Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability: A birds eye view of sustainability in higher education down under Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) 12 th Annual Conference 31 March – 2 April 2008 Lania Lynch ACTS President Environmental Management Coordinator James 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 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 listserv in 1997 (UNSW) –Members primarily tertiary environmental managers/officers with interested students/staff –Known as “Australian Universities Environmental Management Network” (AUMEN) –1 st conference in Sydney Sept 2001 –Successful annual conferences followed in 02, 03 and 04, organised by host Uni –Increasing 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 Founding Member Universities Australian National University David Carpenter (ACTS President 06-07) James Cook University Lania Lynch (Vice President 06-07, President 08) Griffith University Delwyn Langdon (Secretary/Treasurer 06-08) Monash University Belinda 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 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  –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

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 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

/ / University of Cantebury (NZ) TAFE NSW / Monash Sustainability Institute Sustainable Campus Group (Victorian Uni’s & TAFES) Sustainability Down Under Specific Australasian Campus Initiatives

Education for Sustainability EfS examples from 2008 ACTS Conference Presentations (available at 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  –President –Vice President (Australia) –Vice President (New Zealand) –Vice President (Vocational Education) –Secretary/Treasurer 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