Our commitment
USQ is committed to improving its environmental performance.
Goal 9 of our Strategic Plan 2009-2013 is "to deliver positive social, environmental and economic dividends". We have set three enterprise objectives:
- quality corporate services that improve USQ’s overall performance and contribute to sustainable development
- comprehensive information to support business decision making
- a carbon neutral operation across all three campuses by 2020
Environmental audit
In line with enterprise goal 2, USQ completed its first environmental audit across its operations to better understand its environmental impact. The purpose of the environmental audit was to develop an environmental baseline and provide a series of recommendations from which the University could develop key environmental sustainability strategies to assist in achieving the carbon neutrality objective stated in the Strategic Plan 2009-2013, Goal 9 Enterprise. The Environment and Sustainability Committee received and endorsed the final GRI Environmental Performance Indicator Summary Results, the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report and the Environmental Performance Report. The reporting framework utilised is closely aligned with the sustainable reporting guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Download Reports
• GRI Environmental Performance Indicator Summary Results 2009 - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
• 2009 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report
• Environmental Performance Report
• Waste Audit
Future audits may be commissioned to determine what benchmarks have already been met and where further progress can be made.
Funding
We have allocated environmental funding via the Capital Asset Management Plan (CAMP) (PDF 57KB). Several related projects have had funds approved under CAMP or are already underway.
Industry memberships
In order to foster ties with other institutions engaged in the same activities and to improve information sharing, USQ has attained membership with the following industry organisations:
Community Environment Group
USQ students, staff and local residents interested in doing something about the well-being of the environment and people in the university area are invited to join the USQ Community Environment Group. The current goals of the group include:
- additional recycling bins
- organised carpooling
- edible landscapes
- better use of public transport
- cyclist showers
- USQ permaculture gardens
- using quality locally grown organic food in the refectory
- timber plantations on university grassland
- having USQ be self-sufficient in water
- the creation of an alternative technology development centre.
Please contact the Community Environment Group for further information.