ANUís Environmental Management Plan

In early 1999 the Vice-Chancellor released the ANUís Environmental Management Policy. This policy committed the university to a variety of principles ranging from promoting environmental awareness and responsibility on campus to identifying and monitoring the universityís community, legal, and ethical environmental obligations. An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) was developed to provide a strategic framework through which to pursue these goals. The current EMP details strategies for improving environmental performance in the following areas:

• Energy Management;
• Waste Management;
• Water Management;
• Air Quality Management;
• Biodiversity Management.

ANU Green

ANU Green is the user-friendly term for the Universityís EMP. This program will be formally launched early in 2000. A web site has been established that provides all the information you need to know about environmental management on campus; the URL is http://www.anu.edu.au/facilities/anugreen.

Greenhouse Challenge

The university has joined the Commonwealth Governmentís Greenhouse Challenge program. This program is designed to encourage corporations to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions. The university has completed an in-depth inventory of all its greenhouse gas emissions and has implemented a variety of strategies in an attempt to reduce them. We have begun purchasing green energy from ACTEW, and we hope to increase our percentage of green energy over time. We have also joined the Greenfleet program through which we hope to reduce emissions from our car fleet and to establish CO₂ sinks in the ACT region.

ANU Environment Award

The University has established an ANU Environment Award, which will be given annually to individuals or groups who make a significant contribution to the universityís environmental performance. Nominations close on 30/6/2000, so if you know of any individual or group who you think is worthy, give them a surprise. See the ANU Green web site for nomination forms and judging criteria.

Organic-matter recycling trial

In early 2000, the university will establish a six-month organic-matter recycling trial. The aim is to compost a large percentage of our gardening waste and kitchen scraps and to reuse the compost on campus. If the trial is successful then we will move to a full-scale operation. So if you see an organic recycling bin, please put your leftovers in it, and help contribute to the success of the trial.

Recycling

The year 2000 will also see the introduction of a corporate recycling program. We hope to have standardised recycling bins across campus. So please do your bit and put your recyclables in the right bin.

Green Office campaign

The year 2000 will also see the introduction of a Green Office Campaign. Through this campaign we hope to raise awareness about how students and staff can become better environmental managers within the office environment. A variety of pamphlets and posters will be made available that outline what you can do. See the ANU GREEN website for further information.

The year 2000 is an important year for environmental management on campus, a great many things are happening and the involvement of staff and students will be a prerequisite for success, so please get involved where you can.

Comments, Queries or suggestions email enviro.collective@student.anu.edu.au