Sample Sustainability Policy for a School

The objective of this Policy is to outline the Institutes’ commitment to incorporate sustainability principles into its major functional areas i.e. teaching, research, operations and community engagement.

A sustainable & thriving environment on premises and in local communities. To support students, staff, stakeholders, administration to use resources more sustainably and to take practical action on climate change.

This Policy applies to all staff members, students and members engaged in institution’s activities or activities closely related to the institution and provides a common framework for sustainable practices and activities at Chambers Institute and all major function areas for which this policy is intended for.

Chambers Institute aims to:

• minimize the effect of its operations and move towards reestablishing ecological balance
• add to human wellbeing and prosperity
• advance social equity, value and assorted qualities

Sustainability also known as sustainable development, is defines as ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.

It contains within it two key concepts:

• the concept of ‘needs’, in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and
• the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.

(UN Documents, 1987).

The Institute’s Sustainability Policy is based upon the principles outlined as follows:

• Participation & Communication

The Institution involves students, staff and community in decision making process related to sustainability. All sorts of thoughts and expressions are welcome and will be taken under consideration.

• Integration

Long-term economic, social and environmental considerations are integrated into the Institute’s strategic decision-making processes to improve Sustainability outcomes.

• Shared Responsibility

All members of the Institution i.e. students, staff and people related to institution shares responsibility for the Instruction’s Sustainability performance.

• Global Perspective

Chambers Institute makes sure that its activities have an influence beyond the boundaries due to its close ties to the local & global communities.

• Precautionary Principle

Lack of understating will not be used to justify postponement of any precautionary measure to prevent any risk of irreversible environmental and social damage.

• Continuous Improvement

The Institutions makes consistent change in Sustainability execution regarding ecological integrity, financial viability, social value and diversity.

• Leading for Improvement

Drive-in, endorse and advance sustainability into learning, teaching, operation and community engagement techniques and exercises.

• Managing Intrinsic Impacts

Reduce consumption of energy, water and consumables, reduce waste to landfill and improve our recycling system, record energy usage and keep track of annual estimate of carbon emissions, recycling of paper, cardboard and printer cartridges, promoting use of tele and video conferencing as a preference to travel and incorporate sustainability measures into relevant business decisions.

• Managing Operational Impacts

Improve energy efficiency and reduce overall energy use, increase use of sustainable transport to and from institution, improve water efficiency in day to day operation and reduce overall water usage, improve environmental and health outcomes.

The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for the effective implementation and coordination of this policy with the help of the Administration and other coordinating committee.

Vice-Chancellor will direct initiatives to

• Develop and effectively implement a sustainability strategy.
• Ensure that the policy and strategy complies with all local & national laws and regulations.
• Make consistent improvement in execution to maximize social good and ecological integrity while minimizing any adverse impact.
• Promote and embed principles of sustainability into academic programs, teaching practice.
• Monitor and evaluate performance on regular basis to keep a check on how well we are doing and if there is any scope of improvement.
• Make sure all members including students, staff, independent contractors and people related to the intuition complies with the policy outlined.

• National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007

An Act to provide for the reporting and dissemination of information related to greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas projects, energy production and energy consumption, and for other purposes. (Australian Government, 2007)

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s central piece of environmental legislation. It provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places – defined in the EPBC Act as matters of national environmental significance. (Australian Government, 1999)

• Sustainability Victoria Act 2005

Sustainability Victoria is a Victorian government statutory authority delivering programs on integrated waste management and resource efficiency. Established under the Sustainability Victoria Act 2005, SV’s board is appointed by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. (www.legislation.vic.gov.au, 2005)

• National Construction Code

The NCC is an initiative of the Council of Australian Governments developed to incorporate all on-site building and plumbing requirements into a single code. The NCC sets the minimum requirements for the design, construction and performance of buildings throughout Australia. (Australian Building Codes Board, n.d.)

References 

Australian Building Codes Board. (n.d.). NCC Suite. Retrieved from Australian Building Codes Board: http://www.abcb.gov.au/Resources/NCC

Australian Government. (1999). Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Retrieved from Federal Register of Legislation: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A00485

Australian Government. (2007). National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. Retrieved from Fedral Register of Legislation: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2007A00175

UN Documents. (1987). Our Common Future, Chapter 2: Towards Sustainable Development. Retrieved from http://www.un-documents.net: http://www.un-documents.net/our-common-future.pdf

www.legislation.vic.gov.au. (2005). Sustainability Victoria Act 2005 . Retrieved from Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents: http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt4.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/E5BE74E39849EB1CCA25776100328F4F/$FILE/05-65a003.pdf