| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.94 |
| Liaison | Corey Peterson |
| Submission Date | July 15, 2020 |
University of Tasmania
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 4.00 |
Sustainability
Team UTAS Infrastructure Services and Development |
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The University's Sustainable Transport Strategy 2017-2021 includes a number of strategic actions to achieve the Strategy's goals. The following are examples only; for all actions see Sustainable Transport Strategy 2017-2021 online (https://www.utas.edu.au/infrastructure-services-development/sustainability/transport):
- Ensure that decision-making with regard to transport planning, travel and transport choices takes into account minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting any residual emissions (including for air travel)
- Improve and expand motorcycle/scooter parking to reduce risk of property damage, provide protection from weather and cater for new fuel sources (e.g. electric charging points)
- Continue to grow the proportion of electric and hybrid vehicles in the UTAS fleet or contracted services and provide electric vehicle charging points at additional locations of need
- Continue to improve ICT facilities to obviate the need for physical travel (e.g. Skype for Business, videoconferencing)
The University's Energy Strategic Plan 2018-2022 includes a number of strategic actions to achieve the Strategy's goals. The following are examples only; for all actions see Energy Strategic Plan 2018-2022 online (https://www.utas.edu.au/infrastructure-services-development/sustainability/energy):
- Ensure all new and/or refurbished built environments are designed in accordance with Environmental Sustainable Design (ESD) principles to deliver demonstrable benefits in terms of environmental sustainability and energy-related operating costs
- Engage the contracted services market for identification, financing and delivery of energy reduction measures for infrastructure
- Determine the penetration level of renewable on-site generation for all sites
- Investigate the opportunity and feasibility for the University to invest in, and be net supplied by, large scale renewable generation (e.g. PPAs)
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainable investment/finance; or wellbeing?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The University's Our People Strategy 2019-2024 includes a number of measures and targets to achieve the Strategy's goals by 2024. The following are examples only:
- Arrange leave plans for all staff currently over the agreed EBA balances, ensure all staff take annual leave each year
- Achievement of Athena SWAN actions and progress on targets and measurements
- Zero gender pay gap by salary classification
- 3% or greater aboriginal staff FTE
- Zero injury rate
The University Investment Policy 2018-2021 specifically commits the University to responsible investment (https://www.utas.edu.au/policy/by-category). Responsible investment is an approach to investment that explicitly acknowledges the relevance to the investor of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, and the long-term health and stability of the market as a whole. University Council approved the adoption of the United Nations supported Principles of Responsible Investing (UNPRI) in 2014 to guide decisions on ESG issues.
- Any managed investment fund or fund manager that the University invests through should be a signatory to the UNPRI
- Any managed investment fund or fund manager that is not a UNPRI signatory needs to have equivalent policies in place, and must undertake annual reporting targeted to meet the University’s requirements
- Any direct equity investments held by the University are assessed against the underlying principles and where subject to an individual mandate, will endeavour to assess and monitor the entities ESG ratings in accordance with an independent ESG rating agency.
Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
Sustainability is essential to planetary health and human flourishing. Through our operations and academic activities, we have a vital role in facilitating sustainable forms of living. We uphold that sustainability is central to open and rigorous learning and knowledge creation that also recognises thousands of human generations of Tasmanian Aboriginal and other traditional knowledges and value systems. We are committed to embodying sustainable forms of production and consumption within the University and enable pathways towards a just and viable future. We commit to accountability and authenticity in our endeavours. We empower the University’s students, staff and alumni to be facilitators in their fields and contribute to sustainable living now and into the future.
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | No |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | No |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | No |
| Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability | No |
| SDG Accord | Yes |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | No |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | Yes |
| UN Global Compact | No |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) in the Australia, New Zealand & Pacific region.
SDSN mobilises scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector in support of sustainable development problem solving at local, national, and global scales. It engages scientists, engineers, business and civil society leaders, and development practitioners and promotes solutions initiatives that demonstrate the potential of technical and business innovation to support sustainable development.
SDSN Australia, New Zealand & Pacific (formerly SDSN Australia/Pacific) fosters global SDSN activities within the region by developing and promoting solutions, policies and public education.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The University of Tasmania Strategic Plan 2019-2024 includes sustainability as a major theme in the following way:
-Key areas include: health and wellbeing; social inclusion and equity and environmental sustainability.
- Internal indicators that will be measured on an ongoing basis to track progress include "Implement the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) framework for our broader sustainability agenda"
- There are multiple sustainability focused objectives throughout the document
The Our People Strategy 2019-2024 is available to the UTAS community via the University's intranet. If you are interested in the strategy, please contact us for more details.
The University of Tasmania Strategic Plan 2019-2024 includes sustainability as a major theme in the following way:
-Key areas include: health and wellbeing; social inclusion and equity and environmental sustainability.
- Internal indicators that will be measured on an ongoing basis to track progress include "Implement the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) framework for our broader sustainability agenda"
- There are multiple sustainability focused objectives throughout the document
The Our People Strategy 2019-2024 is available to the UTAS community via the University's intranet. If you are interested in the strategy, please contact us for more details.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.