The control and monitoring of the environmental impact of its activities is important to CERN. Due to its intergovernmental status, the Organization continuously collaborates with the competent authorities in both of its Host States to ensure that its environmental impact meets the requirements of their legal frameworks, and to resolve any problems encountered.

PREVENTION

Preventing radiological environmental accidents

As a result of CERN’s preventative approach and great expertise in radiation protection, no environmental accident related to radioactivity has ever been recorded at CERN.

Preventing conventional environmental accidents

CERN’s HSE Unit is responsible for the environmental monitoring of chemical and other relevant parameters. The CERN Environmental Protection Steering Board, CEPS, is responsible for following up all environmental events, near misses, and remedial actions. CEPS also has responsibility for ensuring adequate measures for the prevention of environmental incidents.

During the period covered by this report, the Organization has not had any conventional pollution event that would have led to a fine or non-monetary sanction. However, there have been some water pollution events in the past. Lessons learnt from these incidents lead to improved early detection and intervention, and the establishment of an executive team for the Prevention of Pollution by Liquid Chemical Agents, PoLiChem. Moreover, communication and emergency preparedness with local authorities was reinforced. An environmental severity scale and an emergency intervention scheme were agreed upon with Host State authorities.