ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STAKEHOLDER/REFERENCE COMMITTEEMINUTES OF MEETING 4/2015

Meeting 4/2015 of the Environmental Sustainability Stakeholder/Reference Committee was held at 10.00 am on 20 October in Room G21, 15 Innovation Walk at the Clayton campus of Monash University

1. PROCEDURAL MATTERSDocuments &

Action

1.1 APOLOGIESBelinda Allison Nikki SilbertTony Hudson Jemma SouthgateDamon Rapke Brett Walters

1.2 PRESENTThose present were:Paul Barton (Chair) Ariel LiebmanNav Brah Gujji MuthuswamyZachary Dorner Meg Ralph(Secretary)

In attendance:Karen Freiden

1.3 WELCOMEPaul Barton (Chair) welcomed new members and introduced them.

1.4 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTESThe minutes of meeting 3/2015 of the Environmental Sustainability Stakeholder/Reference Committee meeting held on 25 August were confirmed.

The Chair thanked Nav Brah for his presentation at Meeting 3 on the management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investment, noting that the discussion was timely as Monash is currently reviewing its own ESG investment policies.

11/2015Confirmed minutes to

be posted at the Environmental

Sustainability web site

2. ENGAGING COMMUNITIES

2.1 ENGAGING WITH STAFFThe Chair reviewed Facilities and Services engagement with Monash University staff on environmental sustainability programs. He introduced Karen Freiden, a relatively new Sustainability Coordinator working on staff engagement. The Chair explained that Monash engaged with staff via a range of modes that include: The Green Program, the main staff engagement program, which Karen

expanded on later in the meeting. This Program, in place since 2000, began as a one page 10 point plan and has progressively evolved over 15 years.

Articles, newsletters Social media, e.g. Facebook page (facebook.com/monashgreen/) Events, both national and state-based Sustainability representatives, volunteers who drive sustainability actions in

their departments/schools. Karen Freiden presented the key features of the Monash Green Program. She commenced by describing the development of the program over the years. A review in 2004 resulted in a renewed focus on enhancing the professional skills of representatives in leadership and change management as well as sustainability. In 2011, the focus moved to Green Labs and on creating green networks within the University.

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The objectives of the Green Program include: Improved staff environmental awareness Environmentally responsible work habits Reduced University environmental impact Financial savings.

Currently, the Green Program has 5 levels, providing departments with the opportunity to progress through a range of sustainability initiatives. There are 11 categories of activity to select from and 58 activities included in these categories, some of which are core and some of which are elective. Most areas have completed Level 1, with popular activities including turning lights out, battery recycling, reducing bin sizes, cartridge recycling and using 100% recycled paper. Each department receives a certificate on completing a level. A Google site houses information on, and resources for, the activities at each level and an online forum that enables sustainability representatives to share information and to solve issues. The Program is managed by the Sustainability Co-ordinators. The Sustainability Representatives are supported by a monthly meeting and a calendar of events that advertises development opportunities, e.g. a tour to a recycling plant. Karen reported that 34 or 6.5% of work areas have participated, which means that approximately 552 staff has engaged with the Green Program. Departments are expected to complete a level of the Green Program in 12-18 months, with Sustainability Representatives spending approximately 1 hour per month on the Program.Improvements in 2016 will include:

Restructuring levels to ensure that they are achievable Improving access to information and communication with Sustainability

Representatives Redesigning the look of the Google Site Developing a video for instructional and promotional purposes to improve engagement Improving the recognition and certification process Increasing the number of Sustainability Representatives registered to participate in the

Green program.

Members discussed a range of issues in relation to the Green Program, which included:

Karen explained to Nav Brah that no incentive was provided for Sustainability Representatives other than the training received in the role as they were mostly passionate about sustainability. Paul Barton added that the University needed to determine how to engage areas without sustainability champions.

Karen and Paul explained to Nav that training was provided by specialist speakers, utilising the Green Steps program at Monash Sustainability Institute. Approximately 10-15 representatives currently attended the monthly meetings, which may be too frequent.

The Chair asked Nav whether the pool of professional staff available to undertake roles such as these at the University of Sydney was also decreasing as has occurred at Monash, resulting in the remaining staff having limited time. Nav explained that in the past the University of Sydney had a sustainability workgroup. Limited resources have meant that meetings have been held once per year. A new strategy for staff engagement will be developed following a recent increase in resources.

Following a proposal by Gujji to involve representatives in research, the Chair suggested that representatives might volunteer to participate in research projects, such as the microgrid program being undertaken by Ariel, outside the Green Program.

Nav commented that staff engagement was worth exploring at a Group of Eight Universities forum.

Ariel Liebman asked if the impact of the Green Program had been tracked. The Chair replied that the impact at the local level could be seen with decreases in paper used, increased use of recycled paper and choice of sustainable stationery but not with energy and water. Karen commented that increases in battery and cartridge recycling were also evident.

Zachary Dorner suggested that 'Greening up their Act' could be used to show the importance of sustainability as promotional for departments. The Chair replied that some departments use it in this way, but others don't see the advantages. For this reason, the Sustainability Representative is required to obtain the commitment of the

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head of department/school in Level 1 of the Program. Karen Freiden suggested that requiring departments of a certain size to

participate in the Green Program would increase the number of departments using the Program.

The Chair thanked Karen for the information presented to the Committee.

3. MONITORING AND REVIEW

3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORSThe Chair explained that insufficient data was available at this time to enable drafting of the environmental performance indicators for January to September 2015. The indicators would be circulated when available.

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4. LEGISLATIVE IMPACTS

The Chair noted a range of legislative impacts, which included:

4.1 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AMENDMENT (STANDING) BILL 2015

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standing) Bill 2015 was introduced to Parliament on 20 August. The Bill repeals section 487 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act), which enables individuals or organisations to seek judicial review, if, at any time in the two years immediately before the (EPBC) decision, they have engaged in a series of environmental conservation or research activities in Australia or an external territory.

4.2 EMISSIONS REDUCTION FUND SAFEGUARD MECHANISMThe draft emissions reduction fund safeguard mechanism, legislative instruments and associated explanatory statements were released for comment by the Federal Department of the Environment on 2 September. The instruments are expected to be finalised in late 2015 with the safeguard mechanism scheduled to commence on 1 July 2016.

4.3 THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT AND AWARENESS 2014 – 18

The National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Management and Awareness 2014 – 18 was released.

5. NEXT MEETING

The Chair thanked members for their participation in the discussions during the year and wished them a merry Christmas and relaxing break. Members were invited to provide suggestions for topics of interest to be discussed next year. Notice of meetings for 2016 would be circulated.

Distribution List:

Paul Barton (Chair) Director, Business Support, Facilities and Services, Monash UniversityNav Brah Engineering & Sustainability Manager, Campus Infrastructure & Services,The University of SydneyZachary Dorner Postgraduate student representative, Monash UniversityDr Tony Hudson Environmental Sustainability Manager, CSIROJun Li Acting Building Performance Analyst, Planning, Facilities and Services, Monash UniversityMeg Ralph (Secretary) Project Manager, Business Support, Facilities and Services, Monash UniversityJemma Southgate Environmental Manager, Westpac Banking Corporation

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