Sustainability of the State of Victoria, Australia - Coursework Example

SUSTAINABILITY VICTORIA By Institution: Date of submission: Instructor Executive Summary As a resident of Victoria, there are many things that I need to know about environmental sustainability in the state. In this article, I sought to find out information about the initiatives of environmental sustainability. The Sustainability Victoria organization is founded under the Sustainability Victoria Act 2005. It is an organization that pushes for several sustainability initiatives in Australia. To realize its purpose and vision the organization has several objectives that have all been outlined in this paper. The article has also outlined the organizational board of the organization as well as the organizational chart along with the customer service charter. Moreover, I have also focused on waste and resource recovery in Victoria and outlined the specific initiatives taken by the Sustainability Victoria on behalf of the State of Victoria. Furthermore, under this section, I have also outlined the several priorities and achievements that the organization has had between the years 2012 and 2015. I also focused on resource efficiency whereby I outlined the several initiatives taken by Sustainability Victoria to achieve resource efficiency around Victoria. These initiatives include installation of solar hubs and use of wind power. Table of Contents Introduction 4 Scope of Analysis 4 Objectives 5 Who We Are 5 Organizational Chart 9 Waste and Resource Recovery 12 Resource Efficiency 15 Examples of Energy Efficient Technologies in Victoria 17 SUSTAINABILITY VICTORIA Introduction In a world that is constantly changing, issues of sustainability are bound to arise; the current global population has to meet their needs in a sustainable manner. If the needs are not met sustainably, this may compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainability gives priority to the environment; it takes into account the effects that people’s actions have on the environment and how these actions can be reduced or countered. Issues of sustainability are taken into account by the various policy makers as they have to reflect on the effects of their actions on the environment. The State of Victoria, Australia has an agency that promotes sustainability around the state. Such initiatives are often taken by state governments to improve the lives of the citizens of the state and increase awareness of environmental sustainability. While there are several elements of Sustainability Victoria, this paper only focuses on three elements; who Sustainability Victoria are, integrated waste and resource management as well as resource efficiency. Scope of Analysis As stated earlier, this paper will only focus on three elements of Sustainability Victoria. The first element will come under the topic ‘who we are’; in this topic, I will focus on several aspects that include but are not limited to the organizational structure, board as well as usage policy. The section of the paper will focus on waste and resource recovery whereby I will look at the priorities and achievement of Sustainability Victoria. The resource efficiency section will focus on energy and material efficiency as well as the technologies recommended by Sustainability Australia to reduce environmental harm. Objectives The objectives of this paper include establishing of who Sustainability Australia are, looking at their approach to waste and resource recovery and examining their strategy towards resource efficiency in the State of Victoria, Australia. Who We Are Sustainability Victoria is established under the Sustainability Act 2005. The agency is devoted to improving the livelihood around Victoria by enhancing the way that the State manages it resources. Moreover, the organization intends to see Victoria become a leader in terms of addressing issues of climate change globally. The vision of the organization is ‘to maximise value from resources to support liveable and prosperous Victoria’. Besides, Sustainability Victoria also has a purpose that is ‘to lead integrated waste management and resource efficiency in Victoria’ (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). Sustainability Australia focuses on integrated waste management and resource efficiency to realise its vision and purpose. Integrated waste management is the basis of Sustainability Victoria and under this element; the organization focuses on several aspects. These elements include having a state-wide and forward thinking strategy in terms of waste and resource efficiency. Moreover, the organization centers on enhanced uptake of waste minimisation practices. The other aims are expansion of the recycled products markets as well as decreasing the littering behaviour (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). Resource efficiency, on the other hand, focuses increased energy efficiency in households and commercial buildings, SMEs and schools. Sustainability Victoria falls under the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Water that is headed by Hon Lisa Neville. The organization is managed by a seven member board that is led by Ross McCann. The other members of the board include Roger Parker, Suzanne Evans, Arron Wood, Megan Flynn, Daniel Fyfe and Kane Thornton. It is of significance to note that these members have a wealth of experience on matters to do with environmental sustainability. The CEO of Sustainability Victoria is Stan Krpan. Moreover, Sustainability Victoria partners with several state departments in Victoria that include the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning as well as EPA Victoria and Waste Resource Recovery Groups (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). The organizational chart for Sustainability Victoria is shown below and it also shows the various levels of management in the organization. Organizational Chart The organization also has an environmental management system that helps the residents of Victoria reduce their ecological footprint. Among the initiatives the organization uses to achieve this objective include the minimization of the production green house gases and the minimizing the use of water. Besides, the offices of the organization are a leading example in terms of achieving this goal. The other important aspect of the Sustainability Victoria is the customer service charter that outlines the organizations several values. The values include responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and human rights. The charter also outlines the business hours as well as other contact information that the residents can use to get in touch with the organization. The progress report of the organization shows that the organization has been gradually attaining its objectives. For example, between July 2012 and May 2014, Sustainability Victoria had funded 305 sustainability projects in Victoria. Additionally, the organization has a business plan and produces various annual reports for its various stakeholders (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). Waste and Resource Recovery The State government of Victoria is advised by Sustainability Victoria in terms of waste and resource planning. The organization leads in terms of coming up with waste management programs. The total waste produced in the state of Victoria is expected to increase 20.6 million tonnes to 12.2 million tonnes by 2043; this can be attributed to the anticipated population increase. The organization on behalf of the Victoria Government has identified two initiatives that will help the state maximise resource recovery. For example, the organization has identified infrastructure of up to $810 million dollars for the next thirty years. Moreover, the organization plans to make up t $5 billion investments in terms of upgrade as well as expansion of existing infrastructure. These infrastructure and investment will be met by following the state infrastructure plan that was formulated by Sustainability Victoria (Sustainability Victoria n.d.) Sustainability Victoria aims to achieve a top integrated waster as well as resource recovery system by having several priorities. Firstly, there is the priority is having a statewide waste and resource recovery plan; this plan provides a roadmap that will make sure that Victoria has infrastructure to manage waste for the next 30 years. Moreover, regional waste and resource recovery implementation is also a priority for Sustainability Victoria; this priority limits the infrastructure need to 10 years. Education on waste and resource management is very important and Sustainability Victoria has this as a priority. Under this priority, the organization aims to ensure that the government, business and education sectors as well as the general public are aware of the importance of waste management. The other priority is to develop strategy for recovered resources for the Victorian Market; this priority aims to stimulate market for recovered resources around Victoria. The pie chart below shows the initiatives explained above (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). The management of organic waste is also important around Australia and Sustainability Victoria ensures this by having an organics resource recovery strategy. This objective helps the organization to sensitize the government and businesses to manage organic waste better. Moreover, the organization collaborates with several groups and local council to support waste and resource recovery initiatives. The other priority is provision of constant and coordinated investment initiatives for waste as well as resource recovery initiatives. The waste and resource recovery data is also managed effectively and made available to various stakeholders (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). In the years 2012- 2015, Sustainability Victoria has had several achievements that have contributed to the realization of its overall objective. There has been an increase recovery of products as well as materials that are either a risk to the environment or are a valuable resource. Moreover, the organization has ensured that the market for recycled products has been enhanced. Furthermore, there has been an improvement on waste and recovery infrastructure. There has also been a reduction in the littering behaviour as well as an increased uptake of waste minimization practices (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). Resource Efficiency Sustainability Victoria has a diverse strategy for resource efficiency and it involves the maximization of the value derived from the use of energy and material resources. Moreover, the strategy also takes into account the minimization of the environmental impact from the material and energy use. The residents of the state of Victoria consume resources to sustain their lifestyle not only at home but also at work and during their leisure. This in turn gives rise to direct and indirect costs to the Victorian community. Besides, the increasing Victorian population also puts pressure on the existing resources. With this information, Sustainability Victoria realizes that the efficient use of resources is essential. The question that arises is what role the organization plays in terms of ensuring the efficient use of energy resources. The organization works with the targeted sectors to enhance the implementation of cost effective practices. To ensure this is achieved, Sustainability Victoria will encourage the adoption of resource efficient technology. Moreover, the organization will also motivate the demand for resource efficient goods as well as services. Sustainability Victoria will also ensure the realization of tangible benefits. These objectives will be achieved by providing efficient energy for the commercial office buildings and encourage stakeholder to take up more energy efficient technology. In terms of energy efficiency, Sustainability Victoria has the objective of increasing energy efficiency for selected stakeholders not only in commercial buildings but also households. This objective has ensured that more commercial buildings around Victoria use smarter energy and households are buying energy efficient hardware. It is interesting to note that other states have also taken up such initiatives. Furthermore, energy and material efficiency is ensured by increasing energy as well as material efficiency to the various stakeholders. The organization also encourages the use of technologies that reduce harm on the environment such as the solar hub shown below. The other technologies include the use of wind power and the energy efficient power generation station (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). Sridevi (2014) suggests that the use of renewable energy sources is important in achieving energy efficiency. The main objective of promoting such technologies is because they ensure sustainable development so that environmental problems like climate change and high carbon emissions can be controlled. Examples of Energy Efficient Technologies in Victoria (Solar Hub in Mildura) (Proposed Wind Power Project) (Gisborne Zone Substation) Conclusion Environmental sustainability issues have become essential in countries around the world. In my estimation, I think that the State of Victoria through the Sustainability Victoria organization is in the right direction in terms of achieving environmental sustainability. Although the organization has faced several challenges, the funding that it gets through the state government has ensured that these challenges are countered. With a board that has members with a wealth of experience on the issues to do with environmental sustainability, the organization will help the state of Victoria in more ways than one in achieving sustainability. Moreover, with more energy efficient programs the state of Victoria will not only be an Australian leader in terms of environmental sustainability but also a world leader. In general, I think that Sustainability Victoria is realizing its overall objective of environmental sustainability. References Sridevi, G 2014, Environmental Sustainability: Role of Green Technologies, Springer, Berlin. Sustainability Victoria, n.d., 'About Sustainability Victoria - Sustainability Victoria', Sustainability.vic.gov.au, accessed from . Sustainability Victoria, n.d., 'Waste and resource recovery - Sustainability Victoria', Sustainability.vic.gov.au, accessed from . Sustainability Victoria, n.d., 'Resource efficiency - Sustainability Victoria', Sustainability.vic.gov.au, accessed from . Read More

Besides, Sustainability Victoria also has a purpose that is ‘to lead integrated waste management and resource efficiency in Victoria’ (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). Sustainability Australia focuses on integrated waste management and resource efficiency to realise its vision and purpose. Integrated waste management is the basis of Sustainability Victoria and under this element; the organization focuses on several aspects. These elements include having a state-wide and forward thinking strategy in terms of waste and resource efficiency.

Moreover, the organization centers on enhanced uptake of waste minimisation practices. The other aims are expansion of the recycled products markets as well as decreasing the littering behaviour (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). Resource efficiency, on the other hand, focuses increased energy efficiency in households and commercial buildings, SMEs and schools. Sustainability Victoria falls under the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Water that is headed by Hon Lisa Neville. The organization is managed by a seven member board that is led by Ross McCann.

The other members of the board include Roger Parker, Suzanne Evans, Arron Wood, Megan Flynn, Daniel Fyfe and Kane Thornton. It is of significance to note that these members have a wealth of experience on matters to do with environmental sustainability. The CEO of Sustainability Victoria is Stan Krpan. Moreover, Sustainability Victoria partners with several state departments in Victoria that include the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning as well as EPA Victoria and Waste Resource Recovery Groups (Sustainability Victoria n.d.).

The organizational chart for Sustainability Victoria is shown below and it also shows the various levels of management in the organization. Organizational Chart The organization also has an environmental management system that helps the residents of Victoria reduce their ecological footprint. Among the initiatives the organization uses to achieve this objective include the minimization of the production green house gases and the minimizing the use of water. Besides, the offices of the organization are a leading example in terms of achieving this goal.

The other important aspect of the Sustainability Victoria is the customer service charter that outlines the organizations several values. The values include responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and human rights. The charter also outlines the business hours as well as other contact information that the residents can use to get in touch with the organization. The progress report of the organization shows that the organization has been gradually attaining its objectives.

For example, between July 2012 and May 2014, Sustainability Victoria had funded 305 sustainability projects in Victoria. Additionally, the organization has a business plan and produces various annual reports for its various stakeholders (Sustainability Victoria n.d.). Waste and Resource Recovery The State government of Victoria is advised by Sustainability Victoria in terms of waste and resource planning. The organization leads in terms of coming up with waste management programs. The total waste produced in the state of Victoria is expected to increase 20.

6 million tonnes to 12.2 million tonnes by 2043; this can be attributed to the anticipated population increase. The organization on behalf of the Victoria Government has identified two initiatives that will help the state maximise resource recovery. For example, the organization has identified infrastructure of up to $810 million dollars for the next thirty years. Moreover, the organization plans to make up t $5 billion investments in terms of upgrade as well as expansion of existing infrastructure.

These infrastructure and investment will be met by following the state infrastructure plan that was formulated by Sustainability Victoria (Sustainability Victoria n.d.) Sustainability Victoria aims to achieve a top integrated waster as well as resource recovery system by having several priorities.

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