Environmental Performance and Ecologically Sustainable Development
Section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) requires Australian Government organisations to include in their annual report a section detailing their environmental performance and their contribution to ecologically sustainable development. IBA is committed to the development of a strong environmentally responsible culture, and promoting and supporting environmentally sustainable practices by all employees and associated contractors. In doing this, IBA is committed to the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) as detailed at section 3A of the EPBC Act. Table 24 details IBA’s ESD activities. It addresses the requirements of section 516A(6) of the EPBC Act.
| ESD reporting requirement | IBA response |
|---|---|
| How IBA’s activities accorded with the principles of ESD | IBA has established a working Environmental committee that promotes ESD activities in IBA. The objectives of the committee are to:
A draft Environmental Policy has been prepared by the committee for consideration by the IBA Board. |
| Outcomes contribute to ecologically sustainable development | IBA’s single appropriations outcome has no ESD implications. |
| Activities that affect the environment | There are a range of opportunities to reduce the environmental impact within IBA’s national office and regional offices and specific IBA program activities.
IBA is examining and exploring a potential leadership role in policy development, information provision, management of business risk and the development of new business opportunities in the carbon economy. |
| Measures taken to minimise the effect of activities on the environment | IBA uses an Environmental Management System to identify and manage any potential environmental impacts, particularly within its procurement activities. There is also an environmental management plan for each construction activity.
IBA encouraged staff to implement double-sided printing, paper recycling and reuse of printer toner cartridges. It also recycled all superseded mobile phones, computer monitors and computers. IBA prepared a draft Procurement General Manager’s Instruction that requires staff to consider environmental impacts when procuring goods or services. |
| Mechanisms for reviewing and increasing the effectiveness of measures to minimise the impact of activities on the environment | The Environmental committee has identified a number of metrics to monitor IBA’s environmental improvement in the workplace (such as electricity usage, paper usage, consumables, and staff travel). IBA is committed to continual improvement in the management of its environmental performance. |