THE UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO
TE WHARE WĀNANGA O WAIKATO
Presentation of the 2012 Annual Report of the Environmental Policy Committee
to the Vice-Chancellor
Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday 12 February 2013
PRESENT:
Professor David Hamilton and Associate Professor Priya Kurian (Co-Chairs); Mr
John Cameron, Associate Professor Eva Collins, Dr Chris Eames, Ms Rachael
Goddard, Hine-iti-moana Greensill, Ms Danyell Summers, Mr Mark Thompson.
In Attendance: Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford and Mrs Alicia Drake.
Secretary:
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Ms Cassandra Beattie
2012 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY COMMITTEE (EPC)
Received
The 2012 Annual Report of the Environmental Policy Committee.
Noted in discussion
1. The ability for EPC to report directly to the Vice-Chancellor is critical to ensuring that the
Committee’s priorities and accomplishments most effectively support the university-wide
strategic goals.
2. 2012 saw the ESC raise environmental awareness amongst staff, students and the
community through new events, newsletters, competitions, lectures, educational material
and online social media portals.
3. The Oranga Lake remediation project started with a significant consultation period in 2012,
whilst the bulk of the work did not start until early 2013. This project was a considerable
investment for the University of Waikato, with some funding from the Waikato River
Authority. The bulk of the project work has been successful with the resumption expected
to last 10 years or more.
4. Looking forward to 2013, the EPC aims to initiate various plans to help the University move
toward greater energy and waste savings, and continue to promote and development
sustainability initiatives.
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REPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR
…
Received
A presentation from the University of Waikato, Environmental & Sustainability Coordinator,
Rachael Goddard as set out in Appendix 1.
Noted in discussion
1. 2012 saw positive increases in the University’s Sustainability Distinctiveness.
2. The University of Waikato was the first New Zealand institution to sign the UN
Commitment to Sustainable Practice, along with over 270 universities worldwide.
3. Two members of the Environmental Policy Committee received Kudos Awards in 2012.
4. Sustainability initiatives and events on campus had resulted in 25 positive media
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appearances in 2012 for the University of Waikato.
Education and Engagement through the Winter Lecture Series, CommUnity monthly Enviro
Column, ‘Greenbites‘ email newsletter, External ‘Going Green’ newsletter email, and Enviro
webpage on UoW website.
Student, Staff and Community engagement through events, Facebook, YouTube and
competitions.
The Campus Environmental Audit highlighted our waste, energy, carbon and travel
amounts and the costs. Annual waste audits are also conducted.
In 2013 the committee aim to develop an Energy & Carbon Plan and promote behavioural
change in staff to reduce energy usage.
Looking forward to 2013, EPC will continue to achieving ‘Sustainability Distinctiveness’ and
move forward with plans and policies.
TERMS OF REFERENCE AND CONSTITUTION
Noted in discussion
1. The terms of reference required further discussion with the Office of the Assistant Vice
Chancellor (Executive) before approval is sought.
2. The approval of the 2013 terms of reference and constitution will see the Environmental
Policy Committee be renamed to the Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC).
Cassandra Beattie
Student and Academic Services Division
22 February 2013
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APPENDIX 1
Increasing The University’s Sustainability Distinctiveness
Environmental Sustainability Report 2012
to the Vice Chancellor
•
UoW was the first University in NZ to sign the UN Commitment to Sustainable
Practices HEI
•
Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) to inspire & champion
responsible management education, research and thought leadership
•
Kudos Award winners 2012
•
Research & funding in environmental areas
•
Sustainability/ environmental/science themes feature in 80 papers
•
Key centres- LERNZ, TEMS, CEREL, IGCC & ERI
Environmental & Sustainability Coordinator
and Advisory Committee to the VC
•
Drivers/champions on campus
•
Engagement with staff, students and community
February 2013
•
Positive media stories
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UN Commitment to Sustainable Practices
Kudos Awards
• Our public commitment- teaching, research, operations, community & global
• 260 universities around the world signed the charter
• Including Griffith, La Trobe, RMIT, University Technology Sydney
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Positive Media - Reputational Benefits
Education and Engagement
25x in media 2012
• 1300 staff and students presented to in 2012
• Winter Lecture Series (225)
• CommUnity- monthly Enviro Column
• ‘Greenbites ‘ email newsletter to 140 staff monthly
• External ‘Going Green’ newsletter email
• Enviro webpage on UoW website
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APPENDIX 1
Student Engagement
Community and staff engagement
• New Enviro Facebook page for students
• 12,000 followers on UoW Facebook
• Youtube videos
• Competitions
• Waste branded
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Waste Diversion
Campus Environmental Audit
• Waste to Landfill- 400 tonnes (100 tonnes is organic)
• 3 tonnes of food waste from Village Green
• 70% of waste is recyclable or compostable
• In 3 months over a tonne of waste diverted from landfill by; gifting carpet,
equipment and furniture to local community
• Cost $200k for waste disposal
• No Throw Waste Exchange
• Waste Minimisation and Management plan
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Main findings
Energy & Carbon
• Energy costs $2.44 million p/a. We use 25 million Units (kilowatt hours).
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There are further significant costs savings to be made in energy reduction
An average Hamilton household uses approximately 9,000kwh a year
•
Savings in waste with diversion systems on campus
• 144 Fleet cars travelled 2.1 million km, producing 491.4 tonnes of Co2e
•
High potential for collaboration with WRC, HCC and other agencies
• Air miles 28 million km, resulting in 3,228 tonnes of Co2e
•
We have the ability and expertise to be a leader in sustainability
• Our 6,000 trees on campus offset less than 5% of our carbon
•
We are on the way to becoming distinct in environmental sustainability
We are developing an Energy & Carbon Plan
this year, and an energy campaign for
behaviour change
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APPENDIX 1
Challenges
2013
•
Sustainability, though taught /researched does not necessarily lead to action
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Sustainability Plan
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Inconsistency between faculties & behaviour/systems/information
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Waste Minimisation & Management Action plan
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Misinformation in the areas of: recycling, energy, and IT, hindering behaviour
change
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Energy and Carbon Action plan
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Campus Green event booklet
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Sustainability is not a compulsory paper, nor does it feature across all papers
•
Animated educational films for students
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We could make significant savings with behaviour change (waste & energy)
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Sustainability needs embedding as a key part of specific objectives, KPIs,
targets at a high level (Auckland Uni Strat Plan)
Engage the community in awareness and education
of sustainability concepts
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Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but is now a ‘must have’
We will continue to advise the VC strategically on
sustainability
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2013 – Lakes To Walk To, Not Around
Achieving Distinctiveness- Sustainability
 An enviro showcase centre, highlighting our research, cutting edge technology and
solutions to issues, open to the public, called the Green House
 Our Sustainability Plan is cutting edge and influences change
 Organic waste is diverted from landfill, and dealt with on site
 All suppliers to the University have environmental credentials
 All suppliers heed the UoW Environmental Purchasing Policy
 Host Leadership in Sustainability conference, and a Maori & sustainability event
 Students and staff choose UoW because of our reputation in sustainability
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