Appendix 4: Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance

Ecologically sustainable development (ESD) is:

… using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.

—National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, 1992

The department's mission is to contribute to total quality of life now and in the future by:

increasing the profitability, competitiveness and sustainability of Australian agricultural, food, fisheries and forestry industries and enhancing the natural resource base to achieve greater national wealth and stronger rural and regional communities.

It follows that ESD is not an 'add on' function of the department, but our core business. We are responsible for administering—solely, principally or jointly—Australia's major ESD initiatives.

ESD principles

The principles of ESD are as follows:

• 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 current generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment are maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations (intergenerational equity).
• The conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision making.
• Improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.

Our contributions to ESD through our policies and programs

The policies and programs developed and administered by the department make economic, social and environmental contributions to ESD.

Table 44 lists major policies, programs and initiatives that we manage, and indicates their contribution to ESD. Based on dollar value, approximately 60% of these activities contribute to economic outcomes, 20% to social outcomes and 20% to environmental outcomes.

The effectiveness of the department's policies and programs is reviewed frequently, leading to recommendations for improvements. The 'Reviews and evaluations' section in this report details results from such reviews in 2007–08.

The following legislation, administered by us under the Administrative Arrangements Order, contributes directly to ESD:

Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994

Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Administration Act 1992

Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994

Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Products (Collection of Levy) Act 1994

Fisheries Management Act 1991

Fisheries Administration Act 1991

Quarantine Act 1908

Quarantine Proclamation 1998

Quarantine (Christmas Island) Proclamation 2004

Quarantine (Cocos Islands) Proclamation 2004

Quarantine Regulations 2000

Quarantine Service Fees

Determination 2005

Quarantine Service Fees (Australia Post) Determination 2005

Notice of Declaration of a Special Quarantine Zone

Natural Resource Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992

Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989

Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002.

Our contributions to ESD through our internal operations

The department actively participates in the Government Agency Environmental Network. The department was a member of the Greenhouse Challenge Plus Program from 2004. This program was an initiative between Australian Government and industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The department was advised that the program finished on 30 June 2009.

Since 2007–08, the majority of central office staff has been based in new Canberra premises. The two largest premises include energy-saving, water-saving and recycling facilities. It is expected that after the buildings are formally assessed they will achieve a 4.5 National Australian Built Environment Rating System star rating next financial year. 

The new central office buildings' water-saving initiatives include recycling rainwater (estimated to achieve a 30% saving in water consumption); stormwater retention and reuse for irrigation, washdown and cooling towers; waterless urinals and toilets flushed with rainwater; infrared sensors for hand taps (operating only when hands are under the faucet); and 4A‑rated toilets (4.5‑litre full and 3‑litre half flush).

The department recycles paper, cans, glass, plastic and compostable waste as well as used printer and toner cartridges. It is estimated that more than 80% of discarded paper was collected for recycling.

The department purchased 20,866 reams of paper through the copy centre in 2008–09, a decrease of about 12.32% from the previous year. Of all the paper bought by the department during the year, 80% had a minimum recycled component of 10%. Our copy centre also recycles paper to make writing pads.

We encouraged staff to use double-sided photocopying where possible. Double-sided printing is available on photocopiers, which can also be used for printing from the data network. The copy centre estimates that 75% of its orders for photocopying are for double-sided output.

The department's property portfolio comprises 110 sites across Australia and the Torres Strait, taking up approximately 414,045 square metres. The properties range from corporate offices and storage facilities to special-purpose buildings, such as laboratories, quarantine stations and dog kennels. At 221,000 square metres, the Eastern Creek Quarantine Station in Sydney is the largest of our properties.

We continued to review our environmental management to ensure compliance with international standards, and are continuing the process to develop, implement and maintain an environmental management system for our major sites.

Energy-saving initiatives during 2008–09 included T5 lighting that switches off after hours and in specific areas when not in use, automated blinds to control heat gain and reduce air-conditioning costs, external gardens that reduce air-conditioning costs, considerable use of bicycles for transport to work, and strong moves towards electronic publishing.

Fuel consumption continued to decrease for the department's vehicle fleet. AQIS averaged 11.91 litres per 100 kilometres and the department averaged 13.08 litres per 100 kilometres in 2008–09. Due to the cessation of the department's executive vehicle scheme, it is expected that fuel consumption figures will continue to decline over the next two financial years. We encourage drivers on departmental business to purchase ethanol blended fuel (E10) where possible, and the department continues to monitor usage of E10 and other fuel products. We are also examining the use of four-cylinder casual hire vehicles for city use.

Figure 15 shows our total energy use, including fuel, and our net greenhouse gas emissions (total emissions minus offsets) for the five years to 2007–08.

Energy use shows an increase in 2007–08 because the department was relocating from the Edmund Barton Building to 18 Marcus Clarke Street and 7 London Circuit, City, and the figures reflect energy usage for operating two headquarters during the transition. In addition, higher energy consumption was compounded by changes to the Edmund Barton Building metering following the landlord's energy audit.

Figure 16 shows greenhouse gas emissions per full‑time equivalent employee and per square metre of premises for the same period.

Figures for 2008–09 were not available from our services providers in time for publication here, but will be reported in next year's annual report.

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