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Verification
Objective
BMT
Asia Pacific Limited was appointed to verify the contents of EPD's
Environmental Performance Report 2004 (EPR 2004). The verification
intends to provide EPD's stakeholders with external assurance of
the accuracy and completeness of information presented in the report.
This
Statement is issued based on:
- Independent
third party opinion - BMT was not involved in any aspects of
the preparation of EPR 2004; and
- The findings
of a verification process that involved validation of a representative
selection of data and claims, checking of data collection mechanisms
and information management systems, assessment of the report's
comprehensiveness, and identification of areas to improve EPD’s
reporting process.
Approach
A
series of meetings covering data review sessions was held between
29 June and 5 July 2004 with EPD’s divisional representatives
including senior professional and technical staff. During the process,
BMT reviewed, examined and checked selected claims and reported
figures, relevant supporting data and documented evidence, as well
as data systems. BMT also requested EPD to further substantiate
specific claims and make amendments to the report as necessary.
The Department's approach to management and implementation of policy
and initiatives under specific programme areas were also discussed.
Scope
The following elements of EPR 2004 were sampled during
the verification:
-
Implementation of EPD's policy, major projects under each
programme area and improvement initiatives;
- EPD's
facilitation of, and input to, major government-wide policies,
strategies and greening initiatives;
-
Local and regional partnerships and plans for pollution reduction;
- Improvements
in environmental conditions associated with the implementation
of EPD's initiatives;
- Development
and enforcement of environmental legislation;
- Legal
compliance of EPD's contracted and self-managed facilities;
- Contractor
and supply chain management;
- Emergency
preparedness and response;
- Complaints
handling and response;
- Consultation
and address of public concerns and feedback;
- External
awareness raising campaigns, community-based programmes and
training initiatives;
- Internal
green management and measures; and
- Target
setting, implementation and progress monitoring mechanisms.
Results
and Commentary
Report
Accuracy
- The claims
made in EPR 2004 examined by BMT represent an accurate
account of EPD's actions and performance in 2003. EPD
has made amendments, to BMT's satisfaction, to claims and figures
that were deemed questionable or unclear during the verification;
- Data collection
mechanisms and information management systems are generally
efficient, organised and effective. In particular, data were
systematically collected, recorded, stored and analysed in accordance
with prescribed methodologies, and specific data used to support
claims and compile reported figures were appropriately retrieved
and interpreted; and
- Reliability
and efficiency of several data systems have been improved by
expanded functions, strengthened archiving and the application
of new information technology.
Report
Coverage and Relevance
- EPR
2004 provides a balanced overview of EPD's performance
in 2003 with respect to its roles and responsibilities within
government, key programme areas and relevant projects, and significant
environmental aspects related to daily operations and services;
- As with
EPR 2003, EPR 2004 puts forth an extensive
account on the partnerships that EPD has formed on various levels
to raise awareness, advance local trade-specific programmes,
reinforce regional efforts and further sustainable development;
- The report
clearly sets out EPD's on-going measures to address impacts
arising from its own operations and services. It also provides
year-on-year review by systematically covering year 2003 improvement
targets under each programme area, specific actions taken and
progress recorded in 2003 and planned targets for year 2004
and beyond;
- The report
considerably increases disclosure of EPD's actions to address
negative public opinions and concerns related to on-going projects
and emerging controversial issues.
Recommendations
for Future Reports
EPD
is encouraged to:
- Further
improve the presentation of achievements and progress against
policy commitments and strategic goals by providing an at-a-glance
overview, preferably in graphical format, for each programme
area; and
- Move towards
sustainability reporting by including elements on financial,
health and safety, social and sustainability performance, considering
relevant guidelines by the Global Reporting Initiative.
14
July 2004
Ben
Ridley
Director, BMT Asia Pacific Limited |
Deanna
Li
Lead Verifier, BMT Asia Pacific Limited |
Federick
Wong
Data Reviewer, BMT Asia Pacific Limited |
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