Action Plan for Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development

Transcription

1 Action Plan for Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development Action Plan Areas: 1. Education 2. Research 3. Cooperation with Society 4. Competence Development 5. Climate Influences Travel and Transportation Energy Consumption 6. Resources Consumption Purchasing and Procurement Waste Disposal and Sorting 7. Student Participation School of Business, Economics and Law at University of Gothenburg Vasagatan 1, PO Box 600, SE Göteborg, Sweden , (fax)

2 2 / 13 Introduction The University of Gothenburg shall be one of the leading universities in Europe for education and research in sustainable development and environmental issues. The University of Gothenburg s Environmental Policy The University of Gothenburg The above quotation states the goal of the University s Environmental Policy. The concept of sustainable development was first introduced in the Brundtland Commission Report entitled Our Common Future (1987). The Report defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of future generations without endangering their possibilities for meeting their own needs. The Report emphasizes three dimensions of sustainable development: the ecological, the economic and the societal. The Swedish Higher Education Act governs the work with sustainable development at Sweden s institutions for higher learning, stating that: In their activities, institutions for higher learning shall promote sustainable development for present and future generations in a way that ensures a healthy and sound environment, economic and social welfare, and justice. Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 5 The work related to environmental issues and sustainable development at the University of Gothenburg is influenced by environmental legislation and environmental certification. The University has had environmental certification since This certification means that we conduct our activities so as to reduce our negative environmental effects and to enhance our positive effects through our research, education and cooperation with society. The School of Business, Economics and Law Research within the fields of Business and Economics and the implementation of it is crucial in trying to solve a number of the greater global issues regarding the Earth s resources and climate change. The School of Business, Economics and Law (the School) has a strong research and education milieu for the study of sustainable development. The research encompasses many areas, for example, sustainable fish populations, climate change measures, corporate social responsibility actions, and ecological consumption. For ten years, the School has had a Bachelor Programme in Environmental Social Science that, in its unique multi-disciplinary design, integrates the Natural and Environmental Sciences with the Social Sciences and Economics. The School is host for the specialisations in Sustainable Business, Environmental Economics and Environmental Planning.

3 3 / 13 The creation and development of the School s Action Plan for Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development was a joint effort by the Departments environmental representatives, The Management Team s representative, and the School s environmental coordinator. The basis of the School s Action Plan is the University s Central Action Plan, as well as areas considered as important environmental aspects for the School, namely: Education Research Cooperation with Society Competence Development Climate Influences Resources Consumption Student Participation A draft of the Action Plan was sent to the Departments for review, after which a final draft was prepared. The Faculty Board approved the Action Plan on

4 4 / 13 The Vice-Chancellor s Assignment to The Faculty Board for the Areas of Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development The work on environmental issues and sustainable development within the University is governed by The Swedish Higher Education Act (Chapter 1, Section 5), Regulation (2009:207) on Environmental Management in Government Agencies, other relevant legislation, and the environmental certifications ISO and EMAS. In the context of this background, the Vice-Chancellor has given The Faculty Board the following assignment: and Responsibilities - To clarify and define the tasks and responsibilities related to environmental considerations and environmental work. Competence Development - To ensure that individuals whose tasks may have significant environmental impact are qualified for such work by their education, training and experience. Rules and Activity Routines - To apply general rules, or to develop rules and routines, for activities that may have environmental impact or may violate environmental legislation. Sustainable Development in Education - To integrate sustainable development, as defined by the Higher Education Act, in education at Bachelor and Master levels. Action Plan for Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development - Based on the University s general Action Plan for Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development , to prepare, conduct and follow up on its own Action Plan for Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development. Follow-up - To follow up on environmental aspects and compliance with environmental legislation, and to provide input for the University s sustainability report and its reporting to the Government Office. To do audits in accordance with the terms of the Environmental Issues Auditing Plan, with at least one review by the School Management Team.

5 5 / 13 Goals for Education Everyone here should be environmentally aware, regardless of whether they work with environmental issues or not. (Pam Fredman, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg.) During the last five years, the University has developed environmental labelling of courses and programmes. Today, about 30 percent of the courses and programmes have this labelling. Of the University s 118 courses and programmes, there are approximately 33 courses and 13 programmes with whole or partial environmental identification. The School of Business, Economics and Law offers the Bachelor Programme in Environmental Social Science, a multi-disciplinary programme within which a number of different focuses can be chosen, the School being responsible for Environmental Economics, Environmental Planning and Sustainable Business. The University s Common Goal The University shall increase the integration of sustainable development in education. - The School shall increase the integration of sustainable development at Bachelor, Master and PhD levels. - The School shall increase the number of courses holding the University s environmental labelling at Bachelor, Master and PhD levels. - The Dean will investigate the possibility of creating a Master Programme in Sustainable Development within the School. - The School s Environmental Council and the University s Environmental Unit together shall suggest a definition of sustainable development in education and shall prepare a manual for labelling courses and programmes. The suggested definition and manual, after review by the Preparatory Committee for Education, are submitted to the Faculty Board. - Integration of sustainable development at the Bachelor and Master levels and sustainability labelling courses are to be discussed annually by the Preparatory Committee for Education. - Integration of sustainable development at PhD level and sustainability labelling of courses are to be discussed annually by the Preparatory Committee for Research. - The Departments shall ensure that Course Coordinators and Programme Directors/Coordinators are knowledgeable about the sustainability labelling of courses. The Departments shall label all courses according to the School s set definition of sustainable development in education (continually). - The Departments shall ensure, to the extent possible, that there are no classes on the University s Sustainability Day (continually). - The Environmental Coordinator and the Environmental Council shall make annual reports on School and department key figures to the Preparatory Committee on Education, the Preparatory Committee on Research, and the departments. Principal Indicator The percentage of courses and programmes labelled as sustainable.

6 6 / Goals for Research Research in sustainable development at the University has increased in the last five years, primarily because researchers have defined their research as part of this area. Several research funders have also directed their funding toward this area. The University has a network of about 350 researchers working with sustainable development. Researchers from several different areas at the School study environmental issues and sustainable development. The School has a strong research environment and an extensive international network. The School s research deals with a variety of issues, such as sustainable fish populations, climate change measures, corporate social responsibility actions, and ecological consumption. Productive continuation of this research requires collaboration with environmentalists, especially those in technical and scientific fields. More than 70 researchers at the School are currently active in research issues dealing with sustainable development. The University s Common goal The University shall increase its research in sustainable development. The School shall increase its research in sustainable development. - The Management Team shall safeguard and systematise the processes for evaluating research efforts as well as review current processes (to be completed by ). - The Departments shall develop cooperation with the Centre for Environment and Sustainability and its research network, in order to receive support in the development of multi-disciplinary research projects. - The Management Team shall in 2012 create an internal prize for research in sustainable development. - The Preparatory Committee for Research, with the University s Environmental Unit and the School s Environmental Council, shall develop forms to systematically assemble data on research funds, books published, the number of doctoral students and the number of dissertations, which can be linked to the area of study. Principal Indicator The number of scientific articles published in the area of sustainable development. Reporting Indicator The number of researchers at the School who work with sustainable development issues.

7 7 / Goals for Cooperation with Society Many Departments work closely with the community, and organises and participates in a wide variety of activities outside the University. Since the University received ISO14001 and EMAS certifications, it has more than doubled its public events concerned with sustainable development. There are a number of research centres at the School that are supported by industry and society. The School has a long tradition of cooperating with external partners and making the results of its research visible. The University s 2011 Collaboration Prize was awarded to the Environmental Economics unit in the Department of Economics at the School. The University s Common Goals The University shall strengthen its cooperation with society. The University will invite the public to participate, on average, in at least two sustainable development activities per day. s The School shall strengthen its cooperation with society. The School will invite the public to participate, on average, in at least one sustainable development activity each week. - The Head of the External Relations Office, in cooperation with the Environmental Council, shall draft sustainability identifications for collaborative activities. - The Director of Corporate Relations at the External Relations Office shall annually report and register all sustainable development cooperation activities, found in the School s event scheduling system, to the Environmental Council. - The Departments shall annually report all sustainable development cooperation activities to the Environmental Coordinator. - The External Relations Office shall annually propose a theme activity for researchers and partner companies in the area of sustainable development. - The Director of Communication at the External Relations Office shall develop ways to measure and report the School s interaction with the media. Principal Indicator The number of cooperative activities with a focus on sustainable development.

8 8 / Goals for Competence Development Knowledge of environmental management is an essential part of the work of incorporating environmental concerns into all activities. Since 1998, when the processes for ISO14001 and EMAS certification were initiated, the University s staff members have had continuous education in environmental issues. The competence requirements for the various staff categories are updated yearly, on an on-going basis. Every year, basic environmental courses, theme days and special training courses are organised for staff members. Each year, the School organises theme days, lectures and seminars on sustainable development, some of which are open to the general public. The University s Common Goals The University shall ensure that all managers have had environmental management training. The University shall ensure that annually, at least ten per cent of all staff members participate in competence development in sustainable development. The School shall ensure that all managers have participated in the University s environmental management training. The School shall ensure that annually, at least ten per cent of all staff members participate in competence development in sustainable development. - The Dean shall ascertain that all managers have had environmental management training (on-going). - Heads of Department, or their equivalent, shall within the framework of their staff liability ensure that the staff members are given environmental training as needed, either through the University s portfolio of courses, or in other appropriate venues (on-going). - The Environmental Coordinator will disseminate information on the University s courses and field training to all staff members. Principal Indicator The number of managers who have undergone environmental management training. Reporting Indicator The number of staff members who have had competence training in sustainable development.

9 9 / Goals for Climate Influences This area has two sub-areas: (1) business travel and transportation, and (2) energy consumption. Business Travel and Transportation In the last five years at the University, domestic rail travel has increased in relation to air travel. E- meetings have also increased. Since the University was environmentally certified, an environmental carpool has been introduced. At the same time, use of private cars has decreased. A new conference and travel policy has been developed that emphasizes so-called travel-free meetings, which encourages climate friendly travel, and discourages air travel shorter than 500 kilometres. The School is one of the faculties with the most annual greenhouse gas emissions per person. Although business travel is a necessity for researchers, it is possible to use E-meetings, or the likes of it, in some cases. An E-meeting can save time and money, as well as benefit the environment. The School currently has a lecture hall and three conference rooms with video conference equipment. As for transportation, the School uses a central purchasing system, which reduces the need for small delivery systems. Thus, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The School s transport vehicles run on biodiesel. The University s Common Goal By 2015, the University will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions from travel and transportation by 20 per cent compared to emissions in s By 2013, the School will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions from travel and transportation by ten per cent compared to emissions in The School will increase the number of video-conferences. - The Departments shall, in cooperation with the School s PR Officer, provide information on E- technology (e.g., video- and telephone-conferencing via computer, as well as conference calls) as to make it an actual alternative to physical travel. The information could be made available through a quick reference guide on the School website, for example. - The Property Services Unit shall organise a training course in E-meeting technique for staff members once per semester. - The Property Services Unit will investigate the possibility of following up on the number of videoconferences and the number of participants in each, using TimeEdit or a similar resource planning system. Principal indicator Carbon dioxide emissions from business travel and transportation per year and per workforce. To be compiled by the University s Environmental Unit. Reporting indicator The number of train trips compared to airplane trips, to Stockholm. Energy Consumption

10 10 / 13 In the last five years, several energy conservation measures have been implemented. The foci of these measures are technical solutions and behavioural changes in both students and staff members. For example, several University buildings were converted from oil heating to district heating. Moreover, the University has conducted energy conservation campaigns. The University buys eco-labelled electricity that is less harmful to the environment, and older equipment is being continuously replaced with more energy efficient versions. The School has made a number of energy investments in recent years. The most significant investment is in heat pumps that have reduced the overall demand for district heating. In 2010, the School used about 3.2 million KWh of electricity and 1.5 million KWh of heat. Continued efforts to be energy efficient are important from both financial and environmental perspectives. Through the mandatory ventilation inspection, it has been revealed that the ventilation system for the property at Vasagatan 1 I malfunctioning, resulting in increased energy expenditures. It is estimated that this problem will be resolved in the next two years. The measures to be put in place are expected to result in a substantial reduction in energy consumption. The University s Common Goals The University shall reduce its energy consumption by ten per cent per square metre in 2015 compared with its consumption in The University shall by 2015, use only electricity and heating from renewable energy resources. By 2013, the School shall reduce its energy consumption by five per cent per square metre compared with its consumption in 2008 (at the main building on Vasagatan 1). - The Management Team shall ensure that new construction or major renovations meet environmental requirements equivalent to Environmental Construction at the Gold level (a Swedish certification system based on government and building codes). - The Property Services Unit may only purchase energy efficient equipment and lighting. - The Property Services Unit shall, in cooperation with the IT Services Unit and the property owner Academiska Hus, investigate the possibility that computers and monitors are turned off at night. Principal Indicator Annual energy consumption broken down by electricity and heating per KWh, per square metre Reporting Indicator Annual energy usage broken down by staff and student full-time equivalents.

11 11 / Goals for Resources Consumption This area has two sub-areas: (1) Purchasing and Procurement and (2) Waste Disposal and Waste Sorting. Purchasing and Procurement During the last five years, environmental requirements have increased for suppliers, and, in several instances, for products. The University now specifies these requirements in all its contracts. In recent years, discussions have also begun on how ethical requirements can be included in contracts. Purchasing and procurement at the University cost around one billion SEK every year. The purchasers, who are key people in the sustainability work, can exert a powerful influence on the suppliers by making specific demands in the University s purchasing and procurement activities. The School purchases goods and services from a large group of suppliers, the largest cost being for travel. Most of the office supplies are purchased centrally via the Property Services Unit. The School s purchasers constitute an important group with the ability to influence sustainable purchasing. The University s Common goal The University shall increase the amount of its purchase and procurement of goods and services (measured in economic terms) that meet specified social, ethical and environmental demands. The School shall increase the amount of its purchase and procurement of goods and services (measured in economic terms) that meet specified social, ethical and environmental demands. - The Heads of Department, or equivalent, shall ensure that the people responsible for purchasing attend the University s education in purchasing. - The Departments shall choose products that are organic and Fair Trade when buying fruit and coffee for staff members. - The Faculty Office shall inform all travel purchasers and travellers of the University s general travel policy and other environmental requirements related to travel. Principal indicator The total economic cost of registered purchases made within the specified framework of ethical and environmental requirements as compared to the total economic cost of all purchases. Waste Disposal and Waste Sorting There has been an improvement in waste disposal and sorting throughout the University during the last couple of years. Today, the University has a general waste disposal plan that is updated annually, as well as sorting procedures for all buildings. The total amount of waste at the University in 2009 was about 1500 tons, which is a reduction of 400 tons from Unsorted waste has decreased from ten per cent five years ago to essentially zero in The School introduced waste sorting in Waste sorting receptacles are placed in all staff rooms and in the students common areas. The School follows the steps of the University s waste disposal plan up to Step 8. The last step, sorting of compost, is not as yet followed.

12 12 / 13 The University s Common Goals The University shall reduce the total amount of its waste by ten per cent in 2015 compared with the amount in The University shall increase the amount of waste that can be recycled or composted by ten per cent in 2015 compared with the amount in The School shall improve its waste sorting. - The Estates Manager shall investigate the possibility of increasing the waste sorting in the area of the students microwave ovens. - The Estates Manager shall ensure that waste disposal information is available in English. - The Faculty Office shall hold an annual Anti-Waste campaign. - The Estates Manager and the University s Division of Buildings and Services shall investigate the possibility of composting facilities at the School. - The Estates Manager shall investigate the possibility of acquiring return containers for plastic bottles and recyclable tins. Principal indicator Total annual amount of waste divided fractionally.

13 13 / Goals for Student Participation Student participation allows the students to be involved in and influence the University s sustainability efforts. This area has grown continuously in the last five years. For example, the theme day for students, which has been held annually since 2005, is now firmly established as an annual event. The School has a very good working relationship with the Student Association. This cooperation shall be developed to also include the area of sustainable development. The University s Common Goal The University shall increase the number of activities and cooperative projects with students in the area of sustainable development. The School shall increase the number of activities and cooperative projects with students in the area of sustainable development. - The Faculty Office shall systematise the collection of data on the sustainable development activities that the Student Association has been involved in. - The Management Team shall place sustainable development on the agenda in the joint meetings of the Student Association and the School. - The Management Team shall conduct an annual sustainable development activity with the Student Association. Principal Indicator The number of sustainability activities and cooperative projects initiated by, and for, the students at the University. Reporting Indicator The number of sustainability activities performed jointly with the Student Association.