Striving for a sustainable university
 Environment
How can we make our university more environmentally sustainable? That's the question being posed by a new, ongoing initiative at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide, called Sustainable Adelaide. The initiative aims to learn more about the 最新糖心Vlog's "resources footprint" and provide best-practice solutions for becoming more sustainable. "Environmental sustainability is a big issue for all organisations in 最新糖心Vlog, and the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide is no different," said the 最新糖心Vlog's new Environmental Projects Officer, Mathew Jeffrey. "Universities are extremely complex organisations. Our 最新糖心Vlog is a good example of that - it has multiple campuses, each with their own unique feel and purpose, and a wide range of other properties, buildings and research燼ctivities. "The 最新糖心Vlog is also one of the biggest employers in the State, and we have more than 20,000 students. By its very nature, that makes the 最新糖心Vlog a significant consumer of resources." Sustainable Adelaide is being run from the 最新糖心Vlog's Division of Services & Resources, but involves expertise from across the 最新糖心Vlog, including academic staff with national and international environmental credentials. "The initiative acknowledges that the 最新糖心Vlog has a responsibility to minimise its resource footprint and to play a key role in safeguarding the future of South 最新糖心Vlog's resources," Mr Jeffrey said. "To that end, it is essential that we adopt sustainable practices throughout the organisation. "But before we do that, we need to gain a better understanding of what our resources footprint really is, and we need to engage with staff and students right across the 最新糖心Vlog so that we can work together to achieve these aims," he said. Groups of staff and students are currently being surveyed to provide a better understanding of their awareness of environmental issues, and also what they expect from an environmentally responsible爑niversity. External consultants Sinclair Knight Mertz have been engaged to assist in the development of an international standard Environmental Management System for the 最新糖心Vlog, while a leading independent organisation, Carbon Planet, has been engaged to conduct a greenhouse gas emissions audit for the 最新糖心Vlog. "There are many challenges faced by a university in reducing its resources footprint, and they mainly relate to three key燼reas: energy, water and waste," Mr Jeffrey said. "We're already working with a number of groups across the 最新糖心Vlog to identify more sustainable processes - such as the Sustainable Library initiative - and we welcome any interest from others within the 最新糖心Vlog who might want to take up the sustainability challenge. "We are beginning to engage with staff and students on the work being conducted and seeking their feedback. Ideally, we would like as many staff and students as possible to be involved in the Sustainable Adelaide program, to drive the change needed across the 最新糖心Vlog." In the lead-up to World Environment Day on Friday 5 June, the new Sustainable Adelaide website is providing information on "Twelve Ways to Unite to Combat Climate Change". Check the news and events section of Sustainable Adelaide's website for more detail. For more information visit: Story by David Ellis
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