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House in Order, Legal Compliance as a Prerequisite to Greening Campuses CAMPROSA Sun City , 10 September, 2012. Johan G Nel Centre for Environmental Management & Faculty of Law North-West University Potchefstroom Campus Private Bag X6001 POTCHEFSTROOM 2520. Contents and Introduction.
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House in Order, Legal Compliance as a Prerequisite to Greening CampusesCAMPROSA Sun City , 10 September, 2012 Johan G Nel Centre for Environmental Management & Faculty of Law North-West University Potchefstroom CampusPrivate Bag X6001POTCHEFSTROOM2520
Contents and Introduction • Introduction • Making universities more sustainable • Lessons learned • Getting started - First things first • What are the issues • Compliance management • Then onto the low hanging fruits • Some low hanging fruits – smaller footprints • Where to from here? • Conclusion © CEM
Existing Models • All life and economic activities depend on • The natural resource base with ecosystem services • Quality of life • Vibrant economies, and • Good government © CEM
What is Sustainability? • Moving towards a more sustainable state means that all four elements of sustainability need to be addressed • Sustainability is • Not an arrival point • It remains a journey of improvement of • Environmental performance • Social investment • Sound finances and • Good governance © CEM
Sustainability Links with the Green Environment • Sustainability elements • Reduce resource use intensity • Improved efficiencies • Reduce harm to the environment • Prevent pollution • Prevent degradation • Protect the earth systems vitality, diversity and functionality • Biodiversity • Ecosystem services • Prevent and reduce waste © CEM
Making Universities More Sustainable • Like any other organisation universities are also challenged to embark on trajectories that are more sustainable • The key question is: • What may the most appropriate trajectory be from which to launch and negotiate this movement towards a more sustainable future? • Use a modified generic, rostrum transition model © CEM
TRANSITION TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Legal Compliance Impact Management Towards Sustainable Production, Consumption & Communities Resilient Partnerships - Responsive Livelihoods ? INCREASED VALUE Optimised & Mainstream Sustainability profile More sustainable products/ services and communities Product & service stewardship - Partnership experiments Mainstream academic - Research & Community Service Programmes Triple bottom line experiments - GRI Management system integration - SCR Management systems - eco-efficiency - effectiveness Social Corporate Investment Projects Low hanging fruits and beyond – Win-win solutions Pollution prevention – cleaner production -public information strategies Compliance – preactive - labour reforms/staff equity Compliance – Secrecy reactive/protectionist policies House in order – Retrospect - Prospect Waste / costs / non-compliance - Conflict with NGOs - Civil Society 1960 1996 2000+ Mature highly integrative Pro-active Unprepared Aware/reactive Mainstreaming © CEM
Lessons Learned • Our competitors have started a long time ago • We need to progress through these phases • No leap frogging but fast tracking is possible © CEM
Getting Started – First Things First: Ensuring Legal Compliance
TRANSITION TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Legal Compliance Impact Management Towards Sustainable Production, Consumption & Communities Resilient Partnerships - Responsive Livelihoods ? INCREASED VALUE Optimised & Mainstream Sustainability profile More sustainable products/ services and communities Product & service stewardship - Partnership experiments Mainstream academic - Research & Community Service Programmes Triple bottom line experiments - GRI Management system integration - SCR Management systems - eco-efficiency - effectiveness Social Corporate Investment Projects Low hanging fruits and beyond – Win-win solutions Pollution prevention – cleaner production -public information strategies Compliance – preactive - labour reforms/staff equity Compliance – Secrecy reactive/protectionist policies House in order – Retrospect - Prospect Waste / costs / non-compliance - Conflict with NGOs - Civil Society 1960 1996 2000+ Mature highly integrative Pro-active Unprepared Aware/reactive Mainstreaming © CEM
Key Environmental Legal Requirements that may Apply to Most Universities • Estate Management • Application of herbicides and pesticides • Appoint a registered PCO • Ensure use of registered products • Manage risk exposures to staff and other passive targets • Manage waste of lapsed product, containers and contaminated washing water • Storeroom management and labeling © CEM
Key Environmental Legal Requirements that may Apply to Most Universities • Estate Management • Water use authorisations • S21 Water uses • General authorisations (GAs) • Existing lawful uses • Waste water management • Specifications for municipal sewers • Potential lagoons – agricultural and rural properties • French drains and soak aways © CEM
Key Environmental Legal Requirements that may Apply to Most Universities • Estate Management • Erosion control • Fencing – game • Veld carrying capacities • Veld fire management © CEM
Key Environmental Legal Requirements that may Apply to Most Universities • Water sources • Beds and banks • Wetlands • Boreholes • Heritage Resources © CEM
Key Environmental Legal Requirements that may Apply to Most Universities • Biodiversity Management • Alien invasive management • Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) • Bioprospectingauthorisations • Threatened or protected species (TOPs) • Game and wildlife on campusses © CEM
Key Environmental Legal Requirements that may Apply to Most Universities • Waste Management • Hazardous waste • Waste management hierarchy • Avoid • Minimise/reduce • Reuse • Recycle and recover • Energy Recovery • Responsible disposal • Incinerators • Waste disposal sites • Waste storage areas © CEM
Key Environmental Legal Requirements that may Apply to Most Universities • Hazardous Substances - Chemicals • Life cycle management • Transport – inbound • Off loading • Storage • Labeling and information SDSs • Decanting • Decentralised storage • Internal transport • Use • Disposal • Container management © CEM
Key Environmental Legal Requirements that may Apply to Most Universities • Hazardous Substances - Other • Radio-active sources • Other controlled devices (Group 3) • X-ray units • Electronic accelerators • Neutron generators • Electron microscopes • Laser equipment, etc. • PCBs - transformers • Ozone depleting substances • Asbestos • Bulk hydrocarbons • Other bulk chemical © CEM
Key Environmental Legal Requirements that may Apply to Most Universities • Campus planning, development, upgrades and maintenance • EIAs and authorisations • Green building requirements • Municipal requirements • Waste management • Effluent control • Flammable stores • Contractor control • Waste management • Social justice and access © CEM
Compliance Management • Establish the state of compliance • Legal compliance audit • Becoming compliant • Environmental management plan • Remaining compliant • Monitoring and measurement • Trending • Non-conformity management • Inspections • Reporting © CEM
Then on to Picking the Low Hanging Fruit – Early Win-Win Opportunities
TRANSITION TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Legal Compliance Impact Management Towards Sustainable Production, Consumption & Communities Resilient Partnerships - Responsive Livelihoods ? INCREASED VALUE Optimised & Mainstream Sustainability profile More sustainable products/ services and communities Product & service stewardship - Partnership experiments Mainstream academic - Research & Community Service Programmes Triple bottom line experiments - GRI Management system integration - SCR Management systems - eco-efficiency - effectiveness Social Corporate Investment Projects Low hanging fruits and beyond – Win-win solutions Pollution prevention – cleaner production -public information strategies Compliance – preactive - labour reforms/staff equity Compliance – Secrecy reactive/protectionist policies House in order – Retrospect - Prospect Waste / costs / non-compliance - Conflict with NGOs - Civil Society 1960 1996 2000+ Mature highly integrative Pro-active Unprepared Aware/reactive Mainstreaming © CEM
Reduce Footprints • Improved energy efficiency • Reduce the carbon footprint • Improved water consumption • Drive the solid waste hierarchy • Enhance biodiversity and ecological integrity • Manage all sources of potential pollution © CEM
Improve Energy Efficiency • Calculate the base line carbon footprint for all energy uses • Energy efficient buildings and infrastructure • Design new ones i.t.o. the new building regulations • Audit existing energy use • Generate an energy plan to improve efficiency, implement and track progress • Various strategies © CEM
Improve Energy Efficiency • Improved mobility © CEM
Improved Water Consumption • Audit water uses and identify water use saving possibilities • Generate a water management plan and implement and track progress • Opportunities • Gardens • Residences • Buildings • Cleansing, etc. © CEM
Drive Solid Waste Management Hierarchy • Ensure hazardous waste is managed in terms of legal requirements • Audit service providers • Manage waste transfer stations • Drive the waste hierarchy • Avoid • Minimise/reduce • Reuse • Recycle and recover • Energy Recovery • Responsible disposal © CEM
Enhance Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services • Eradicate or manage aliens and invasive species • Protect special features • Wetlands • Biodiverse areas • Sensitive habitats • Surface water features • Plant indigenous and drought resistant species • Control use of herbicides and pesticides © CEM
Manage All Potential Sources of Harm • Hazardous chemical substances • Storage • Effluent • Dangerous goods • Biological agents • Storm water © CEM
Where to From Here? From Small Victories to Large Scale Transformation
TRANSITION TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Legal Compliance Impact Management Towards Sustainable Production, Consumption & Communities Resilient Partnerships - Responsive Livelihoods ? INCREASED VALUE Optimised & Mainstream Sustainability profile More sustainable products/ services and communities Product & service stewardship - Partnership experiments Mainstream academic - Research & Community Service Programmes Triple bottom line experiments - GRI Management system integration - SCR Management systems - eco-efficiency - effectiveness Social Corporate Investment Projects Low hanging fruits and beyond – Win-win solutions Pollution prevention – cleaner production -public information strategies Compliance – preactive - labour reforms/staff equity Compliance – Secrecy reactive/protectionist policies House in order – Retrospect - Prospect Waste / costs / non-compliance - Conflict with NGOs - Civil Society 1960 1996 2000+ Mature highly integrative Pro-active Unprepared Aware/reactive Mainstreaming © CEM
TRANSITION TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Legal Compliance Impact Management Towards Sustainable Production, Consumption & Communities Resilient Partnerships - Responsive Livelihoods ? INCREASED VALUE Optimised & Mainstream Sustainability profile More sustainable products/ services and communities Product & service stewardship - Partnership experiments Mainstream academic - Research & Community Service Programmes Triple bottom line experiments - GRI Management system integration - SCR Management systems - eco-efficiency - effectiveness Social Corporate Investment Projects Low hanging fruits and beyond – Win-win solutions Pollution prevention – cleaner production -public information strategies Compliance – preactive - labour reforms/staff equity Compliance – Secrecy reactive/protectionist policies House in order – Retrospect - Prospect Waste / costs / non-compliance - Conflict with NGOs - Civil Society 1960 1996 2000+ Mature highly integrative Pro-active Unprepared Aware/reactive Mainstreaming © CEM
Conclusion • Universities have an important role to play as a leader in any transition towards a more sustainable future • Key Phases in this transformation • House in order – Retrospect – Prospect • Low hanging fruits and beyond – Win-win solutions • Mainstream academic - Research & Community Service Programmes • Resilient Partnerships - Responsive Livelihoods © CEM
Conclusion • But the first priority is • To get house order first! © CEM