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Environmental Sustainability

Strategy 2010–2013

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Photo: Australian Red Cross/Tim Lofthouse

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Every dollar we save in

operating costs can go towards

our programs and services

to reduce vulnerability.

Contents

Introduction by the CEO 5

Why develop an Environmental Strategy? 6

Humanitarian drivers 6

Organisational drivers 6

Economic drivers 6

The Strategy 9

Minimising energy consumption 9

Minimising water consumption 10

Minimising the environmental impact from transport 10

Minimising waste generation 10

Implementation 12

About Red Cross 14

This page: Young Eli waits at an evacuation centre where Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and personal support following an emergency.

Front cover: A man rescues his rice seedlings from flooding on the road to Banwei village, Guangxi province, China in 2008. Photo: Australian Red Cross/Li Feng

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Climate change and

environmental degradation are central

themes for the International

Red Cross Red Crescent

Movement.

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Photo: Australian Red Cross/Dave Tacon

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introductionceoby the

Climate change and environmental degradation are central themes for the global Red Cross Movement, and responding to these challenges in Australia and in the Asia-Pacific region is a core commitment in the Australian Red Cross strategic plan, Strategy 2015.

There are also sound economic reasons for reducing environmental impacts, as countless organisations around the world have realised. This is especially significant for Red Cross as every dollar we save in operating costs can go towards our work helping vulnerable people and communities.

Our Environmental Sustainability Strategy seeks to instill environmental best practice in four areas – energy, water, waste and transport.

It also provides us with a means of better understanding the environmental impacts of our business practices and monitoring our environmental performance over time.

Ultimately, our Environmental Sustainability Strategy is designed to be very practical in its focus and provides opportunities for all Red Cross people – staff, members and volunteers – to play a vital role.

Our National Management Team and Board are united with me in their commitment to improving the environmental performance of Australian Red Cross. I look forward to reporting on our progress.

Robert TicknerChief Executive Officer

Crops and farms in far-north Queensland were devastated by Cyclone Larry in 2006, leaving people like dairy farmer Kevin Burton with the big job of rebuilding their livelihoods.

As a leading humanitarian organisation we have a responsibility to

minimise the environmental impact of our work.

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Organisational drivers

Addressing the humanitarian impacts of climate change and environmental degradation is a priority of the global Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. In 2007 the Movement chose to focus on the humanitarian consequences of four great challenges facing the world. One of the challenges identified was environmental degradation and climate change. In response Australian Red Cross has developed an environmental strategy which commits us to environmental best practice. This commitment is enshrined in our strategic plan, Strategy 2015.

Economic drivers

It is important that this strategy is seen as an investment and not just a cost. Environmental improvement is largely about the most efficient use of resources and there are significant cost savings to be made on top of the environmental benefits. The same strategies and tactics that address long-term environmental challenges help organisations survive economic challenges and prosper in better times.

Many of the world’s most progressive organisations have been actively reducing their environmental impact, even in lean economic times. Billions of dollars in savings have been made from smarter thinking, and the environment has benefited as a result.

Humanitarian drivers

The issues of climate change and environmental degradation are often thought of as strictly environmental issues. However, they are now recognised as humanitarian issues that will impact billions of people, particularly people living in poverty, the elderly, those suffering from poor health and Indigenous communities. Humanitarian organisations need to act to assist those who are most at risk.

The global Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is a leader in climate change adaptation and Australian Red Cross has adopted a climate change response to guide our work in helping communities adapt to and prepare for changes in their natural environment. However, we must also address our contribution to these global issues. All Red Cross operational and organisational support activities draw upon the earth’s resources. Unless we undertake our work in a sustainable way, we risk contributing to climate change and environmental degradation. Improving the lives of vulnerable people must not contribute to the causes of vulnerability.

EnvironmentalStrategy?

A Kenya Red Cross program is encouraging children in the drought-affected north east to return to school by providing lunches. The program operates in 66 schools with support from Australian Red Cross and funding from AusAID.

whydevelop an

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Improving the lives of

the most vulnerable

must not contribute to the causes of vulnerability.Photo: Australian Red Cross/Shaaban Ndege and Alex Njoroge

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In order to start minimising our environmental

impacts, we need to first

have a better understanding

of exactly what they are.

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Photo: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

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This strategy is the first step towards building a Red Cross that embeds environmentally sustainable practices into all activities.

The Strategy has four objectives:

• minimising energy consumption

• minimising water consumption

• minimising environmental impacts from transport

• minimising waste generation.

We recognise that these objectives are broad. In order to start minimising our environmental impacts, we need to first have a better understanding of exactly what they are. How much electricity do we use in our buildings? How much fuel is used by our vehicle fleet? How much waste do we generate each working day?

We will conduct audits of our priority sites and start to analyse business practices to obtain accurate data on our energy, water, fuel and resource use. The results of this work will allow us to set meaningful targets for minimising our environmental impacts, and will feed into future planning in this area.

We have also identified a number of more immediate actions that can be taken to make a real difference to our environmental impacts. Some of these actions relate to running our facilities and equipment in the most efficient manner to minimise waste, whilst others centre around education and behavioural change, for example improving our approach to recycling.

Minimising energy consumption

Over the coming years Red Cross will aim to minimise our energy consumption per full time equivalent (FTE) employee.

Red Cross is committed to understanding and reducing its carbon footprint, and reducing its contribution to climate change. As a not-for-profit organisation, Red Cross is also vulnerable to rising energy costs. Already there are regular increases in electricity tariffs and these are likely to continue in coming years. Meeting these costs threatens to draw resources away from essential core work of Red Cross.

The scope for improvement is significant. Funding opportunities for capital intensive equipment upgrades are increasingly available and simple behavioural change would result in a reduction in energy use.

Strategies for minimising energy generation:

• develop systems to accurately measure and monitor energy use

• ensure facilities are well maintained, promote energy efficient improvements and appliances and explore renewable energy options and the feasibility of offsets

• improve staff behaviour and habits related to energy use.

Strategythe

The aim of the Red Cross Environmental

Strategy is to minimise our

contribution to climate change

and environmental degradation.

Widline Sanon receives clean drinking water from the French Red Cross in Camp Diahatsu, an internally displaced persons camp in Port-au-Prince, established following the devastating Haiti earthquake in January 2010.

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We have significant scope to better monitor and improve how we move our people around Australia and the world. While it’s impossible to stop travel altogether, there are a range of ways to minimise the environmental impacts of our travel.

Strategies to reduce our environmental impact from transport:

• develop systems to accurately measure and monitor fleet and flight use, practices and performance

• explore technological alternatives to flying and offsetting

• better coordinate our fleet on a national basis to improve its fuel efficiency and environmental performance.

Minimising waste generation

There is scope for significant improvements in waste management at Red Cross. A more coordinated approach to waste management would reduce costs, provide better recycling options, limit unwanted materials coming into Red Cross and eventually reduce how much we send to landfill.

Strategies for minimising waste generation:

• develop systems to measure and monitor waste generation practices and performance

• improve recycling systems

• increase procurement of goods made from recycled and sustainable sources.

Minimising water consumption

Over the next three years Red Cross will reduce the amount of water used at major sites.

Minimising water consumption is a critical priority for this strategy. We have a long history of helping people who have been affected by too much water or not enough. We are also highly regarded for our water and sanitation experts who provide safe and clean drinking water to the most vulnerable during disasters and conflicts. To maintain this strong reputation and minimise our contribution to water insecurity it’s important we only use what we need.

Strategies for minimising water consumption:

• develop systems to accurately measure and monitor water use

• ensure facilities are well maintained and install water saving devices and water efficient appliances

• improve staff behaviour and habits related to water use.

Minimising the environmental impact from transport

Over the next three years Red Cross will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions relating to travel.

Red Cross operates in all corners of Australia and the world. Our programs reach the most isolated and vulnerable communities from the southern most parts of Australia to the far north. When disaster strikes, our dedicated staff and volunteers can be activated and mobilised in large numbers. Servicing the most vulnerable communities requires our staff and volunteers to travel significant distances by plane, motor vehicle or other means. Above: Running water, family latrines, school toilets and hand-washing facilities help

make life healthier for 300 families and 2,000 students in East Timor’s remote Lautem district. Red Cross water and sanitation experts are working with local volunteers, with funding from AusAID.

Opposite: Red Cross is helping to lessen the impact of disasters by providing village communities in Cailin, China with training, and rebuilding much needed infrastructure.

Photo: Australian Red Cross/Mario Jonny dos Santos

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While it’s impossible to

stop travel altogether, there are a

range of ways to minimise the environmental impacts of our

travel.Photo: Australian Red Cross/Li Feng

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Priority sites

Australian operations are delivered from over 200 facilities, including offices, retail shops, warehouses and Red Cross service centres. Internationally we work in over 15 countries, predominantly in Asia-Pacific.

This strategy will initially apply to priority sites across Australia that house the majority of Red Cross staff. Over time, environmental sustainability strategies will be rolled out across all Red Cross sites within Australia and embedded in all our practices.

implementation

Understand our impact and act accordingly

Red Cross commits to gaining a better understanding of its environmental impact by measuring, monitoring and reporting on energy consumption, water use and waste generation in the priority sites, and measuring, monitoring and reporting on fleet management and air travel. This knowledge will be used to set targets and deliver ongoing improvements in our environmental performance.

Red Cross commits to minimising environmental impacts through ongoing identification and management of wasteful practises and ensuring facilities and equipment are well maintained and efficient.

Leadership and Coordination

The Environmental Sustainability Strategy is supported at the highest level by the National Board and Red Cross management, who are committed to taking a leadership role in ensuring the organisation minimises its environmental impact.

Senior managers will be responsible for implementing the strategy, with Executive Directors of each state and territory having responsibility for sites within their jurisdiction.

Implementation support

Implementation will be supported by a range of tools, guides and processes to help staff roll out the strategy.

Behaviour

Red Cross commits to supporting and encouraging staff to reduce their contribution to climate change and environmental degradation through participation in environmental programs, providing guidance to staff and volunteers and reinforcing the humanitarian need for a healthy environment.

It is the responsibility of all staff and volunteers to minimise the impacts of their day-to-day activities on the environment.

Green Teams

Staff engagement will be driven through Green Teams, which provide a forum for environmental issues and support the implementation of this strategy.

Volunteer engagement

Volunteers provide innovation, motivation and expertise; young volunteers have a particular interest in environmental issues. Environmental projects are a great way to introduce young volunteers into the broader Red Cross.

Ongoing improvement

This strategy is our first step towards becoming a more sustainable organisation. We are aware that there is much work to do and are committed to ongoing improvement in our environmental performance in the years to come.

Environmental performance will be reported internally and externally.

Opposite: David and Anastasia Jones in front of the tree that landed on their house after one of the storms that wreaked havoc on Brisbane in November 2008.

Red Cross will adopt the following

approaches to implement the Environmental Sustainability

Strategy:

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Red Cross is committed to ongoing

improvement in our

environmental performance in the years

to come.

Photo: Australian Red Cross/Tim Page

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Fundamental Principles

As a member of the global Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, everything we do is underpinned by our seven Fundamental Principles:

• Humanity

• Impartiality

• Neutrality

• Independence

• Voluntary service

• Unity

• Universality

How we help

Red Cross is always there for people in need, providing relief in times of crisis and care for the most vulnerable.

Red Cross operates in every state and territory in Australia and is involved in numerous development and emergency programs internationally, particularly in Asia-Pacific.

Who we are

Australian Red Cross was formed in 1914 and is part of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, the largest humanitarian organisation in the world. We are independent of government and without any political, religious or cultural affiliation.

Red Cross occupies a unique and unrivalled position as a powerful humanitarian organisation committed to the protection of life, health and human dignity. Our services seek to build capacity and resilience in individuals and communities to reduce vulnerability.

What we stand for

Red Cross provides relief in times of crisis, care when it’s needed most and commitment to building healthy communities.

Vision

To improve the lives of vulnerable people in Australia and internationally by mobilising the power of humanity.

Mission

To be a leading humanitarian organisation in Australia, improving the lives of vulnerable people through programs delivered and promotion of humanitarian laws and values.

Red Crossabout

This page: Michael and Lieta register with Red Cross volunteers at an evacuation centre.

Opposite page: Mick Osborne (left) and Rob Deeble tried to save their friends’ home in Kinglake during the February 2009 Victorian bushfires. Photo: Australian Red Cross/Tim Lofthouse

Services are focused in seven priority areas:

• strengthening disaster and emergency services

• increasing international aid and development

• addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage

• overcoming social exclusion by providing bridges back into the community

• tackling entrenched locational disadvantage

• championing International Humanitarian Law

• addressing the impact of migration.

Our people

Australian Red Cross has over 2,000 paid staff, including aid workers deployed in development and disaster relief overseas.

Staff work alongside 28,000 volunteers and 25,000 members to deliver programs in local communities across Australia and around the world.

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Our services seek to build capacity and resilience in

individuals and communities

to reduce vulnerability.

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Photo: Australian Red Cross/ Rodney Dekker

National Office155 Pelham Street Carlton VIC 3053 Tel: +61 3 9345 1800Email: greenteam@redcross.org.auwww.redcross.org.au

The Red Cross Environmental Sustainability Strategy was developed with the support of

Photo: International Federation

A Papua New Guinea Red Cross volunteer crosses a swollen river after Cyclone Guba caused devastating floods in Oro province in November 2007.