2007) Environmental responsibility in emergency management – what the Australasian

The community expects all services provided by government and other organisations to be delivered in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible way. While emergency services and land management agencies can help to protect the environment by limiting the effects of fire and other incidents on air, water, land and biodiversity, many emergency management activities have potential to harm the environment. This can expose organisations to significant corporate risk. Management of environmental risk is not always easy. Environmental protection is not always, or not always seen to be compatible with efficient and effective delivery of services. In addition, many of the issues, and the positive contributions of emergency managers to environmental protection are not well understood by the community. Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) members from across Australia and New Zealand are working cooperatively through the Environmental Management Work Group (EMWG) to help member agencies to improve their management of environmental risks. This paper outlines the projects that EMWG is currently working on, and how the products to be developed will help member agencies