Annual Report - 4.5 Ecologically Sustainable Development

Table of contents

Part 3: Management Arrangements

Part 4: Accountability Reporting

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The Environment Protection and Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999 identifies the principles of ecologically sustainable development as:

decision-making processes should effectively integrate both long-term and short-term economic, environmental, social and equitable considerations;
if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation;
the principle of inter-generational equity – that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations;
the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision-making; and
improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.

Section 516A of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 requires the Department to report on the following subsections of the Act in its Annual Report.

Legislation Administered by the Department During 2008–09 Accords with Ecologically Sustainable Development Principles (Section 516A(6)(a))

In 2008–09, the Department managed more than 66 pieces of legislation. Examples of legislation administered by the Department and its regulators that were relevant to, and met ecologically sustainable development principles, include:

the Gene Technology Act 2000, which is administered by the Gene Technology Regulator. This Act aims to protect the health and safety of people and the environment through the identification of risks posed by gene technology and the management of those risks via regulating dealings with genetically modified organisms; and
the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989, which provides for a national notification and risk assessment scheme for industrial chemicals, that protects people and the environment by determining the risks from industrial chemicals and recommending measures to manage identified risks.

A full list of legislation administered by the Department can be found in Part 4.6 Freedom of Information.
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Outcome Contribution to Ecologically Sustainable Development (Section 516A(6)(b))

In 2008–09, the Department delivered a range of policy, program and regulatory activities through its 15 Outcomes with the aim of meeting the community’s health and ageing needs. Activities that addressed the principles of, and had relevance to, ecologically sustainable development included:

support for the Gene Technology Regulator in regulating activities involving live and viable genetically modified organisms. These activities ranged from contained work in certified laboratories to releases of genetically modified organisms into the environment. The Regulator imposed licence conditions to protect the environment, and used extensive powers to monitor and enforce those conditions;
risk assessments of industrial chemicals in, and newly introduced to, Australia for their effects on worker safety, public health and the environment. Undertaken through the Department’s National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, these included assessments of hazards, dose-response relationships, exposure and risk levels, and risk management options. In recommending risk management strategies, economic and social benefits were balanced with the economic and social costs of implementing the strategies; and
the implementation of low regulatory concern chemical reforms which included strategies that encourage the introduction of less hazardous chemicals that pose a lower risk to the environment.

Further discussion relating to these regulatory activities can be found in the Outcome 1 Population Health chapter.

The Department also supported capital works projects to construct facilities such as clinics and staff housing in Indigenous communities, that were designed and constructed in accordance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development. For example, guidelines required the adoption of passive solar design, thermal insulation, energy efficient appliances, use of natural lighting and ventilation and other opportunities to reduce energy consumption. Design and siting of facilities must also consider the impact on local ecological features such as water systems and native vegetation and the minimisation of noise and dust.

This year saw the completion of a facilities design guideline which will be used in all future clinic development.

Refer to the Outcome 8 Indigenous Health chapter for further discussion relating to capital works projects in Indigenous communities.

The Effect of Departmental Activities on the Environment (Section 516A(6)(c))

In 2008–09, the Department’s key environmental impacts related to the consumption of energy and goods, and waste generated by staff in the course of business activities. The Department aimed to reduce its effect on the environment through its Environmental Management System, which was developed on the basis of AS/NZS 14001:1996. The Environmental Management System identifies key aspects of the Department’s core business that affect the environment, and provides for a range of measures to monitor and alleviate those impacts. The results of these efforts are discussed below.

Measures Taken to Minimise the Impact of Activities on the Environment (Section 516A(6)(d))

Reduce Energy Consumption

The Department’s ongoing maintenance program in lighting resulted in a reduction of 428,346 kilowatt hours (kWh), from 6,262,469 kWh in 2007–08 to 5,834,123 kWh in 2008–09. This equates to a reduction of 384 tonnes of CO2 emissions. When viewed in terms of units of kWH per unit of leased office area (m<sup>2</sup>), there was a downward trend from 105.6 kWh in 2007–08, to 100.8 kWh this year (see Table 4.5.1).

The Department’s participation in Earth Hour 2009 on 28 March which involved switching off lights, computers, monitors and multi-functional devices in its offices around Australia contributed to reduced energy consumption. In addition, the Department’s Therapeutic Goods Administration implemented a system of replacing existing lighting with energy efficient lighting systems.

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Table 4.5.1: Greenhouse Gas Reductions from Energy Use – Central Office 2002–09

Central Office	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09
Leased sq meters (per annum)	45,830	45,410	44,900	52,300	57,697	59,295	57,897
Energy use (kWh)	8,120,400	7,061,000	5,998,600	5,575,156	5,940,064	6,262,469	5,834,123
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (tonnes)#	7,999	6,955	5,791	5,161	6,344	5,726	5,230
Continuous annual reduction in GHG emissions	n/a	-1,044	-1,164	-630	+1,183	-618	-496
% reduction in GHG emissions (per annum)	n/a	-13%	-17%	-11%	+18.6%	-10%	-8.7
kWh per m2 of leased area	177.2	155.5	133.6	106.6	102.9	105.6	100.8

Source: The Department of Health and Ageing.
# calculated using GHG calculator at www.oscar.gov.au.

The Department expects to see further reductions in energy consumption when a number of its Central Office staff move into accommodation in 2009–10, that is designed to meet a minimum 4.5 star National Australian Built Environment Rating System and a 5 Green Star Rating. The new building will include energy efficient services.

Reductions will also be achieved in the Department’s State and Territory Offices where modern premises that are designed with a higher energy efficiency rating will be leased in Darwin and Hobart.

Purchase of Green Power

The Department’s Central Office accessed the whole-of-government electricity supply contract managed by the Department of Defence, which saw buildings supplied with ten per cent green power.

Improved Environmental Credentials of Leased Vehicle Fleet

The Department met the Australian Government target of 28 per cent of leased/pool vehicles meeting the 10.5 rating of the Green Vehicle Guide. As at 30 June 2009, approximately 94 per cent of the Department’s pool/leased fleet (comprising of 71 cars) achieved this rating. This compares with 81 per cent of 80 cars in 2007–08.

The Department also promoted the use of E10 ethanol blend fuel, which is considered to be useful in reducing carbon monoxide emissions by between 20 per cent and 30 per cent. In 2008–09, the Department utilised 2,785 litres which compares with 314 litres in 2007–08.

Recycling

As shown in Table 4.5.2, the Department’s efforts in 2008–09 saw increases in recycled paper, co-mingled recycling, and used printer cartridges. While this was good news, there were decreases in the number of recycled mobile phones and the level of organic waste diverted away from landfill.

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Table 4.5.2: Minimising Impact of Activities – Central Office 2008–09

Central Office	Volume			Environmental Impact Minimised
	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09
Office paper recycled	178 tonnes	112.5 tonnes	165.8 tonnes	Every tonne of paper recycled saves 2.5 barrels of oil, 4,100 kWh of electricity, 4 cubic metres of landfill and 31,780 litres of water. Using this as a basis for calculation, the Department saved 414.5 barrels of oil, 679,780 kWh of electricity, 663.2 cubic metres of landfill and 5,269,124 litres of water. Source: www.cleanuptheworld.org.
Old mobile phones and batteries recycled	70 items	72 items	32 items	More than 93 per cent of the materials in mobile phones can be recycled, such as nickel, cadmium, and cobalt from batteries; gold, silver, copper, tantalum, palladium and copper from circuit boards; and various plastics and other metals from handsets and accessories. The metals recycled are used to make batteries, jewellery, stainless steel, plastic pallets and fence posts. Source: www.ecoaction.com.au.
Used toner cartridges recycled	1,929 items	2,812 items	3,083 items	Refilling or sending toner cartridges back for remanufacture can extend their life tenfold. It is estimated that approximately 5 million, or 30 per cent of cartridges used annually are recovered and remanufactured. Recycling means less dependence on virgin plastic resins that are made from valuable hydrocarbon resources. At the end of a cartridge’s life the ABS plastic is recovered for other purposes. Source: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au.
Commingle recycling	6.6 tonnes	8.1 tonnes	22.7 tonnes	By transforming waste materials into usable resources, recycling reduces landfill and conserves resources, provides a way to manage solid waste while reducing pollution, conserving energy, creating jobs and building more competitive manufacturing industries. Source www.cleanup.org.au.
Cardboard recycling	15.5 tonnes	14.3 tonnes	16.9 tonnes	Recycling one tonne of cardboard saves 13 trees, therefore the Department saved approximately 220 trees. Source: www.cleanuptheworld.org.
Organics	n/a	2.7 tonnes	1.9 tonnes	Organic recycling diverts waste from landfill and greatly reduces the production of greenhouse gases. This process provides a nutrient rich compost from rotting waste that otherwise would have been lost to landfill. Source: www.anu.edu.au.

Source: The Department of Health and Ageing.

Promotion and Utilisation of Recycled Office Products

The Department operated an excess stationery store where surplus office supplies could be dropped off and collected in preference to purchasing new items.

The Department also promoted the use of printing paper comprising a component of recycled fibres and manufactured using ecologically friendly processes. As at 30 June 2009, 76 per cent of paper used by staff has a recycled component (as shown in Table 4.5.3).

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Table 4.5.3: The Department’s Paper Consumption 2003–09

Paper	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09
Total reams	92,040	63,200	68,036	81,779	79,910	65,452
Percentage change in consumption	N/A	-31%	8%	20%	-2.3%	-18.1%
Percentage white paper with recycled component	64%	66%	75%	73%	74%	76%

Mechanisms for Reviewing and Improving Measures to Minimise the Impact of the Department on the Environment (Section 516A(6)(e))

The Department strives to continually improve its environmental performance through its environment management system. The system incorporates regular reviews and audit schedules as well as evaluation processes to facilitate the achievement of system objectives, targets, and action plans.

The Department reports electricity and fuel consumption annually in Energy Use in the Australian Government’s Operations (see www.environment.gov.au), highlighting progress against government and departmental targets.
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