EPA programs and initiatives

EPA goes carbon neutral

EPA has developed our own ‘carbon neutral’ plan and we want to share the full details and learnings from the process. This initiative was challenging, but worthwhile. We tried to apply the same business decision-making discipline we would expect from a leading company. Some of the steps we took were:

• the measurement of our carbon footprint using the World Resources Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable Development Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard;
• to help us identify and assess our options, we developed a set of draft Carbon Management Principles
• assessing reduction and offset options from a financial and environmental perspective;
• seeking independent verification of our emissions inventory and plan; and
• looking at innovative ways to make the plan commercially viable.

We have learned a lot in undertaking this process and we would now like to know what people think of our approach and how we can improve it.

More information on our carbon neutral plan:

• EPA Goes Carbon Neutral (PDF, 307KB)
• Summary of EPA's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (PDF, 297KB)
• External Assurance Statement (PDF, 151KB)
• EPA's Greenhouse Gas Inventory Management Plan (PDF, 2101KB). EPA's Greenhouse Gas Inventory Management plan is an EPA internal document outlining the process EPA goes through on an annual basis to develop its internal GHG inventory. This document is not intended as a guidance document, but rather a case study which can be used to provide insight into the development of a greenhouse gas inventory.

Further information is also available by contacting EPA’s Environmental Management System (EMS) Coordinator on 03 9695 2722. We look forward to your feedback.

• Read an article published in The Age newspaper, Monday 12 February 2007 (PDF, 121KB)

Our 2005-06 GHG inventory has been externally assured by Net Balance Management Group Pty Ltd, a consultancy with international accreditation by the International Register of Certified Auditors (UK) for sustainability assurance provision.

 

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