australasian campuses towards sustainability: a birds eye view of sustainability in higher education...
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Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability:
A birds eye view of sustainability in higher education down under
Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC)12th Annual Conference 31 March – 2 April 2008
Lania LynchACTS President
Environmental Management CoordinatorJames Cook University, QLD AUSTRALIA
Sustainability Down Under
– Environmental Impacts of Australian Higher Education
– Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability
– Sustainability Initiatives Down Under
– Education for Sustainability
Environmental Impacts of the
Higher Education Sector in Australia
Sustainability Down Under
• The typical Australian Uni– produces 1% of Australia’s
Greenhouse emissions– uses between 500 million and 1
billion litres of water per year– generates more than 1000 tonnes
per annum of waste, of which 40% is recyclable
– have large vehicle fleets and are large trip generators
– have significant environmental risk issues
– are densely populated locations with high environmental impacts close to that of a small city
Sustainability Down Under
Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability
www.acts.asn.au
Sustainability Down Under
ACTS
The primary forum for sustainability in the Australian and New Zealand tertiary sectors.
Mission
“to promote the integration of the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) within the curricula and operations of these sectors”
Sustainability Down Under
• ACTS Begins… – Commenced as a email listserv in 1997
(UNSW)– Members primarily tertiary
environmental managers/officers with interested students/staff
– Known as “Australian Universities Environmental Management Network” (AUMEN)
– 1st conference in Sydney Sept 2001– Successful annual conferences followed
in 02, 03 and 04, organised by host Uni– Increasing email discussion and
momentum on greening campuses– AUMEN had no formal structure, difficult
to foster momentum or store IP– AUMEN changed to ACTS in 2004 to
reflect the increasing involvement of the vocational educational sector
Sustainability Down Under
ACTS Realised…– Incorporated in QLD in January 2006
6 Founding Member Universities
• Australian National UniversityDavid Carpenter (ACTS President 06-07)
• James Cook UniversityLania Lynch (Vice President 06-07, President 08)
• Griffith UniversityDelwyn Langdon (Secretary/Treasurer 06-08)
• Monash UniversityBelinda Towns (Executive 06-07, Vice Pres 08)
• Uni of Canterbury (NZ)Kate Hewson (Vice President 06-08)
• University of Ballarat (2007 conference host)
Sustainability Down Under
• ACTS Membership …– $550 Tertiary (incl. 5 staff & conf reg)– $20 Student– $1500 Corporate– $750 Government– $350 (Non-government organisations)
• Membership base (2008):– 25 universities (4 in NZ)– 7 vocational sector (1 in NZ) – 100% membership renewals to date– Most Australian Universities are now
members
Sustainability Down Under
• ACTS services…..– Coordinating the Annual Australasian Campuses
Towards Sustainability Conference– Producing the ACTS Newsletter– Workshops, trainings and professional development
opportunities– Coordinating an on-line email forum– Lobbying government as to the importance of ESD in
the higher education sector– Establishing partnerships with other higher education
associations and global sustainability initiatives
• ACTS website www.acts.asn.au– Extensive resource base for Australasian Tertiary
Sustainability Initiatives– 2008 conference papers accessible to EAUC members– Other areas on request to ACTS Executive
Sustainability Down Under
Sustainability Down Under
Sustainability Down Under • ACTS 2007 Annual
Conference…..– Katoomba, Blue Mountains
World Heritage Area– Full papers on website
• ACTS 2008 Annual Conference…..– 8th annual conference in
Christchurch, New Zealand
– University of Canterbury (founding member)
– Wednesday 1 October till Friday 3 October
– EUAC members welcome to attend
– Details will be provided to all EAUC members
Sustainability Initiatives in the Australasian
Higher Education Sector
http://www.engineeringforsustainability.org/
Sustainability Down Under
• A birds eye view– Significant growth in sustainability
initiatives since the late 1990’s– 95% of Australian universities have
environmental policies– 90% have environmental management
plans– Most have energy and water reduction
programs– Growing awareness among senior
management/government about the importance of sustainability initiatives in higher education
– Most universities and TAFES include sustainability related content in coursework
– Many have sustainability institutes, centres, programs and offices working to embed sustainability in the higher education sector
Sustainability Down Under
http://www.anu.edu.au/anugreen/
University of Cantebury (NZ) http://www.sustain.canterbury.ac.nz/
TAFE NSW http://environet.wikispaces.com/
Monash Sustainability Institute http://www.monash.edu/research/sustainability-institute/
Sustainable Campus Group (Victorian Uni’s & TAFES) [email protected]
Sustainability Down Under Specific Australasian Campus Initiatives
Education for Sustainability• EfS examples from 2008 ACTS Conference Presentations
(available at www.acts.asn.au conference tab)
Sustainability Down Under
– “Developing a Whole-of-University Approach to Educating for Sustainability: linking Curriculum, Research and Sustainable Campus Operations” Jennifer McMillin (ANU, Canberra)
– “Review of Beyond Leather Patches Project” Sarah Holdsworthy (RMIT, Melbourne)
– “Transdisciplinary teaching and learning for sustainability in the tertiary sector” Juliet Willetts (UTS, Sydney)
– “Mainstreaming EfS in Pre-Service Teacher Education” Ruth Tregale and Leanne Denby (Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability - ARIES, Macquarie University, Sydney)
– “Best Practice EfS examples from TAFE NSW Western Institute” Richard Ingham and Lyndon Field, Western Institute, TAFE NSW
ACTS Contacts Go to www.acts.asn.au
– President [email protected]
– Vice President (Australia) [email protected]
– Vice President (New Zealand) [email protected]
– Vice President (Vocational Education) [email protected]
– Secretary/Treasurer [email protected]
Sustainability Down Under
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now. William H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition, 1951