blue light services to reduce their carbon footprint and expenditures on budgets.
The effects of climate change are becoming more prevalent and are experienced first-hand by our emergency services as they respond to weather-related incidents. Flooding requires a response from the Fire & Rescue Service to pump water away and heatwaves lead to an increase in wildfires and the likelihood of drought. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service reported a 67% increase in wildfires during the heatwave of 2018; and the heatwave in the August Bank Holiday 2019 led to a doubling in the number of incidents. Drought could lead to little or lower water pressure and as a consequence reduces the ability to maintain normal firefighting capabilities. These risks tend to also heighten public tension, increasing demand of the police service to maintain public order. It is therefore imperative emergency services collaborate to mitigate the risks, and increase the UK’ s capacity for resilience to climate variability and change.
Essex Police and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service are responsible for one of the largest and most populated counties in the country. Essex has complex industrial sites, densely populated urban environments and remote rural areas including 350 miles of coastline with ecologically important mudflats and salt marshes. Essex covers 1,400 square miles with a population of 1.85 million. Both organisations have a number of assets contributing to the carbon footprint, all of which need to be managed efficiently to preserve finite global resources. There are a number of key changes and challenges required to continue the reduction in carbon emissions for both services. The very nature of our 24/7 service leads to a unique set of challenges. The buildings require facilities to be available 24/7, and fleet vehicles vary in size and require the ability to respond to incidents rapidly. I will therefore be a leader in trialling and evaluating new technologies which have the potential to reduce our carbon footprint, to conserve natural resources for future generations.
Essex Police and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service carbon footprint by 38% using a 2008 baseline; Essex Police by 40% and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service by 28%. This is largely attributed to advancement in technology in building plant and vehicles over the past decade. Furthermore, the power sector has significantly decarbonised in recent years contributing to this reduction. I will comply with the Government’s target of bringing all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. To reach this target significant investment is required in both building and vehicle assets.
New technologies will be adopted that fulfil operational duties and will be approved in an adequate timescale to fulfil the net zero target. Essex Police and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service will continue to collaborate by sharing research and knowledge into new technologies, along with keeping in contact with other Police Forces and Fire & Rescue Services. The direction of travel required to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 will be a challenge, nonetheless one I am determined we will meet.
