3. 3
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
5. 5
introduction
ceoby 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 Tickner
Chief 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.
6. 6
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.
Environmental
Strategy?
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
7. 7
Improving
the lives of
the most
vulnerable
must not
contribute to
the causes of
vulnerability.Photo: Australian Red Cross/Shaaban Ndege and Alex Njoroge
7
8. 8
In order to start
minimising our
environmental
impacts, we
need to first
have a better
understanding
of exactly what
they are.
8
Photo: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross
9. 9
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.
Strategy
the
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.
10. 10
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
11. 11
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
11
12. 12
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:
13. 13
Red Cross is
committed
to ongoing
improvement
in our
environmental
performance
in the years
to come.
Photo: Australian Red Cross/Tim Page
14. 14
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.
RedCross
about
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.
15. O
Our services
seek to build
capacity and
resilience in
individuals and
communities
to reduce
vulnerability.
15
Photo: Australian Red Cross/ Rodney Dekker
16. National Office
155 Pelham Street
Carlton VIC 3053
Tel: +61 3 9345 1800
Email: greenteam@redcross.org.au
www.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.
