This section is presented in accordance with the requirements of section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Section 516A requires government departments to report on:
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how their activities accord with the principles of ecologically sustainable development (subsection (6)(a))
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how their outcomes, specified in relevant Appropriation Acts, contributed to ecologically sustainable development (subsection (6)(b))
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the environmental impacts of their operations during the year, and measures taken to minimise those impacts (subsections (6)(c), (d) and (e).
The department administers the EPBC Act, which promotes ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources.
Examples of how the department applies the principles of ecologically sustainable development are summarised in the following table. More details on specific programs are contained in the chapters covering Outcomes 1–5 of this annual report.
Contribution of outcomes
The department is one of the leading Australian Government agencies for developing and implementing national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve the natural environment. A key function of the department is to promote and support ecologically sustainable development.
The department recently reviewed and updated its guidelines for Australian Government agencies to report on how they contribute to ecologically sustainable development. The guidelines are available from the department’s internet site at .
The department’s outcomes contribute to ecologically sustainable development as follows:
Outcome 1: conserving and protecting Australia’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity and ecosystems contributes to the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity, thereby helping to maintain the ecological processes on which life depends.
Outcome 2: promoting waste reduction and regulating hazardous substances, wastes, pollutants, ozone-depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases helps to prevent and minimise harm to the environment as a result of human activities.
Outcome 3: Australia’s Antarctic interests include a strong focus on protecting the Antarctic environment and managing the sustainable use of marine resources.
Outcome 4: Australia’s water resources are managed and used sustainably and efficiently.
Outcome 5: Australia’s cultural and heritage values are protected from activities that impact on the environment.
Corporate Outcome: the department’s policies and use of technology actively consider and implement strategies to minimise harm to the environment.
Table 3: How the department applies the principles of ecologically sustainable development
Principles
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Activities
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Integration principle: decision-making processes should effectively integrate both long-term and short-term economic, environmental, social and equitable considerations.
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Sustainability policy: the department is responsible for policy advice and implementation to achieve the government’s strategic sustainability objectives. Of particular note is the Sustainable Population Strategy and associated measures, which explicitly address present and future community wellbeing considerations across environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability. Integrated natural resource management: the department develops and invests in natural resource management plans and other strategies to maintain ecosystems. These include the regional component of the Caring for our Country initiative and bioregional marine plans. These plans integrate long-term and short-term economic, environmental, social and equitable considerations. Integrated reporting: The department publishes a report on the state of the environment. The next report is being developed for 2016.
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Precautionary principle: if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.
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Environmental impact assessments: the department applies the precautionary principle to prevent serious environmental damage when assessing the possible environmental impacts of proposed actions. Assessments must often be made in the absence of full scientific certainty, most notably assessments under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999, and through chemical and gene technology assessment schemes.
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Intergenerational principle: the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced, for the benefit of future generations.
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Pollution prevention: the department applies laws and National Environment Protection Measures to prevent environmentally harmful substances entering the environment. Laws include the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981, the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989, the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 and the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989.
Whole-of-government policy development: the department seeks to ensure that environmental protection is appropriately considered in the development of other Australian Government policies, including major energy and water reforms.
Community capacity building: the department administers the Australian Government’s major natural resource management programs that have an environmental focus, including the Caring for our Country program. These programs increase the capacity of Australians to conserve ecosystems for future generations.
Protecting cultural and heritage values: the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 protects Australia’s heritage of movable cultural objects and supports the protection by foreign countries of their heritage of movable cultural objects. Heritage values are considered where an action by the department may have an impact.
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Biodiversity principle: the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision-making.
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Biodiversity conservation: the department applies laws for the conservation of biodiversity to protect wildlife and heritage places with environmental values, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999, and, through the Caring for our Country program, marine protected areas, terrestrial parks and reserves.
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Valuation principle: improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.
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Conservation incentives: the department promotes incentives for protecting wildlife and habitats on private land through covenants. It supports fishing industry adjustment processes to reduce pressures on the marine environment.
Waste reduction incentives: the department provides incentives for more efficient use of resources. This includes markets for waste products, such as used lubricating oils, and water efficiency labelling. It also contributes to reducing packaging waste, as a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant.
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