Greenhouse

EPA and climate change

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing society today. EPA believes it can also be one of the greatest opportunities. This section contains information to help business prepare for the low carbon economy and to help Victorians adapt to the effects of climate change.  

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Carbon Management Principles

In order to help business make and prioritise decisions on reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, EPA Victoria has developed a discussion paper (Adobe PDF file, 520KB) detailing it’s Carbon Management Principles. 

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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 (Adobe PDF file, 307KB)
• Summary of EPA's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (Adobe PDF file, 297KB)
• External Assurance Statement (Adobe PDF file, 151KB)
• EPA's Greenhouse Gas Inventory Management Plan (Adobe PDF Format 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 (Adobe PDF file, 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.

Greenhouse effect

The Earth is covered by a blanket of gases which allows light energy from the sun to pass through to the Earth's surface, where it is converted to heat energy. Some of this heat energy is trapped by gases in the atmosphere as it tries to escape back into space. This keeps the Earth, and us, warm. The gases which trap heat are called greenhouse gases. This page has information about these gases, including the impact of human activities on their generation.

More on greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect

Industry Greenhouse Program

The EPA Industry Greenhouse Program, part of the Victorian Greenhouse Strategy, applies to EPA licence holders and works approval applicants. The program aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce the associated greenhouse gas emissions, as well as improving the management of greenhouse gases that are not associated with energy usage.

The implementation of action plans under the Industry Greenhouse Program was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2006. A public report (PDF file, 529KB) describing the program results to date and with projected outcomes at the end of 2007 has now been released.

View information about the Industry Greenhouse Program, its achievements (PDF file, 529KB) and case studies with examples of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions undertaken by participating companies.

While the action plan requirement of the Industry Greenhouse Program has finished, ongoing energy and greenhouse requirements for all EPA licensees and works approval applicants still exist. As well as this, new requirements for all large energy and water-using sites are being developed under the Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans (EREP) program, through Regulations and Guidelines that have recently been issued for public consultation.

Ongoing energy and greenhouse requirements

EPA is continuing to work with companies as part of the Industry Greenhouse Program to ensure that they are aware of their ongoing energy efficiency and greenhouse obligations. These obligations are outlined in EPA publication 1083 - Energy and Greenhouse Update (Adobe PDF file, 188KB).

More about ongoing energy and greenhouse requirements

Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans (EREP)

From 1 January 2008 all commercial and industrial sites in Victoria that use more than 100 TJ of energy and/or 120 ML of water in a financial year need to prepare a plan that identifies actions to reduce energy and water use and waste generation. Each site that exceeds one or more thresholds must register with EPA, prepare a plan, implement actions with a payback period of three year or less, and report on their performance annually.

Visit the EREP section

Energy and Greenhouse Management Toolkit

This toolkit, originally prepared to support the Industry Greenhouse Program, provides Victorian business with the necessary information, tools, case studies and guidance to achieve real cost savings and improved productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It assists industry to comply with the State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality Management), and helps EPA licence holders and applicants for works approval to comply with the Protocol for Environmental Management – Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Efficiency in Industry. While the toolkit was originally prepared for EPA licence holders, it is a useful guide for any business wishing to improve its understanding and management of its energy use, thereby helping it to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting and Disclosure Pilot

The purpose of this pilot was to trial the public reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by industry with a critical focus on the issues associated with using the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) as a greenhouse gas emissions reporting and public disclosure mechanism. You can view reports of the participating companies, information about Australia's greenhouse emissions and learn about greenhouse gases.

More about the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting and Disclosure Pilot

Carbon offsets

As concern about the impact of climate change grows, a range of products is emerging to help companies, governments and the community offset their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

More about carbon offsets