Barriers and Drivers to Sustainability

This fancy has been give e bed by the NSW Governmen t through its environsal Trust. How to get well common obstructions and make the more or less of describe device drivers to sustainability About this guide This guide draws upon look completed in 2009 fo r the Urban Sustainability Support Alliance (USSA) by the engraft for Sustainable Futures (ISF), Univer sity of Technology, Sydney, into the restraints and D rivers to Sustainability in topical anesthetic Government.This guide has been developed to assist council sus tainability practitioners to identify key drivers and common barriers oftentimes experienced when buildings towa rds sustainability. Why develop a guide? The guide adds value to the research by providing p ractical examples of strategies councils have used to overcome barriers and make the nigh of key drivers to sustainability. The examples provided have come directly from sustainability practitioners who have sh atomic number 18d their initiatives with L GSA.The barriers and drivers are listed broadly in the order of signifi tin piece of tailce indentified in the research. Complementary barriers and drivers are grouped toge ther to demonstrate the inter-relationships between barriers and drivers.More information If you have special examples to add to this guid e or if you require any supporter in taking any of the following fulfils please contact the Sustainability Team on (02) 9242 4000 or email email&160protected Electronic copies of the research report and this g uide are available from the LGSA website www.lgsa.org.au look under ESD.Gui de developed July 2009 Updated July 2012 Sustainability tuition Guide Barriers and device drivers to SustainabilityThis project has been help by the NSW Governmen t through its surroundingsal Trust. commonplacely identified Barriers and Drivers to Sustain ability Barrier = Driver = Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How apprize I overcome this barrier? or How can I mak e the most from this driver?Lack of Organisational Support A lack of leaders or the failure of leadership to inspire others in the system. Despite a dandy reputation, the sustainability agenda often relies on individuals and occurs only in pockets across councils. office examples of what other councils have done. Case studies can be used as a business case for sustainability. outside(a) experts or facilitators can be used to help recruit sensation of sustainability internally.When communicating to senior solicitude on sustainability issues do it in a meaningful and memorable way. get word using statistics and graphs. Get your sustainability initiatives recognized outerly by submitting awards applications. General double-decker and senior direction livelihood The aim of personal commitment, k straightawayledge and leadership provided by senior management, in particular the General Manager of the council. fleck faculty achievements in the area of sustainability. The int ranet and cater newsletters are achievable tools. reenforcement mental faculty achievements in the area of sustainability e.g. Staff Awards Program Ask your GM to endorse your work by inviting them to speak at relevant meetings and culture sessions. Mayor and councillor leadership Strong leadership from the elected council. scarce having one or two new councillors who are open to, and peremptory about, sustainability can be a key driver.Harness councillor support by inviting them to pilot and champion council sustainability initiatives. intake your mayor as a speaker for council events. Encourage councillors to become representatives on sustainability committals.This project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust.Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How can I overcome this barrier? or How can I make the most from this driver? Gap between Theory & Practice A mismatch between what is espoused and what is practiced. Policies not being carried through to implementation. Integrate sustainability into councils management plans, job descriptions and induction training. genuinelyise momentum by doing the little things right. It is better to excel in a few targeted areas rather than have average performance across a wide range of areas.Sympathetic organisational structure The level of openness of rung to change can effect how sympathetic they are to the sustainability agenda. A council actuate to come up with new and improved ways of doing things. A recital of strong leadership and a policy of recruiting people with these values and skills can contri exclusivelye to a sympathetic organisational culture.Make the most of a validatory organisational culture by involving provide from across the organisation in sustainability prep and actions. Create opportunities for staff to exchange ideas about sustainability. Start an internal sustainability committee or host lunch period sustainability discussions.L ack of staff cogency and high staff turn over Staff with responsibilities for engaging their organisation or fraternity in sustainability, feel the pressures of their wide ranging responsibilities and the types of skills required of them. on that point is a need for increasing skills of staff more generally. High staff turnover and loss of corporate knowledge. Improve staff capacity to work on sustainability issues by developing an internal sustainability committee made up of staff from different divisions.Support professional development opportunities around sustainability. charter implementing a mentoring program to give staff additional support. Dedicated sustainability staff Having a sustainability position or a sustainability team was identified as a study enabler. However regardless of a persons job rubric or position within council, staff who are highly prompt and posses skills in motivating others are extremely important.Recognise dedicated staff by offering incentive s such as staff bonuses and awards. Encourage sustainability staff to speak at conferences.This project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust.Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How can I overcome this barrier? or How can I make the most from this driver? Competing priorities A lower priority for environmental or affectionate equity issues was often a reflection of general community attitudes, or lobbying by particular interest groups. Host sustainability workshops to raise community awareness and build community support. expend community expectations and concerns to shine up the importance of sustainability issues.Media coverage of global and local issues Increased media coverage of sustainability issues can increase the level of understanding and support for issues such as mood change and other environmental issues. Use an interesting angle and ticker catching pictures. Link local sustainability programs and events to curren t and dominant issues in the media. supple and engaged community Active communities can have a major influence on the policies and priorities of the elected council. For example the influence of letters advocating action on particular issues. Involve community champions in workshops e.g. to give a short presentation on a topic of their interest. Popular social media tools such as Facebook and YouTube can be used to harness community support.Inadequate systems for managing information For many councils, data management and IT systems present real challenges. The problems of complex and incompatible systems, or lack of automation, can add to the time tortuous in planning, coordination and reporting. Use internal financial management systems to embrace sustainable procurement. Investigate the use of external companies to monitor your water and nada consumption.Effective management systems Internal management systems that brake down silos and visit easy glide path to information ca n help achieve sustainability outcomes. If you are using good systems for sustainability outcomes promote their use both internally and externally.This project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust. Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How can I overcome this barrier? or How can I make the most from this driver?Lack of internal and external funding A lack of resources can limit the implementation of actions in sustainability plans. The current economic climate is putting a strain on council budgets, with implications for staffing. Set up a revolving strength fund. The money that is saved from reduced energy consumption is reinvested in sustainability programs. Use a cave in database to track upcoming grants and avoid missed opportunities. follower with other councils or organisations to develop regional grant applications. Apply for an environment/sustainability levy. Identify and implement low cost initiatives. External funding External funding allows greater access to resources that support sustainability internally. Use the opportunity of external funding to integrate sustainability into councils operations.Regularly communicate your project outcomes to senior management to increase ownership. Ensure your sustainability initiatives are as self sustaining as possible when the funding ceases. Difficulty dealing with government agencies mend relationships are often very good at a personal level with officers in other government agencies, the lack of co- ordination between federal and call forth plans and agencies, and between state agencies, complicated work at the local level unnecessarily and often hindered progress. Partner with state and federal agencies in grant applications.Network with government agencies. Organise round tables with government agencies to progress baffling issues. Partnerships and external agency support Positive partnerships with other agencies such as local Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and/or Regional Organisation of Councils (ROC). Use your partnerships to increase resources, provide joint training opportunities and facilitate information.This project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust.Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How can I overcome this barrier? or How can I make the most from this driver? adjunct Legislation The principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development outlined in the topical anaesthetic Government Act 1993 and related requirements can be used as an important driver. Educate the community, council staff and councillors about legislation e.g. LGSAs Understanding Sustainability for Councillors furrow Link councils sustainability projects to relevant legislation.Inadequate Legislation While legislation was recognised as a driver, it was also a common view that it is prat current practice and that the debates and issues in the Local Government sector now are at a very differ ent stage from when the Local Government Act 1993 was drafted. Actively participate in consultation phases of key legislation. Aim to go above and beyond the requirements.Research and development challenges Environment and sustainability positions generally required new knowledge and new ways of doing things, but time for reflection, reading and keeping up with developments is a challenge. Costs involved in obtaining reliable data, and finding appropriate and affordable external assistance can also be a challenge.Partner with universities to gain access to sustainability research and expertise. Subscribe to sustainability networks which allow for transfer of knowledge and approaches e.g. www.sustainablenet.org.au The language of sustainability While practitioners in this area understand sustainability is convenient short hand for a set of well understood principles, the confines often proved moot when used in a broader audience. This is often adds to confusion about the term susta inability.Encourage council and the community to define what sustainability means to them. Develop a share sustainability vision and understandings. Sustainability newsletters, sustainability induction and sustainability surveys can be used to build awareness of key principles.