The East West Railway Company today re-stated its environmental principles to reflect the critical importance of meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
The re-stated principles now clearly show how East West Rail is aligned with the UNSDGs, which are designed to be a ‘blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all’ and are supporting discussions at the UN’s Climate Change Conference – COP26 – which is taking place in Glasgow this week.
Download the East West Rail UNSDG Fact Sheet.
EWR Co first published its environmental principles in 2019 and they have been a fundamental part of EWR Co’s plans for East West Rail (EWR), the new sustainable railway serving communities between Oxford and Cambridge. The principles include:
- Respecting important sites and locations – building and operating so we don’t damage the important environmental and heritage sites in your local area
- Protecting your farmland – protecting soil resources and agriculturally important land
- Caring for your landscape – enhancing the quality of landscapes and townscapes and considering how what we build can be designed to blend in with your local environment
- Contributing to the fight against climate change – designing, constructing and operating in a way that helps us with our aim to be a net zero carbon railway
- Protecting you from flooding – working carefully to make sure your water sources are protected, and that we don’t cause any increase in flooding through our construction or operations
- Sourcing responsibly – sustainably sourcing what we need and reducing our waste to get the best maximum use out of everything we buy
- Respecting our neighbours – effectively managing and controlling noise vibration and pollution to avoid affecting your health or quality of life
- Protecting species – delivering biodiversity net gain by approaching development so biodiversity is left in a better state than we found it
- Preserving your heritage – protecting your historic environment through preserving and enhancing your heritage assets
Simon Blanchflower CBE, CEO, East West Railway Company, said:
“As the world’s leaders gather this week for COP26 it’s important to consider how all of us can play our own part in tackling climate change. Caring for the environment is at the heart of everything we do and as an organisation, we’ve set ambitious environmental goals for the Project that align with domestic and global climate priorities, including the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“East West Rail will be a new, environmentally sustainable way to travel between Oxford and Cambridge and I’m proud of the strides we’re making to live up to our environmental principles, which include commitments to achieve biodiversity net gain and protecting important species and habitats between Oxford and Cambridge, and our aim to deliver a net zero carbon railway.”
EWR Co has published more information on its approach to the environment on a new web page here. The page highlights how the organisation is meeting its environmental principles and will grow over time to become a one-stop-shop for anyone wanting to learn about the environmental aspects of EWR.
Today’s announcement particularly highlights how EWR’s Environmental Principles align with the following UNSDGs:
3 - Good Health & Wellbeing
7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10 – Reduced inequalities
11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
13 - Climate Action
15 - Life on Land
17 - Partnerships for the Goals
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Notes to editors
EWR Co and the environment
Caring for the environment is at the centre of everything that we do. At each stage of planning and developing East West Rail we work to ensure nature has a proper place in our plans. EWR Co is already delivering its environmental principles, including:
- Striving for net zero carbon in line with existing and developing net zero carbon policy and legislation
- Committing to 10% biodiversity net gain between Bicester and Bletchley
- Taking a sensitive approach to developing route alignments by avoiding directly impacting the most important environmental and heritage sites in the area
- Surveying for protected species to help us understand where species and habitats are in the landscape and how they use it, enabling us to consider their needs as we design the railway
About the East West Rail project
East West Rail intends to create a new direct connection between Oxford and Cambridge. Serving communities across the area, it intends to bring faster journey times and lower transport costs as well as ease pressure on local roads.
East West Rail is planned to be delivered in three Connection Stages:
- Connection Stage One: Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes
- Connection Stage Two: Oxford to Bedford
- Connection Stage Three: Oxford to Cambridge
Network Rail was responsible for developing the first part of the East West Rail, connecting Oxford with Bicester, and is a partner in a construction alliance to deliver Connection Stage 1 of the project, where East West Railway Company (EWR Co) and Network Rail are acting as the Department for Transport’s joint sponsors.
EWR Co is now developing the route to enable services to run to Cambridge via Bedford and plans to seek statutory powers under the Planning Act 2008, following a period of extensive consultation.
About East West Railway Company
East West Railway Company (EWR Co) was set up by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2018 to develop East West Rail, a railway with customers and communities at its core.
We have a mission to innovate and challenge the status-quo in the rail and construction industries, leading to a more efficient and cost-effective project delivery, and a great experience for passengers and the communities we serve. Our vision is delivery of a safe and secure railway that is better for the customer; cheaper for the taxpayer; delivered quicker than before and is greener for the environment.
Our distinctive outlook and commitment to doing the right thing for our customers and local communities runs through everything we do and every decision we make.
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