Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd - envcomm.act.gov.au€¦ · Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd Melbourne Level 1, 542 Station Street, Box Hill, Melbourne, VIC 3128 Tel +61 3

ACT Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment

ACT State of the Environment Report Review Final Report

9 September 2009

Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd



9 September 2009

Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd

Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd Melbourne Level 1, 542 Station Street, Box Hill, Melbourne, VIC 3128 Tel +61 3 9899 9777 Fax +61 3 9899 1214 www.halcrow.com Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd has prepared this report in accordance with the instructions of their client, ACT Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, for their sole and specific use. Any other persons who use any information contained herein do so at their own risk. © Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd 2009



9 September 2009

Contents Amendment Record This report has been issued and amended as follows:

Issue Revision Description Date Prepared by

Checked by

Authorised by

1 0 Draft 02/07/09 PH/MY DM PH

1 0 Final 09/09/09 PH DS PH


Contents

Glossary .............................................................................................iii

Executive Summary...............................................................................v

1 Introduction...................................................................................1 1.1 Background.......................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Government responses to State of the Environment reporting...................... 2 1.1.2 Evolution of State of the Environment reporting............................................. 3 1.2 ACT State of Environment reporting................................................................4 1.2.1 Commissioner for the Environment and the ACT State of the Environment

report........................................................................................................................ 4 1.2.2 Regional State of the Environment report.......................................................... 8 1.3 Purpose and approach .......................................................................................9 1.4 Report outline..................................................................................................10

2 Reporting Models and Frameworks..........................................11 2.1 State of the Environment reporting ..................................................................11 2.2 State of the Environment models......................................................................11 2.2.1 Pressure-State-Response model ......................................................................... 12 2.2.2 Other State-Response models ............................................................................ 14 2.2.3 Driving Forces-Pressure- State-Impact-Response model............................... 15 2.2.4 Analysis and comparison of reporting models................................................. 17 2.3 Other reporting models and frameworks ...........................................................20 2.3.1 Issues-based framework ...................................................................................... 20 2.3.2 Resource-Economic Sectoral framework.......................................................... 20 2.3.3 Environmental Media framework...................................................................... 21 2.3.4 Capital-based framework..................................................................................... 21 2.3.5 Goal-based framework ........................................................................................ 21 2.3.6 Input/Output/Outcome/Impact framework.................................................. 22 2.3.7 Ecological footprint ............................................................................................. 22 2.4 Sustainability reporting frameworks.................................................................23

3 State of the Environment Reporting .........................................25 3.1 State of the Environment reporting in Australia ..............................................25 3.1.1 Australian State of the Environment reporting................................................ 25 3.1.2 New South Wales State of the Environment reporting .................................. 30 3.1.3 Victorian State of the Environment reporting ................................................. 31

Doc No: KMWJAU/90400/Issue 1, Rev 0 Date: 9 September 2009

i


3.1.4 Queensland State of the Environment reporting............................................. 32 3.1.5 Western Australian State of the Environment reporting ................................ 33 3.2 International State of the Environment reporting .............................................35 3.2.1 Canadian State of the Environment reporting ................................................. 36 3.2.2 USA State of the Environment reporting ......................................................... 40 3.2.3 New Zealand State of the Environment reporting.......................................... 40 3.2.4 European State of the Environment reporting ................................................ 40 3.2.5 Switzerland State of the Environment reporting ............................................. 42 3.3 International regional and provincial reporting .................................................43 3.3.1 Auckland State of the Environment reporting................................................. 44 3.3.2 Taranaki State of the Environment reporting .................................................. 45 3.3.3 British Columbia State of the Environment reporting.................................... 46 3.4 Summary of reporting approaches.....................................................................46

4 ACT State of the Environment Review .....................................47 4.1 Purpose, objectives and target audience for State of the Environment reporting ..47 4.1.1 Purpose – ACT State of the Environment report ........................................... 47 4.1.2 Objectives and target audience – ACT State of the Environment report .... 48 4.2 Reporting model, themes and issues ..................................................................49 4.2.1 Model – ACT State of the Environment report .............................................. 49 4.2.2 Themes – ACT State of the Environment report............................................ 49 4.2.3 Issues – ACT State of the Environment report ............................................... 50 4.2.4 Indicators – ACT State of the Environment report........................................ 52 4.3 Data requirements...........................................................................................59 4.4 Reporting structure, format and products..........................................................60

5 Conclusions and Recommendations........................................63 5.1 ACT State of the Environment reporting purpose............................................63 5.2 ACT State of the Environment reporting objectives..........................................64 5.3 ACT State of the Environment reporting target audience .................................65 5.4 ACT State of the Environment reporting model ..............................................65 5.5 ACT State of the Environment reporting themes .............................................65 5.6 ACT State of the Environment reporting indicators.........................................65 5.7 ACT State of the Environment reporting data requirements ............................68 5.8 ACT State of the Environment reporting structure and products......................69 5.9 ACT State of the Environment Reporting consultation process ........................70 5.10 Monitoring and assessing ACT State of the Environment reporting .................71 5.11 ACT Catchment reporting ..............................................................................71

References............................................................................................72


ii


Glossary

Driving force indicators: describe the underlying pressures related to socioeconomic and political agents of change, such as population growth, GDP, and consumption (UNEP 2006).

Effectiveness indicator: a metric used to assess the degree of success in achieving an outcome (VAGO 2008).

Efficiency indicator: a metric that relates outputs with inputs, expressed as a ratio of outputs to inputs (sometimes referred to as ‘technical efficiency’) (VAGO 2008).

Environmental indicators: physical, chemical, biological or socio-economic measures that can be used to assess natural resources and environmental quality (ANZECC 2000).

Impact indicators: describe the direct effects of environmental pressures on people, economies, and ecosystems, such as the economic costs of controlling an invasive species, and the number of yearly outbreaks attributed to disease-causing organisms (UNEP 2006).

Index: a set of aggregated or weighted parameters or indicators, often expressed as a single number (adapted from OECD 1993).

Indicator: a parameter, or a value derived from parameters, that describes the state of a phenomenon, environment or area, with a significance extending beyond that directly associated with a parameter value (OECD 1993).

Parameter: a property that is measured or observed (OECD 1993).

Performance indicator: the attribute or dimension of performance measured (VAGO 2008).

Performance target: a quantified level or change in level expected by a specified date, against which actual achievement can be compared (VAGO 2008).

Pressure indicator: describes positive or negative pressures on the environment, including the quality and quantity of natural resources; such pressure can be caused by human inaction as well as action (ANZECC 2000).

Response indicator: shows the extent to which society is responding to environmental changes and concerns; includes changes in attitude and individual and collective actions aimed at mitigating, adapting to or reversing negative impacts on the environment and reversing environmental damage already caused;


iii


also includes actions to improve the preservation and conservation of the environment (ANZECC 2000).

State (or Condition) indicators: describe the quality of the environment and the quality and quantity of resources, and highlights changes in environmental conditions over time (ANZECC 2000).

State of the Environment Reporting: a process that provides a scientific assessment of environmental conditions, focusing on the impacts of human activities, their significance for the environment and societal responses to the identified trends (ANZECC 2000).

Themes: represent parts of the environment or a grouping of natural resource types (eg. land, air, water, biodiversity, and heritage) (EPA 2007).


iv


Executive Summary

The ACT Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment (OCSE) engaged Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd (Halcrow) to review the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08. A primary aim of the review is to provide recommendations for future ACT State of the Environment (SoE) reporting that is effective and relevant to the community and government. This report contains Halcrow’s analysis of SoE and other reporting models and frameworks, and it outlines best practice SoE reporting approaches. It reviews themes, issues and indicators in the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08, and provides recommendations on a preferred model and framework for future ACT SoE reporting.

Background to State of the Environment reporting A SoE report provides a scientific assessment of a defined geographical area and the impact of human activities and responses on the environmental condition of that area. Countries and regions that have particularly adopted SoE reporting at different levels include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and the European Union (and member countries).

In the ACT, SoE reporting is a requirement of the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993. Since 1993-94, six SoE reports have been prepared for the ACT. Since 1997, regional SoE reports have also been prepared for the Australian Capital Region as part of an agreement with the seventeen member local councils of the region.

Evolution of State of the Environment reporting SoE reporting has evolved from the initial pressure-state-response (PSR) SoE model developed by the OECD in the early 1990s. The PSR model indicates the pressures of human activities on the environment, the current state (or condition) of the environment and natural resources, and the responses by governments, business, organisations and the community. Since 1993-94, the PSR model has been adapted for use in the ACT with a condition-pressure-response model.

In 1999, the European Environment Agency extended the PSR model by developed the Driving Forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) SoE model. The DPSIR model extends other reporting models and frameworks by taking into account both the driving forces or significant causes of change, as well as the impacts on environmental, social and economic systems. The DPSIR model is increasingly being used for SoE reporting in place of the original PSR model. Other reporting tools, such as the ecological footprint, are also being used to extend SoE reporting, and better report on environment condition and trends.

ACT State of Environment reporting The OCSE is an independent body that has investigatory, reporting and advocacy functions and roles under the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 (the Act). Under Part 4 of the Act, the Commissioner must prepare a SoE report for the ACT for a designated reporting period (under four years). The SoE report must include an “assessment of the condition of the environment” covering a broad range of


v


matters outlined in the legislation. The Commissioner has some discretion regarding what particular environmental matters “the commissioner considers necessary” to assess and report on in the Act.

Review of the 2007-08 ACT State of the Environment Report The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 has been reviewed to develop a preferred ACT SoE framework that is effective and relevant to the ACT community and government. The OCSE has the opportunity to adopt a new reporting model, themes, issues and indicators to ensure SoE reporting can support ACT’s progress on sustainability. Consistent with this, it is timely to rename the report the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report (see Recommendation 12 below).

Purpose of ACT State of the Environment reporting A clearly defined and agreed purpose is important for any SoE report to provide a consistent focus and direction. The purpose of any SoE report should be determined at the beginning of the SoE reporting process, and clearly stated near the front of a SoE report – often in an introduction or at times in a methodology section.

The Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 outlines what must be considered in terms of a SoE (s. 19), however, the Act does not contain a clear SoE reporting purpose, other than what may be inferred from the Commissioner’s functions (s. 12). The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 also lacks a clear purpose statement.

Identification of a clear purpose statement will influence the entire ACT reporting process, provide a consistent high level direction for a future ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report, and assist broader communication. The new SoE purpose could be inserted into the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 to further reinforce the purpose.

Recommendation 1: Develop a clear purpose statement for the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report.

The purpose of the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report is to provide an assessment of the condition of the environment and sustainability trends, and an evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of environmental management in the Territory.

Objectives and target audience for ACT State of the Environment reporting Like a clear purpose statement, one of the key requirements for an effective SoE reporting process is a set of clearly defined and agreed reporting objectives. The objectives of a SoE report are the outcomes that the development and use of the report will achieve.

The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 and the reporting process does not have clear objectives. The 2007-08 ACT SoE “Overview” indicates that the SoE “provides an assessment of our environment …”. Further objectives can be drawn from s. 19 of the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 where a SoE must include “an assessment of the condition of the environment”, and “an evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of environmental management”.


vi


Development of a set of clear objectives will enhance the quality, accessibility and relevance of SoE reporting in the ACT. Key objectives for the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report will likely focus on providing information, improving understanding, assessing effectiveness, and promoting progress. The objectives could also be inserted into the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 as with the proposed purpose.

Recommendation 2: Develop a set of objectives for the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report:

The objectives of the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report are to:

• provide accurate, timely and accessible information to the community and government regarding the condition of the environment, underlying pressures, and sustainability trends

• evaluate the effectiveness of community and government actions, policies, and initiatives in terms of progress towards sustainability, and

• increase community and government understanding of environmental and sustainability trends and interactions.

If the new SoE purpose and objectives are inserted into the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993, then s.19 of the Act could be amended with modification of section 19(2) to become a broad statement relating to “a report on the condition of the environment, underlying pressures, and sustainability trends”. Section 19(2)(a) relating to what matters may be reported could be significantly reduced in length, and Section 19(2)(b) could be modified to focus on “an evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of environmental management and sustainability performance”.

Target audience for ACT State of the Environment reporting Identification of a target audience for a SoE report helps focus the information provided within the report to reflect the needs of the target audience. It is recommended that the OCSE adopt a two-fold approach to the target audience focusing on community and government. Government agencies will have an important role in continuing to provide supporting data and information for the OCSE to successfully complete a SoE report. Agencies can also use the SoE report to inform budget and planning processes, policy development, and to self-assess environmental and sustainability performance.

Recommendation 3: Adopt a target audience of “Community and Government”, however, continue to provide supporting information to interested agencies, businesses and organisations.

Model for ACT State of the Environment reporting SoE reporting models provide a means to structure and bring a consistent order to themes, issues and indicators. SoE models also aid the understanding of how different environmental and sustainability issues are interrelated.

The OCSE has used the “condition-pressure-response” model for all six SoE reports completed to date. While this is an effective reporting framework, it does not clearly address driving forces and impacts. Increasingly, other regions are adopting the DPSIR model (or variants) to better assess and report on the


vii


state of the environment and sustainability – for example, in Europe, Western Australia, Victoria, and Auckland (in development). Adoption of the DPSIR model for the ACT will provide decision-makers with a more integrated, and long term perspective on environment and sustainability performance.

Recommendation 4: Adopt the DPSIR model for future ACT state of the environment and sustainability reporting.

Themes for ACT State of the Environment reporting Identification of reporting themes within a broader SoE model assists with classification and provision of a coherent report structure. Reporting through themes can also be useful where causal links between, for example, pressures and impacts, can be difficult to determine.

Adoption of the DPSIR model (Recommendation 4) promotes inclusion of a new “Driving Forces” theme covering population, economy, landuse, and weather and climate. Three other themes – “Catchments”, “Biodiversity”, and “Human Settlements” can be used for the majority of selected indicators. The overarching theme of “Progressing Sustainability” can continue to be used to highlight broader progress with implementing sustainability in the ACT.

Recommendation 5: Adopt a set of five themes for future ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Reports, covering Driving Forces (with population, economy, landuse, and weather and climate), Catchments (including Land, Water and Air), Biodiversity, Human Settlements, and Progressing Sustainability.

Indicators for ACT State of the Environment reporting An indicator is a measure of change that assists with monitoring of a variable to track trends over time. A SoE report aims to show changes in key issues through time by using indicators related to each theme.

The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 contains 38 “indicators” across four themes and six issues. However, the reported “indicators” are more groups of indicators than individual indicators as identified by the sub-indicators reported and the mix of condition-pressure-response sub-indicators within some “indicator” groupings.

A new set of SoE indicators according to the five proposed themes and structured using the DPSIR model is outlined in the report. Although there are more individual indicators, the number of reported issues and overall indicators has been reduced from the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08. The OCSE should engage with stakeholders to confirm and refine the new indicator set.

Recommendation 6: As part of development of a broader stakeholder engagement framework, undertake a consultation process with stakeholders to confirm and refine the proposed set of environment and sustainability indicators.


viii



ix

Proposed ACT SoE Indicator Framework

Driving Forces 1. Weather and climate

2. Population

3. Demographic trends

4. Economy

5. Landuse types

6. Greenhouse gas emissions

7. Extreme weather events

8. Greenhouse gas mitigation

9. Adaptation to climate change

Condition Pressure Impact Response

Catchments (land, water and air)

Land degradation 10. Soil condition 11. Erosion

12. Salinity

13. Catchment management

14. NRM Plan

Water resources 15. Ecological health of streams and rivers

16. Riparian condition

17. Water management

18. Riparian management

Water supply 19. Dam storage

20. Drinking water quality

21. Water use 22. Environmental flows

23. New water supplies

24. Water demand management

Water quality 25. Surface water quality

26. Discharges to waters

27. Effluent water quality

28. Algal blooms 29. Wastewater treatment

30. Water reuse

Groundwater 31. Groundwater availability

32. Groundwater quality

33. Groundwater use 34. Groundwater management

Local air emissions 35. Local air quality 36. Motor vehicle emissions

37. Non-vehicle emissions

38. Adverse health impacts

39. Air management

Biodiversity

Ecosystems 40. Vegetation communities

41. Protected areas

42. Vegetation clearance 43. Conservation management

44. Protected area management

Native species – animals 45. Status of native species - animals

46. Pest status 47. Pest impacts 48. Threatened species conservation

49. Pest management

Native species - plant 50. Status of native species - plants

51. Native seed harvesting

52. Firewood gathering

53. Weed status

54. Weed impacts 55. Threatened species conservation

56. Weed management



x

Human Settlements

Land and housing 57. Housing types

58. Urban density

59. Housing demand

60. Urban development (greenfield/infill split)

61. Green star development

62. Inner city development

Natural hazards 63. Fire

64. Flooding

65. Fire impacts

66. Flood impacts

67. Fire management

68. Flood management

Transport 69. Transport mode

70. Transport assets

71. Transport use trends 72. Traffic accidents 73. Public transport

74. Sustainable transport

Energy 75. Energy sources

76. Energy assets

77. Energy use trends 78. Energy efficiency

79. Renewable energy

Waste 80. Waste

81. Contaminated sites

82. Movement of controlled waste

83. No Waste

84. Site remediation

85. Treatment of controlled waste

Heritage 86. Historic heritage places

87. Indigenous heritage places

88. Historic heritage place protection

89. Indigenous heritage protection

Open space and amenity 90. Community facilities

91. Parks and open space

92. Community safety

93. Noise complaints

94. Open space management

Community participation 95. Community environmental awareness

96. Indigenous engagement

97. Environmental education programs

98. Community environmental involvement

Progressing Sustainability

99. Ecological footprint

Headline indicators for ACT State of the Environment reporting To better summarise and convey key SoE results to the community and government, a set of Headline Indicators based on the most critical and relevant issues within the Territory should be adopted. This will enable the OCSE to better communicate critical environmental and sustainability issues.

Recommendation 7: Adopt a series of Headline Indicators to report on to the community and government covering:


2. Greenhouse gas emission reduction

3. Ecological health of streams and rivers

4. Catchment management plans

5. Vegetation communities

6. Urban density

7. Water use

8. Water efficiency

9. Transport use (including public transport)

10. Natural hazards (including fire)

11. Community participation, and

12. Ecological footprint.


Data requirements for ACT State of the Environment reporting SoE reporting generally relies on data held by various agencies at different levels of government. This data needs to be compiled, analysed and interpreted for a SoE report in a way that conveys information regarding environmental pressures, impacts and condition, and their associated trends. In order to be useful to SoE reporting, data must also be timely and of sufficient quality.

While there is adequate data for a majority of indicators in the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08, there are some important gaps including land degradation, riparian condition, surface water quality, and groundwater. Over time, data gaps with key indicators will need to be filled to ensure robust SoE reporting for the ACT. With an increased focus on goal-based reporting proposed in this framework, further information will likely be required on the efficiency and effectiveness of community and ACT Government responses to improve environmental condition.

The data requirements for the SoE reporting are subject to the indicator set adopted. Data requirements and sources should be identified in a SoE data management plan building on the assessment in this review. The data management plan would identify the indicator, data source, data age, update status, and any comments on the data for that indicator.

Recommendation 8: Following confirmation of the final indicator set, review the data requirements for each indicator, and prepare a data management plan for the next SoE.

Reporting structure, format and products for ACT State of the Environment reporting The structure, format and presentation of an SoE is important to promote accessibility and communication of SoE results. For future ACT SoE reporting, for each of the SoE themes and issues, new recommended headings and subheadings are promoted as identified below.

Theme

Introduction to the theme

Theme summary – key issues and indicators

------------------------------------------ Issue

Introduction – introduces and describes the issue

Condition indicator(s)

Pressure indicator(s)

Impact indicator(s)

(Issue continued)

Response indicator(s)

Evaluation of environmental management (against stated goals and targets)

Recommendations (if required)

“Snapshot” and photos (up to two per issue)

Commentary and emerging issues (further commentary as required)

References (or at end of report)

The development of an explicit section within each issue evaluating environmental management performance will strengthen the SoE and provide for goal-based reporting. The OCSE will not set goals or targets but will comment on the adequacy of community and government responses.


xi


Through the use of colourful, well-structured, user-friendly pages, the OCSE will be able to communicate and disseminate environment and sustainability information. The continued use of exemplar “snapshots” as used in the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 will provide local examples of positive or negative performance and is encouraged. In addition, diagrams and pictures to graphically illustrate key trends and performance are strongly recommended.

Recommendation 9: The OCSE should develop a colourful structured html web format that presents the SoE information in an ordered manner and uses diagrams and pictures to highlight the condition and trends for both the headline and other indicators.

Increasingly, a range of SoE reporting products (e.g. printed and electronic reports and internet formats) are used to communicate SoE results. The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 is published on-line in “html format” with a series of hyperlinks. There is no “full pdf” or “part pdf” versions available for downloading. Printing the ACT SoE report from the website is not user-friendly with the loss of formatting.

A summary SoE report should be produced in hardcopy to highlight the trends of the headline indicators, with a main report available for users that require it. In addition, a pdf version of the summary report, and the main report, as well as individual main chapters should be made available and linked on the website, on the main page and in each chapter. The pdf version of the report will also allow more user-friendly printing than the current website.

Recommendation 10: The OCSE should produce a summary report of the headline indicators and their condition and trends for broad distribution.

Recommendation 11: The OCSE should link pdf versions of the summary report, the main report and the main individual chapters on the website, on both the main page and the individual chapter pages.

It is recommended that the ACT State of the Environment Report is renamed as the ACT State of the Environment Report and Sustainability Trends to reflect the increased focus on sustainability. Changing the name of the report will highlight the incorporation of sustainability, and help to promote sustainability to the wider community and government.

Recommendation 12: Rename the State of the Environment report to “ACT State of the Environment Report and Sustainability Trends”.

An on-going communications program will be essential to maintain awareness and continue to promote the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report between release of reports. A post-release communications strategy would inform a strategic approach towards communications.

Recommendation 13: Develop a post-release communications strategy to ensure there is an on-going communications program on the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report.


xii



xiii

ACT State of the Environment Reporting consultation process Consultation regarding development and use of an SoE is important to ensure that the report is relevant to stakeholders and reports on material sustainability and environment issues. Like for previous ACT SoE reports, the OCSE should establish a Stakeholder Reference Group for the SoE report with the mandate to ensure the report’s legitimacy in addition to advising on key environmental and sustainability issues. The OCSE should undertake further community consultation to determine priority reporting issues, and how the SoE should be presented.

Recommendation 14: Undertake a two stage consultation process, with initiation of a Stakeholder Reference Group, followed by broader community consultation to determine priority reporting issues, and how the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report should best be presented.

Monitoring and assessing ACT State of the Environment reporting A database for the tracking and monitoring of SoE indicators and recommendations will provide OCSE with a tool to analyse the effectiveness of implemented recommendations. The OCSE is required to report progress against SoE recommendations in its Annual Report, and this could also be promoted more widely to maintain attention on the key findings.

Recommendation 15: Develop and implement a database for tracking and monitoring SoE indicators and recommendations.

Recommendation 16: Continue annual reporting of progress on SoE recommendations and promote results more widely to the ACT community.

ACT catchment reporting and State of the Environment reporting There has been a recent review of the “Role of the Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment in Relation to Drinking Water Catchments” (2009). To promote efficient and effective monitoring and reporting processes, and directly link with SoE reporting, it is highly desirable that the Commissioner integrate recommended drinking water catchment reporting with SoE reporting. Explicit drinking water catchment indicators have been identified within this proposed SoE reporting framework and can be reported every four years. A separate drinking water catchment report using the indicators could be released every alternate two years.

Recommendation 17: Incorporate drinking water catchment reporting within State of the Environment reporting processes.



xiv


1 Introduction

The ACT Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment (OCSE) engaged Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd (Halcrow) to review the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08. A primary aim of the review is to provide recommendations for future ACT State of the Environment (SoE) reporting that is effective and relevant to the community and government.1

This report contains Halcrow’s analysis of SoE and other reporting models and frameworks, and it outlines best practice SoE reporting approaches. It reviews themes, issues and indicators in the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08, and provides recommendations on a preferred model and framework for future ACT SoE reporting.

A draft Consultation Paper for the OCSE to use for consultation with the ACT community has also been prepared as a separate report. The draft Consultation Paper contains a summary of the recommended future ACT SoE reporting model and framework, and potential consultation questions.

1.1 Background A SoE report provides a scientific assessment of a defined geographical area and the impact of human activities and responses on the environmental condition of that area. A SoE report may focus solely on the biophysical environment or also consider social, cultural and economic dimensions. Depending on its focus, a SoE report may provide information for decision-makers, policy-makers, the community, NGOs, and other parties. A SoE report may lead to and track the success of policy and behavioural responses to jurisdictional environmental, social and economic conditions.2

In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment urged the international community to prepare periodic international, regional, and sub-regional reports on “the state of, and outlook for, the environment”. In response, a

1 ACT Government 2009, Request for Quotation, Provision of a Consultant to Review the ACT State of the Environment Report on behalf of Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, T09238, p. 5. 2 See, for example: Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) 2000, Core Environmental Indicators for Reporting on the State of the Environment, State of the Environment Reporting Task Force; and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 2006, Environmental Indicators for North America, Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA), UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya.


1


number of governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) began to produce reports to track environmental problems and supply needed data for measuring changes in the quality and quantity of the air, land and waters that were showing signs of pollution and unsustainable use.3

In 1979, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recommended that member nations adopt SoE reporting as a key national environmental reporting tool. The OECD Council recommended that all member countries prepare periodic national reports on the state of the environment and changes over time. 4

1.1.1 Government responses to State of the Environment reporting Initial government responses to SoE reporting concentrated on generating environmental data and establishing reporting processes. During the 1980s, SoE reporting became more frequent at national and international levels.5

In 1992, SoE reporting was further promoted internationally at the Rio de Janeiro “Earth Summit” to provide concerned citizens with access to information on the environment and encourage public awareness:6

“Rio Declaration on Environment and Development — Principle 10 Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided.”

Countries and regions that have particularly adopted SoE reporting at different levels include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and the European Union (and member countries) (see Chapter 3).

3 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 1972, Educational, informational, social and cultural aspects of environmental issues: Recommendation 95, United Nations Environment Programme, Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm. 4 OECD Recommendation, 8 May 1979 C (79) 114. 5 OECD 1993, Using the Pressure-State-Response Model to Develop Indicators of Sustainability, p. 2. 6 United Nations 1992, Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


2


In Australia, SoE reporting has been undertaken at national, state and local levels for several decades. The first national SoE report was published in 1996, and national SoE reporting obligations have since been legislated in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, that requires that an Australian national SoE report be produced every five years. Subsequent reports have been released in 2001 and 2006.7

In the ACT, SoE reporting is a requirement of the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993. Since 1993-94, six SoE reports have been prepared for the ACT (see Section 1.2.1). Since 1997, SoE reports have also been prepared for the Australian Capital Region as part of an agreement with the seventeen member local councils of the region (see Section 1.2.2).

1.1.2 Evolution of State of the Environment reporting SoE reporting has evolved from the initial pressure-state-response (PSR) SoE model developed by the OECD in the early 1990s.8 The PSR model indicates the pressures of human activities on the environment, the current state (or condition) of the environment and natural resources, and the responses by governments, business, organisations and the community. Since 1993-94, the PSR model has been adapted for use in the ACT with a condition-pressure-response model.9

In 1999, the European Environment Agency extended the PSR model by developed the Driving Forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) SoE model. The DPSIR model takes into account both the driving forces or significant causes of change, as well as the impacts on environmental, social and economic systems. The DPSIR model is increasingly being used for SoE reporting in place of the original PSR model (see Chapters 2 and 3).

Internationally and in Australia, more recent approaches to SoE reporting include providing more timely and integrated information using multiple presentation formats to meet a variety of user needs.10 Increasingly, aggregated indicators, such as the ecological footprint or carbon footprint, are used to illustrate broader sustainability trends and performance.

7 See: http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/ 8 OECD 1993, Core set of indicators for environmental performance reviews, A Synthesis Report by the Group on the State of the Environment, Environment Monographs 83, OECD, Paris. 9 See: http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe 10 UNEP 2006, Environmental Indicators for North America, Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA), UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya.


3

http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/

http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe


There are a range of challenges with SoE reporting include:11

• integrating SoE reporting into the continuous cycle of planning, budgeting, decision-making and review

• identifying and selecting an appropriate framework, themes, issues and indicators

• establishing efficient data collection processes and ensuring quality data

• providing for independent report preparation or review

• aligning SoE reporting across different levels of government

• providing for timely reporting of information and results, and

• promoting the results of SoE reporting to key stakeholders to achieve change.

1.2 ACT State of Environment reporting The OCSE is an independent body that advocates, assesses progress towards, and reports on sustainability and environmental issues in the ACT. The OCSE has a range of investigatory, reporting and advocacy functions and roles.12

1.2.1 Commissioner for the Environment and the ACT State of the Environment report Under Part 4 of the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993, the Commissioner is required to prepare a State of the Environment report for the ACT for a designated reporting period (under four years). Since 1997, the OCSE has also prepared a regional State of the Environment report for the Australian Capital Region (ACR).

The ACT SoE report must include an “assessment of the condition of the environment” covering a broad range of matters outlined in the legislation (see Box 1.1). The 1997 SoE Report highlighted that the “definition of the environment highlights the complexity of the environment and the essential interaction between social, cultural, economic and ecological factors”.

11 For example, see Muller, E et al 2006, Reporting on the State of the Environment: South African Experiences, In Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, Vol. 8, No. 2 (June 2006), pp. 111-134; and Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism 2007, The State of the Environment Reporting (SoER) Toolkit, South Africa. 12 See: http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/aboutus#who


4

http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/aboutus#who


Box 1.1: ACT SoE Report Content

Section 19(2) of the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 outlines that

(2) A state of the environment report must include–

(a) an assessment of the condition of the environment, including an assessment of any of the following matters that the commissioner considers necessary:

(i) the components of the earth, including soil, the atmosphere and water;

(ii) any organic or inorganic matter and any living organism;

(iii) human made or modified structures and areas;

(iv) ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities;

(v) the qualities and characteristics of places and areas that contribute to their biological diversity and ecological integrity, scientific value and amenity;

(vi) the interactions and interdependencies within and between the things mentioned in subparagraphs (i) to (v);

(vii) the social, aesthetic, cultural and economic conditions that affect, or are affected by, the things mentioned in subparagraphs (i) to (v);

(b) an evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of environmental management, including an assessment about the degree of compliance with national environment protection measures made by the National Environment Protection Council; and

(c) any other matters, whether or not occurring within the triennium to which the report relates, that:

(i) the Minister states in written notice given to the commissioner; or

(ii) the commissioner considers relevant.

Source: Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993.

In accordance with the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993, since the first ACT SoE report in 1993-94, there has been broad SoE reporting on the condition of the environment. The 2007-08 SoE report, for example, addressed:

• Atmosphere: Air quality, Climate and Greenhouse.

• Biodiversity: Conserving biodiversity.

• Human settlement: Community wellbeing, Resource use.

• Catchments: Catchment quality (combining the Land and Water themes previously reported separately before 2003).


5


The Commissioner has discretion regarding what particular environmental matters “the commissioner considers necessary” to assess and report on (see s. 19(2)(a) Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993). Indeed, the Commissioner can report on “any other matters” that are considered relevant.

While there is some discretion with what is reported in any period, best practice SoE reporting involves a consistent approach across reporting periods, and transparent explanation of why selected SoE themes or indicators were reported in some years and not others.

Considering s.19(2) of the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993, the various subsections primarily refer to the biophysical environment, people and communities, and the built environment. There is also reference to “social, aesthetic, cultural and economic conditions” but the ACT SoE Report is not a social or economic status report per se – however, the SoE Report will address these other elements where the broader environmental condition may be affected.

After the Commissioner has prepared an ACT SoE report, the Minister must within six months present to the ACT Legislative Assembly a statement that sets out the ACT Government’s response to the report (s. 19(3), Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993). The OCSE’s Annual Report for a financial year must include details of measures taken during the year by or for the Territory in relation to the implementation of any recommendation in a SoE report, and any further recommendations (s. 20, Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993).

On 7 August 2008, the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08 was tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly. The report covered the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2007 and provided data and information about the environment and society in the ACT, as well as examining trends and pressures on the environment. The SoE also included a chapter on sustainability and “snapshots” that were examples of actions being undertaken to progress sustainability.13

The overview to the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08 outlines that:14

“The State of the Environment Report 2007/08 provides an assessment of our environment through six issues papers – climate and greenhouse, air quality, conserving biodiversity, catchment quality, community wellbeing and resource use. Underpinning the issues papers are indicators that provide measurements, analysis and interpretation of

13 See: http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/2007actreport 14 See: http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/2007actreport/overview07


6

http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/2007actreport

http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/2007actreport/overview07


specific attributes. There are also two overarching papers, Progressing Sustainability and Overview and Recommendations.

New to this state of the environment report is the inclusion of a compendium of Snapshots that highlight some of the key programs and activities undertaken in the ACT. An ecological footprint is also included in this report (see Progressing Sustainability Paper).”

Key sections of the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08 are outlined in Box 1.2.

Box 1.2: Key sections of the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08

The internet-based ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08 contains five main sections:

• Key findings with overview and recommendations, and progressing sustainability.

• The main issues covering air quality, catchment quality, climate and greenhouse, community wellbeing, conserving biodiversity and resource use.

• Indicator results covering atmosphere, biodiversity, catchments, and human settlements indicators.

• Snapshots.

• Acknowledgements.

Source: http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/2007actreport

The OCSE’s Annual Report 2007-08 highlighted that:15

“The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08 is a significant piece of work that will not only highlight the sustainability issues and challenges for the ACT but will also shape the future work of the Office. Following its release the Office will work to encourage behavioural and policy changes in key areas identified in the Report. The Office will have a significant role in monitoring and assessing the implementation of any recommendations the Government adopts from the Report.

As part of the development of the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08, the OCSE held sessions with a range of experts from the community, academia, the Commonwealth and ACT Governments. There were seven reference groups held throughout the 2007-08 financial year to discuss key issues: air quality; catchment

15 OCSE 2008, Annual Report 2007-08, Canberra, p. 7.


7

http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/2007actreport


quality; climate and greenhouse; community wellbeing; conserving biodiversity; resource use; and sustainability. Mayors and councils were visited to discuss local environmental and sustainability issues as part of the regional state of the environment report process (see below).16

1.2.2 Regional State of the Environment report Since 1997, the OCSE has prepared a Regional State of the Environment report (RSoER) for the Australian Capital Region (ACR). The RSoER is undertaken through an agreement with the local councils, all of which are members of the Regional Leaders Forum. The ACR is located in south east New South Wales and comprises the Australian Capital Territory and seventeen surrounding local government areas: Bega Valley, Bombala, Boorowa, Cooma-Monaro, Cootamundra, Eurobodalla, Goulburn Mulwaree, Gundagai, Harden, Palerang, Queanbeyan, Snowy River, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Upper Lachlan, Yass Valley and Young.17

The most recent RSoER, prepared on a fee-for-service basis, was released in 2008 and covers the period of July 2004 – June 2008, and comprises individual reports for the 17 local government areas. The individual reports meet the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), and the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 (ACT).

New South Wales currently requires each local council to produce an annual SoE report based on eight environmental sectors: land; air; water; biodiversity; waste; noise; Aboriginal heritage; and non-Aboriginal heritage. For each environmental sector, a local council must have regard to: management plans relating to the environment; special council projects relating to the environment; and the environmental impact of council activities.18

The NSW Government has for several years been reviewing local government reporting requirements. On 25 June 2009, the NSW Government introduced a Local Government Amendment (Planning and Reporting) Bill 2009 to promote integrated planning and reporting (IP&R).19 Specific aims of the IP&R framework

16 OCSE 2008, Annual Report 2007-08, Canberra, p. 17. 17 OCSE 2008, Annual Report 2007-08, Canberra, p. 1, and: http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/soe/rsoe2008/introduction.shtml 18 S. 428(2)(c) Local Government Act 1993 (NSW). 19 See: http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_generalindex.asp?sectionid=1&mi=6&ml=9&AreaIndex=IntPlanRept


8

http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/soe/rsoe2008/introduction.shtml

http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_generalindex.asp?sectionid=1&mi=6&ml=9&AreaIndex=IntPlanRept%20

http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_generalindex.asp?sectionid=1&mi=6&ml=9&AreaIndex=IntPlanRept%20


include improving integration of various statutory planning and reporting processes undertaken by councils, and streamlining reporting processes. Rather than reporting annually on the SoE, a SoE will only be required in the year in which an ordinary election is held.20

1.3 Purpose and approach In 2008, the OCSE identified that following the release of the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08, a review would be undertaken of the indicators used in SoE reporting and other sustainability indicators. This was “an important exercise that will ensure we identify the most relevant indicators and can effectively measure the ACT’s progress towards sustainability”.21

The broad purpose of this project is to review the themes, issues and indicators of the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08 report for relevance and effectiveness. The approach taken involves:

• examining current SoE reporting and similar reporting frameworks and best practice SoE reporting nationally and internationally

• reviewing the themes, issues and indicators in the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08 including identifying data requirements and possible sources, and

• providing recommendations on models and frameworks for future ACT SoE reports that are effective and relevant to the community and government.22

Desktop research was undertaken to identify and review SoE reporting models and frameworks, and to review SoE reporting undertaken by selected national, state and regional governments to determine best practice. The results of the review of SoE models and best practice reporting were then used to review the current ACT reporting framework and provide recommendations for the future.

20 Schedule 1 [12], Local Government Amendment (Planning and Reporting) Bill 2009 (NSW). 21 OCSE 2008, Annual Report 2007-08, Canberra, p. 7. 22 ACT Government 2009, Request for Quotation, Provision of a Consultant to Review the ACT State of the Environment Report on behalf of Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, T09238, pp. 4-5.


9


1.4 Report outline This report reviews and discusses SoE reporting models and frameworks, considers best practice SoE reporting, and reviews the current approach to SoE reporting in the ACT.

Chapter One introduces the report and provides background information on SoE reporting and the ACT SoE reporting framework.

Chapter Two outlines and reviews SoE reporting models, and also reviews other reporting models, including the Global Reporting Initiative’s sustainability reporting framework.

Selected recent national, state and regional approaches to SoE reporting are reviewed in Chapter Three.

Chapter Four reviews the current ACT reporting framework including the purpose, model, themes, issues and indicators used in the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007/08.

Chapter Five presents key findings and recommendations for a future ACT framework for SoE reporting.


10


2 Reporting Models and Frameworks

This Chapter outlines and reviews different State of the Environment (SoE) models and frameworks, including sustainability and other reporting frameworks.

2.1 State of the Environment reporting Development of a SoE reporting framework broadly involves:

• establishing a clear purpose and reporting objectives, and determining the key audience

• determining the level of stakeholder engagement through the reporting process

• selecting a reporting model and deciding on content, such as the scope, themes and issues

• identifying indicators, and required data and information

• compiling the SoE report and different reporting products, and

• promoting the key findings and recommendations, and reviewing progress.

This Chapter focuses on reviewing various SoE and other reporting models and frameworks. Other elements of a SoE reporting framework outlined above are considered in Chapter 3 in examining best practice SoE reporting by various jurisdictions.

2.2 State of the Environment models Selecting an appropriate reporting model is one of the most important decisions when establishing a SoE reporting framework. A SoE model provides a broad structure for a SoE report and assists with organising and presenting different types of information and defining the range of themes, issues and indicators to be considered in a SoE report.

An early model was the Stress-Response model developed by two scientists working at Statistics Canada (Anthony Friend and David Rapport).23 The STRESS model was based on ecosystem behaviour that distinguished: environmental stress

23 Rapport, D. and Friend, A., 1979, Towards a comprehensive framework for environmental statistics: a stress-response approach, Statistics Canada Catalogue 11-510, Minister of Supply and Services, Ottawa.


11


(pressures on the ecosystem); the state of the ecosystem; and the (eco)system response. The original ideas, however, encompassed all kinds of ecosystem and societal responses.24 When the STRESS framework was presented to the OECD, the ecosystem response was removed in order to focus more on the societal response only. This resulted in the OECD Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model in 1991.25

Four primary SoE reporting models have developed from the original OECD PSR model.26 The four SoE models are:

1. PSR: Pressure-State-Response.

2. DSR: Driving Force-State-Response.

3. PSIR: Pressure-State-Impact-Response.

4. DPSIR: Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response.

Each of these SoE reporting models are introduced in the following sections.

2.2.1 Pressure-State-Response model The OECD’s PSR model is the most common SoE reporting model and has been widely used throughout Australia and internationally. A variant of the PSR model as used by the ACT is the “Condition-Pressure-Response” model. The different PSR terms are outlined in Box 2.1.

24 European Environment Agency 1993, Environmental Indicators: Typology and Use in Reporting, Copenhagen. 25 OECD 1991, Environmental indicators, a preliminary set, OECD, Paris. 26 European Environment Agency 1993, Environmental Indicators: Typology and Use in Reporting, Copenhagen.


12


Box 2.1: Pressure-State-Response model terms

Pressure: Tracks people’s use of natural resources and production of waste and emissions (for example, greenhouse gases). These pressures can change the state of the environment or environmental condition.

State (or Condition): Describes the quantity and quality of the environment and natural resources (for example, water quality, air quality, or vegetation cover).

Response: Describes responses by government, business, non-governmental organisations, and the community to prevent, compensate, mitigate, or adapt to changes in the environment (for example, the introduction of regulations such as national environmental standards and legislative initiatives to protect native vegetation and biodiversity).

Source: adapted from European Environment Agency (2003).

The broad purpose of the PSR model is to provide an overview of the pressures of human activities on the state of the environment including natural resources, and the government, business, NGO and community responses to the state of the environment(see Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1: Pressure-State-Response model


13


In the PSR model, human activities are often defined in sectoral terms, such as energy, transport, industry, and agriculture, and the state of the environment is divided into classical elemental categories of air, water, and land. The PSR model captures information on the society response implemented through legislation, programs or actions to address the pressures and environmental issues

2.2.2 Other State-Response models In the 1990s, the base PSR model was extended. This was in recognition that it did not account for the drivers behind the state of the environment. Also, that people not only had an impact on the environment, but that the environment had an impact on people and assets, for example, through flooding. As such, two additional elements, driving forces, and impact respectively, were incorporated into the base PSR model.27

The Driving Force-State-Response (DSR) model was developed by the UNCSD in the mid-1990s and introduced the term driving forces instead of pressure in the reporting framework. Driving forces are the underlying causes of activities that affect the environment. This term accommodates social, economic, and institutional aspects, which can be used for both positive and negative impacts.

Box 2.2: Driving Forces additional model term

Driving force: Describes demographic, social and economic developments. Primary driving forces are population growth and changes in people’s needs and activities that influence overall levels of production and consumption, which in turn exert pressures on the environment.


The Pressure-State-Impact-Response PSIR model was also developed in the 1990s and incorporates impact as a further evolution of the PSR model. This term represents the effect of changes in environmental quality on the functioning of ecosystems and health. Through the addition of this term the framework identifies changes in state of the environment as a separate entity from the base line “state”. The impact term “captures the effects pressures may have on the state”, which provides decision makers with an easier analysis for decision making purposes.28

27 Segnestam, L., 2002 Indicators of Environment and Sustainable Development Theories and Practical Experience, The World Bank. 28 Segnestam, L. 2002, Indicators of Environment and Sustainable Development Theories and Practical Experience, The World Bank, Washington. p. 8.


14


Box 2.3: Impact additional model term

Impact (or Implication): Describes the effects that environmental changes have on environmental or human health (for example, the level of human illness related to exposure to air pollution), or Implication: Description of some pressures that are specific to the issues and their implications for the current state.


2.2.3 Driving Forces-Pressure- State-Impact-Response model In 1999, the European Environment Agency (EEA) developed a model known as Driving Forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR). The DPSIR model extends the PSR and other reporting frameworks by taking into account both the driving forces or causes for change, as well as the impacts on environmental, social and economic systems. Driving forces are the socio-economic and socio-cultural forces that propel human activities and which increase or mitigate pressures on the environment. This model separates the state of the environment (e.g. nitrogen dioxide concentration in the air), from its impact (e.g. acidification).29

These two additions to the base PSR model provide for improved analytical, political and educational value from SoE reporting. It also allows a user to analyse the drivers in regards to the response to environmental change (see Figure 2.2).

A framework based on sustainable development themes, such as the one used by UNCSD (see Figure 2.3), can assist identification of core issues for sustainability (covering all dimensions). For this reason, the DPSIR model has now been adopted by organisations reporting on a combination of biophysical and socio-economic aspects.

29 European Environment Agency 1999, Environmental Indicators. Typology and Overview, Technical Report, 25, Copenhagen.


15


Figure 2.2: Driving forces–pressures–state–impacts–responses framework


16


Figure 2.3: Themes from UNCSD initiative

2.2.4 Analysis and comparison of reporting models Initial environmental reporting focused on discrete environmental indicators that described the state of the environment through monitoring physical changes in the biophysical environment. While this approach informed decision-makers about biophysical impacts, it did not explicitly address cause and effect, or the relative value of any response.

In a more holistic approach, the PSR model, proposed by the OCED in 1991 included consideration of human activities. As outlined in Section 2.2.1, the PSR model included pressures, and social responses in reporting on the influence of human activities on the environment. However, the PSR model still did not specify


17


the nature or form of the interactions between human activities and the state of the environment.30

The PSR model assumes that human activities exert pressures on the environment, which can induce changes in the state of the environment. Society responds to changes in pressures or state with policies and programs intended to prevent, reduce or mitigate pressures and/or environmental damage.31 However, one of the problems with the PSR model is that trying to differentiate between pressure and state indicators is difficult, and the model required expanding to account for sustainable development.

The PSR model has gradually evolved into the DSR, PSIR, and ultimately the DPSIR model. In this current model, the term driving forces accommodates the addition of social, economic, and institutional indicators. In addition, impacts can be considered that may be both positive and negative as is often the case for social, economic, and institutional indicators.

Traditional PSR reporting has been useful to highlight environmental trends and conditions. However, SoE reporting needs to be integrated with the assessment of key driving forces and policies that cause or influence the environmental trends that have been identified. DPSIR provides this overall mechanism for analysing problems.32

The DPSIR model forms the basis of many of the more recent (and forthcoming) SoE reports as outlined in Chapter 3. DPSIR represents a more comprehensive approach to assessing the state of the environment through the inclusion of the origins and consequences of environmental change.

It is acknowledged that no single SoE reporting model is capable of capturing the true complexity of the natural environment and its relationship with human activities.33 However, the DPSIR model provides a comprehensive approach that can be implemented to navigate the multiple causal relationships, linkages and

30 Tapio, P. and Willamo, R., 2008, Developing Interdisciplinary Environmental Frameworks, In Ambio, Vol. 37, No. 2, March 2008. 31 Ibid. 32 Segnestam, L., 2002 Indicators of Environment and Sustainable Development Theories and Practical Experience, The World Bank. 33 Tapio, P. and Willamo, R., 2008, Developing Interdisciplinary Environmental Frameworks, In Ambio, Vol. 37, No. 2, March 2008.


18


cross-sectoral issues which emerge in SoE reporting. A comparison between the four SoE reporting models is shown in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1: Comparison of SoE models

Model Summary Strengths Weaknesses

PSR Developed by OECD and widely adopted by different jurisdictions and at different governance and spatial levels i.e. at national, state, regional and local level Based on the concept that human activities exert pressures on the environment These pressures alter the state of the environment Societal responses to these changes aim to reduce, prevent or mitigate effects on the environment

Systematic approach for considering pressures on the environment, measuring change, and assessing responses Means of determining whether pressures and state are related, and whether management responses have been beneficial

Can be overly simplistic May suggest linear relationships between human activities and the environment Assumes cause and effect but establishing direct cause-effect relationships can be difficult with complex ecosystems Does not recognise that a degraded environment can also affect people and the economy

DSR Developed by UNCSD Builds off PSR model but substitutes broader driving forces for pressures

As for PSR model Allows for broader consideration of underlying causes of activities affecting the environment (i.e. driving forces) Can include social, economic and institutional factors as well as environment Explains both positive and negative affects

Can be overly simplistic May suggest linear relationships between human activities and the environment Assumes cause and effect but establishing direct cause-effect relationships can be difficult with complex ecosystems

PSIR Developed by UNEP Builds off PSR model but also includes impacts

As for PSR model Considers effect of changes in environmental quality on ecosystem functions, human health and economy (impacts) Better separates state from the changes in the state and resulting impacts

Can be overly simplistic May suggest linear relationships between human activities and the environment Assumes cause and effect but establishing direct cause-effect relationships can be difficult with complex ecosystems Some factors can be both pressures and impacts

DPSIR Developed by European Environment Agency Causal framework for describing interactions between society and the environment Allows more integrated approach to environment reporting

More comprehensive approach that continues to evolve Addresses underlying causes of activities affecting the environment (driving forces) Considers effect of changes in environmental quality on functioning of ecosystems, human health and economy (impacts)

May still over simplify relationships No single model is capable of capturing the full complexity of the natural environment and relationship with human activities

Sources: Segnestam (2002); EEA (2003); CES (2005); and Tapio and Willamo (2008).

The DPSIR model does not have to be a “visible part” of a SoE report. This is because use of the DPSIR terminology may be confusing to readers without


19


sufficient background and time to understand the technical description of the model. A major value of DPSIR is using the logical structure and common language to explain what is presented under different categories to assist understanding by a SoE report reader.

The DPSIR model is based on a number of questions that are relevant for each theme or issue covered in an SoE.34

Key Questions Relevant DPSIR phases

What is happening? State, Impact

Why is it happening? Driving force, Pressure

Are we seeing changes? Pressure, Driving force

How effective are the responses? Response

2.3 Other reporting models and frameworks The SoE reporting models outlined above are all physical-based models. However, there are other types of models and framework that can be used for SoE reporting, or different elements can be integrated into a SoE reporting framework.

2.3.1 Issues-based framework An issues-based framework is based on identification of strategic sustainability issues that have long term consequences for a system. This framework is based on the fact that not all issues are of equal importance through time, and so the issues being measured may change over time, to reflect those of highest priority. These frameworks can be used in SoE reports, where the report presents issues and themes that are important at a particular time, with indicators used to track change for each issue.

2.3.2 Resource-Economic Sectoral framework The Resource/ Economic Sectoral framework uses classification of human activity as the basis for a SoE report. Typical sectoral themes include agriculture, energy, forestry, fisheries, health, mining, tourism, and transportation. Statistical systems tend to be organised along these sectoral themes and this approach may be of benefit to a government department producing a sectoral report.

34 European Environment Agency 2000, Questions to be answered by a state-of-the environment report: The first list, Copenhagen.


20


2.3.3 Environmental Media framework The Environmental Media framework reflects a traditional approach to how environments are subdivided and monitored. For example, reporting themes would be broken down to include air, land, water and biodiversity. The use of this framework for reporting could reflect national and state goals for the themes.

2.3.4 Capital-based framework The Capital based framework is based on the principle that sustainability requires people to live off the income (the “flow”) derived from the “stock” of wealth or capital available, rather than living off the capital itself. This framework considers different types of capital, such as built capital (e.g. factories, technologies and tools); natural capital (e.g. natural resources and sinks); and human capital (e.g. labour, education, health and well-being). For any system to be sustainable, all three types of capital should be accounted for.

In the United Kingdom, Forum for the Future has promoted a Capital-based framework with five components: natural capital; financial capital; human capital; social capital; and manufactured capital.35

2.3.5 Goal-based framework Within a goal-based framework, indicators are developed and organised according to how they relate to various goals or objectives. For example goals may be “improving urban air quality” or “reducing unemployment”. These goals would be identified in consultation with stakeholders. This framework is generally applied in sector-based reporting.

Assessment of ACT goals for the environment and sustainability can be integrated into the future SoE reporting model. This would better enable the Commissioner to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of responses to improve the condition of the environment, and to improve sustainability trends. This is critical to better link monitoring and reporting to the management cycle, and is further considered in Section 5.

It is anticipated that environmental and sustainability goals will largely be established by the ACT Government and community. Given the Commissioner’s mandate, where appropriate, commentary may be provided about the nature and extent of various environmental and sustainability goals, but it is not the Commissioner’s role to plan or set goals – otherwise, this creates a conflict with

35 See: http://www.forumforthefuture.org/the-five-capitals


21

http://www.forumforthefuture.org/the-five-capitals


the independent review and audit functions as outlined in the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993.

2.3.6 Input/Output/Outcome/Impact framework This framework assesses the implementation of projects or activities, through the use of Input, Output, Outcome and Impact indicators. The input and output indicators are used while a project or activity is underway, and measure contribution or effort and productivity or yield respectively. Outcome and impact indicators are used after the project or activity has been implemented, and measure a product or result, and effect, respectively.36

2.3.7 Ecological footprint An ecological footprint is a form of natural resource accounting which measures “…the total area of productive land and water ecosystems required to produce the resources that the population consumes and assimilate the wastes that the population produces, wherever on Earth that land and water may be located.”37 The ecological footprint is an indicator of ecological sustainability because it measures the ecological cost in terms of the area of biologically productive land required to supply goods and services to a given population.

The EF methodology has been subject to continual review and refinement since inception. Two distinct methodologies can be used to calculate an ecological footprint. The component method is mainly used at the sub-national level and is assessed through extensive Life Cycle Assessments. The compound-based method is mainly used at the national and global level and is based on national economic and biophysical data on production, trade and consumption through the use of input-output tables.38 The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) produces input-output tables at the national level.

The ecological footprint has been applied to many countries and regions and use is increasing. An ecological footprint has been calculated for the ACT for both 1999 and 2003-04, and included in the ACT 2007-08 SoE report. The OCSE identified that the ecological footprint provides “a means by which to determine relative

36 Segnestam, L. 2002, Indicators of Environment and Sustainable Development Theories and Practical Experience, The World Bank, Washington. p. 8. 37 Wackernagel, M. and Rees, W. 1996, Our Ecological Footprint, New Society Press. 38 Gasparatos, A., El-Haram, M., and Horner M. 2008, “A critical review of reductionist approaches for assessing the progress towards sustainability” In Environmental Impact Assessment Review 28 (2008), pp. 286–311.


22


39

Some concerns have been expressed about the ecological footprint including:40

• the ecological footprint does not consider pollution impacts

• the ecological footprint does not include irreversibility or threshold effects

• aggregate footprints may “hide” changes within individual components, and

• input-output tables are often broadly defined, leading to loss of detail and, potentially, to inaccuracies in footprint analysis.

These concerns can largely be addressed by improving data and analysis, and using additional indicators to report on pollution impacts and impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. Overall, the ecological footprint is an intuitively appealing indicator as it is easy to communicate and understand. The indicator is most effective, meaningful and robust at aggregate levels.41

2.4 Sustainability reporting frameworks The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was formed in 1997 in the United States by Ceres and the Tellus Institute. In 2002, GRI became an independent organisation in affiliation with the United Nations and moved its headquarters to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. GRI has led the development of a sustainability reporting framework that includes a suite of guidelines, protocols and supplements. Since 1997, several thousand organisations have produced sustainability reports that reference the GRI guidelines.42

In October 2006, GRI released the latest version of the GRI sustainability reporting guidelines (the “GRI guidelines”). The GRI guidelines contain a set of sustainability reporting principles, standard disclosures and indicators that are used especially for sustainability reporting by organisations.43 However, the guidelines

39 See: http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/2007actreport/progressingsustainability07 40 For further discussion, see EPA 2006 Ecological Footprint accounting for Western Australia, SoE Reporting Series, Technical Paper No. 4, Western Australia. 41 Aaron, B., Giljum, S., Simmons, C., Blobel, D., Lewis, K., Hammer, M., Cavalieri, S., Lutter, S., and Maguire, C. 2008, Potential of the Ecological Footprint for monitoring environmental impacts from natural resource use, Report to the European Commission, DG Environment. 42 See: http://www.globalreporting.org/Home 43 Global Reporting Initiative 2006, Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, Version 3.0, Amsterdam.


23

http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/2007actreport/progressingsustainability07

http://www.globalreporting.org/Home


can be adapted and used to inform annual reporting, and the development and monitoring of sustainability strategies.

The GRI guidelines consist of four report content principles (i.e. materiality, stakeholder inclusiveness, sustainability context, completeness), and six report quality principles (i.e. balance, comparability, accuracy, timeliness, clarity and reliability). Each of these principles have associated tests to assist with application. The GRI reporting principles are valuable for any type of reporting including SoE reporting, to better focus in on material topics that are of interest to stakeholders, and to promote balanced, accurate and timely reporting.

The GRI disclosure requirements are grouped into profile, management approach and performance indicators. The profile disclosures focus on the description, governance and stakeholder engagement of the organisation, while the management approach and performance indicator disclosures focus on organisational policy and procedures, and impacts on the environment, economy and society.

GRI has also prepared a series of “sector supplements” that provide additional specific sectoral guidance, disclosures and indicators to complement the main GRI guidelines. Sector supplements have been prepared for various sectors including financial services, mining and metals, public agency and transport. Through the sector supplement, GRI promotes that a public agency consider three levels of reporting – organisational, policy impact and contextual. Contextual reporting may include jurisdictional reports, such as a State of the Environment report or State of a City report.44

44 Global Reporting Initiative 2005, Sector Supplement for Public Agencies – Pilot Version 1.0, Amsterdam.


24


3 State of the Environment Reporting

The following chapter outlines selected examples of State of the Environment (SoE) reporting undertaken at the national, state and regional level in Australia and internationally. The SoE reporting examples were selected to illustrate current SoE reporting practice, and assist with identification of best practice to inform the ACT’s future approach.

3.1 State of the Environment reporting in Australia In Australia, most State and Territory governments have developed SoE reporting programs. SoE reports have been published for or on behalf of the Commonwealth, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australian, Tasmanian and Western Australian Governments. Some states, such as Victoria and South Australia, also report periodically on catchment condition or natural resource management. A summary of SoE reporting approaches by jurisdiction is provided in Table 3.1.

3.1.1 Australian State of the Environment reporting The need for national environmental reporting was recognised in Australia in the 1970s and, in 1980, the Australian Environment Statistics 1980 was released. Following this, in 1983, the Australian Urban Environmental Indicators report was released, which contained 73 quality of life indicators for major cities and towns.45

The Commonwealth Department of Arts, Heritage and Environment published the first Australian state of the environment report in 1986. It reported on the condition of major sectors of the environment land, water, air, and native plants and animals, and was accompanied by a source book containing detailed statistical data and discussion of environmental issues. The following year another report, focusing on issues and sectors not examined in the first report, was published. However, this reporting program lapsed after this report.46

Australia has international environmental reporting obligations to the OECD, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific, and the World Meteorological Organization. Australia's reporting obligations for matters relevant to ecological

45 See: http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/publications/framework.html#PartOneBackground 46 Ibid.


25

http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/publications/framework.html#PartOneBackground



26

sustainability have further increased as a result of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. After this SoE reports were required by United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development to assist in monitoring the implementation of Agenda 21. Further reporting obligations arise from Australia’s ratification of other conventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and Framework Convention on Climate Change. Further to this, Australia’s National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development commits all governments to regular state of the environment reporting.47

Three Australian SoE reports have been prepared by independent committees in 1996, 2001 and 2006. The reporting approach used is a modified version of OECD’s pressure-state-response model. Australia’s SoE reporting system has the following broad objectives:

• to regularly provide the Australian public, its governments and decision makers with accurate, timely and accessible information about the condition of and prospects for the Australian environment

• to increase public understanding of the Australian environment, its condition and prospects

• to facilitate the development of, and review and report on, an agreed set of national environmental indicators

• to provide an early warning of potential problems

• to report on the effectiveness of policies and programs designed to respond to environmental change, including progress towards achieving environmental standards and targets

• to contribute to the assessment of Australia’s progress towards achieving ecological sustainability

• to contribute to the assessment of Australia’s progress in protecting biological diversity and maintaining ecological processes and systems

• to create a mechanism for integrating environmental information with social and economic information, thus providing a basis for incorporating environmental considerations in the development of long-term, ecologically sustainable economic and social policies

47 See: http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/publications/framework.html#PartOneBackground




























ACT State of the Environment Report Review Final Report Table 3.1: Recent Australian SoE reporting approaches (by national and state jurisdiction, and by year)

Jurisdiction and Date

Model Scope Themes Total Indicators Reporting Methods

Australia SOE 2006

(required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)

Pressure-Condition-Response (OECD Pressure-State-Response)

Biophysical Human Settlement Cultural heritage

Human settlements Atmosphere Biodiversity Coasts and oceans Inland waters Land Natural and cultural heritage Australian Antarctic Territory

263 indicators used to establish the data reporting system. Indicators selected by the SOE Reporting Committee from original 500 indicators proposed in 1999. Selection based on measurability and usefulness of information.

Reports every five years. Available on-line (web html format and pdf), and in printed copy - full report or summary (both including a CD-ROM containing the full report and accompanying documents). Supporting documents and technical publications also available on the website.

NSW SOE 2009

(required under the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991)

Pressure – State – Response

Biophysical Human Settlement Heritage (all places and cultures)

Toward Environmental Sustainability Human Settlement Atmosphere Land Water Biodiversity

71 indicators (from 2006 – to be reviewed for 2009 report)

Reports every three years. 2006 report is online (web html format). 2009 report due to be released in November 2009.

Victoria SOE 2008

(required under the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Act 2003)

Driving Force – Pressure – State – Implication – Response

Biophysical Human Settlement Sustainability

Driving Forces Production, Consumption and Waste (Energy, Water Resources, Materials) State of the Environment (Atmosphere, Land & Biodiversity, Inland Waters, Coasts, Estuaries & Sea) Living Well

No indicator list available. Reports every five years. Available on-line (web html format and pdf for individual sections). The report is published in five main parts. Part 1, Introduction, Part 2, Driving Forces, Part 3, Production, Consumption and Waste, Part 4, the State of the Environment, Part 5, Living Well Within Our Environment.

Doc No: KMWJAU/90400/Issue 1, Rev 0 27 Date: 9 September 2009

tate of the Environment Report Review


Jurisdiction and Date


Queensland SOE 2007

(required under both the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995)

Driving Force – Pressure – State – Implication – Response

Biophysical Human Settlement Heritage Sustainability

Sustainability Atmosphere Land Inland Waters and Wetlands The Coastal Zone Biodiversity Invasive Plants and Animals Human Settlements Natural and Cultural Heritage

234 indicators Reports every four years. Online (web html and pdf formats) The SoE website also contains up-to-date information on environmental and sustainability indicators and statistics. As well as information from government, universities and other contributors and serves as the source of reliable statistics for the SoE, among others.

Western Australia SOE 2007

Condition – Pressure – Response – Implication (modified model of OECD Pressure-State-Response)


Fundamental Pressures (Population and Consumption, Climate Change) Atmosphere Land Inland Waters Biodiversity Marine Human Settlements Heritage (Natural, Aboriginal, Historic) Towards Sustainability

176 indicators Reports periodically (1992, 1998, and 2007). Online (web html format) with links to pdf version. Technical and discussion papers relating to the SoE are also available on the website.

ACT SOE 2008

(required under the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993)

Condition – Pressure – Response (OECD Pressure-State-Response)


Atmosphere Biodiversity Catchments Human Settlements Progressing Sustainability

38 indicators Online (web html format)

ACT SFinal Report


• to identify gaps in Australia’s knowledge of environmental conditions and trends and recommend strategies for research and monitoring to fill these gaps

• to fulfill Australia’s international environmental reporting obligations, and

• to help decision makers to make informed judgments about the broad environmental consequences of social, economic and environmental policies and plans.48

SoE reporting is guided by the following principles:

• Rigour – guided by best available scientific information, methods and advice, and it will present accurate data and information in a balanced and accessible way.

• Objectivity – information is presented without bias or modification.

• Cooperation – establish partnerships and agreements with the community, industry and government, to facilitate the sharing of information, expertise and resources.

• Openness – seek to ensure open access to information about Australia’s environment.

• Global vision – report information in a comparative manner.

• Ecological sustainability – assess environmental information and issues against the principles of ecologically sustainable development. The precautionary principle is applied and potential impacts for future as well as present generations are assessed.49

The Australian SoE incorporates selected aspects of a number of models listed in Section 2.3, especially reporting on population as a driving force at the start of the report in the Human Settlements section.

The 2006 Australian SoE report has a total of 263 indicators. These were selected by the SoE Reporting Committee from an original list of 500 indicators proposed for SoE reporting in 1999. Indicator selection was on the basis of measurability and usefulness of information. There was useful national data for 37 per cent of the indicators, some data for 51 per cent and no data for 12 per cent. Each of land, biodiversity, coasts and oceans, inland waters, and natural and cultural heritage

48 See: http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/ 49 See: http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/publications/framework.html


http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/

http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/publications/framework.html


lacks more than half the data needed to make a comprehensive national assessment.50

3.1.2 New South Wales State of the Environment reporting The NSW SoE 2006 has the stated aim “to provide credible, scientifically based, statewide environmental information to assist those involved in environmental policy- and decision-making and managing the State’s natural resources.”51

The NSW SoE report is structured around six major themes: Toward Environmental Sustainability, Human Settlement, Atmosphere, Land, Water and Biodiversity. Reported within these six themes are 37 issues and 71 environmental indicators. The indicators are consistent with those addressed in previous NSW reports, and align closely with the core environmental indicators approved by the former Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) in 2000.52 This set of indicators will be reviewed for the next NSW SoE report to be completed by November 2009.

Similar to most other SoE reporting undertaken throughout Australia, the NSW report assesses each environmental indicator’s status, its trend since the previous SoE and the quality of available information. The indicator status was rated according as following:53

• Green is used if the indicator is considered to show a generally positive or healthy environmental condition.

• Amber indicates that the environmental condition is neither positive nor negative. This could be because the data demonstrates a moderate overall status or the results are mixed across different areas of the State.

• Red is used if the indicator shows that there is generally a poor environmental condition or the condition is under significant stress.

• Grey is used where there is insufficient information to make an assessment.

50 See: http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/report/key-findings.html 51 See: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2006/chapter1/chp_1.1.htm 52 Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council State of the Environment Reporting Task Force March 2000, Core Environmental Indicators for Reporting on the State of the Environment. 53 See: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soe/index.htm


http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/report/key-findings.html

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2006/chapter1/chp_1.1.htm

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soe/index.htm


Indicator trend was rated as:54

• improving – the data shows a generally positive trend

• stable – the condition of the indicator is essentially unchanged

• deteriorating – the available data shows that the trend is mostly negative

• unclear – the results are mixed across different areas or there is no obvious trend, and

• not assessable – there is insufficient information.

Information quality is described as good, moderate or poor, to describe the appropriateness of the data to the indicator. A poor data quality rating may mean that:55

• there is no data on which to base a rating

• there is insufficient data on a statewide basis

• data is not of a high enough standard on which to base a rating, and

• data does not relate closely to the indicator and so is not fit for the purpose.

3.1.3 Victorian State of the Environment reporting The Victorian SoE report 2008 uses an adapted DPSIR model. However, similar to the Western Australian approach, Victoria has substituted the term “implication” for “impact” found in common DPSIR SoE reporting approaches. The Victorian SoE report is divided into five main parts:

1. introduction

2. driving forces – this part addresses the socio-economic driving forces influencing environmental change – the “driving forces”, are Climate Change, Population Growth and Settlements, and Economic Growth and Consumption

3. production, consumption and waste – this part explores the level of resource consumption overall and the environmental efficiency of Victoria, specifically through the lens of the energy, water and materials systems

4. state of the environment – this part encompasses the core elements of traditional SoE reporting, through evaluating the condition and trends of

54 See: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soe/index.htm 55 See: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soe/index.htm





Victoria’s natural environment within the broad themes of atmosphere, land and biodiversity, inland waters, and coasts, estuaries and the sea, and

5. living well within our environment – this part shows that Victorians are generally living very well, but that this has been at the expense of the environment. It explores some of the essential concepts and mechanisms for change that Victorians need to incorporate into decision making for environmentally sustainable well-being.

The Victorian report uses a set of environmental indicators that were selected on the basis of a suite of criteria, consistent with approaches used nationally and internationally for environmental reporting. The criteria consisted of the following:

• able to measure a valued element of the environment or an important environmental issue

• be useful for tracking environmental trends at a range of spatial scales, from local to global

• be scientifically credible

• serve as a robust indicator of environmental change

• be cost effective

• be readily interpretable

• be monitored regularly, either by existing programs or by new programs that might be established in the future at reasonable cost, and

• have relevance to policy and management needs.

3.1.4 Queensland State of the Environment reporting The Queensland SoE report 2007 uses the DPSIR model to explore and report on key environmental issues. Each chapter within the Queensland report is made up of a series of papers covering the key issues for each theme. The information for each issue is treated in the context of the DPSIR model.56

For individual issues, a summary of key findings are presented that provides a critical assessment of the issue, and presents the main conclusions regarding its impact on the environment, its significance and its challenge to natural resource management. All key indicators are listed, as well as their status, showing present condition and trend. All indicators are described as either: good, of concern; or

56 See: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/state_of_the_environment/state_of_the_environment_queensland_2007/


http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/state_of_the_environment/state_of_the_environment_queensland_2007/

http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/state_of_the_environment/state_of_the_environment_queensland_2007/


poor condition. An issue’s importance is described within the SoE report, as well as the drivers and impacts.

Each paper presents information on the pressure and condition of the issue, highlighting the influences. Each paper also contains a section on the government’s response to the issue, including an assessment of the relative effectiveness of responses, suggestions for future policy and management directions and identification of data gaps. Queensland uses 234 indicators which are a combination of the ANZECC core environmental indicators for SoE reporting, and state-specific indicators used in two previous Queensland SoE reports.

3.1.5 Western Australian State of the Environment reporting The most recent Western Australian (WA) SoE report was prepared by the Environmental Protection Authority in 2007. 57 The EPA outlines that:58

“State of Environment (SoE) reports are designed to communicate credible, timely and accessible information about the condition of the environment to decision makers and the community. The 2007 SoE report does not consider all of the many environmental issues facing Western Australia (WA). Rather, it focuses on the major environmental issues, so as to draw attention on them and to help set the State’s environmental policy agenda for the next five years.”

The WA 2007 SoE report uses an adapted PSR model with: Pressure-Condition-Current Response-Suggested Response-Implications-Effectiveness. This is similar to the PCR model is similar used in the ACT RSoE reports. However, the model has been expanded to include both current and suggested responses, as well as the terms “implications” and “effectiveness”. The implications term is sometimes used as a substitute for “impacts” in the PSIR or DPSIR models, however, both of these terms have different meanings and are not direct substitutes.

“Current responses” identify current activities already implemented, and “suggested responses” recommend other activities to produce desired outcomes. This has the effect of showing what WA has done and what may be achieved in the future. Throughout the entire report both the themes and issues are logically set out and generally easy to follow (see Box 3.3).

57 See: http://www.soe.wa.gov.au/ 58 EPA 2007, State of the Environment Report Western Australia 2007, p. xiii.


http://www.soe.wa.gov.au/


Box 3.3: WA SoE theme and issue reporting structure and format

The 2007 WA SoE report uses the following format for each theme:

• Introduction: Describes natural resources and information related to this theme and explains the significance or importance of these resources to the environment, society and the economy.

• Objectives: Outlines broad environmental goals relevant to the theme and the environmental values for the natural resource.

• Headline indicators: High-level indicators that provide a summary measure of the progress towards meeting the objectives.

• Overall condition: Summarises the general condition of the environment relevant to the theme.

• Effectiveness: A summary of the progress and effectiveness of government actions that arose from previous SoE reports.

• Suggested responses: Recommends responses (i.e. policy, on-ground action, strategies) to address environmental condition.

• Emerging or outgoing issues: An emerging issue is a minor issue with potential to be a problem in the future, or it has little current information available about it. An outgoing issue is an issue that previously appeared in the SoE report, but is no longer considered a major environmental problem.

The format for each environmental issue in the WA SoE report is:

• Indicative extent: A map representing areas of WA that is affected by the issue.

• Priority rating: A five-level score assigned by the EPA to represent the priority of the environmental issue to WA. A priority rating of “1” indicates a top priority environmental issue.

• Key findings: Summary dot points which highlight the major findings.

• Description: Describes the issue.

• Objectives: Outlines the specific objectives for addressing the environmental issue, often from existing policy documents.

• Condition: Summarises what is known about the current status and trend of the issue’s impact on the environment. This section may include indicators.

• Pressures: Identifies the key processes that cause the issue. This section may include indicators.

• Current responses: Summarises the current major community and government actions (i.e. policy, on ground action, strategies) that have been implemented to address the issue. This section may include indicators.



• Implications: Identifies the social, environmental and economic consequences of the issue.

• Suggested responses: Recommends responses (i.e. policy, on-ground action, strategies) to address the issue.

Source: Environment Protection Agency Western Australia, 2007.

The term effectiveness is used within the WA SoE report to monitor and report on how successful previous SoE recommendations have been. Within the DPSIR model this is generally built into the response, from which the monitoring and effectiveness of a response feeds back into the DPSIR loop, as a part of the adaptive management cycle.

The 2007 WA SoE report is well-presented in a web (html and pdf) format. The WA SoE report uses consistent header colours and presentation styles to present the themes and issues (see Box 3.4).

Box 3.4: Presentation of the State of the Environment Report

Through the use of colourful, well presented and easy to follow webpages, the WA report engages the readers and effectively communicates the high priority issues facing the State.

A pdf version of this report is also provided on the website, however the data behind the report is not.

A link to Western Australia’s presentation of the SoE is http://www.soe.wa.gov.au/ .

3.2 International State of the Environment reporting SoE reporting is undertaken by many countries, but a diverse range of reporting models and practices are implemented. This diversity generally reflects the institutional arrangements for SoE reporting within different countries, different legislative or policy requirements, different environmental problems, and a range of constraints relating to environmental reporting and policy-making (e.g. robust data collection and management).


http://www.soe.wa.gov.au/



In general, international SoE reports use the PSR model, or the DPSIR model, to identify and analyse the cause effect chains underlying environmental resource use and problems. Some countries have been preparing SoE reports for a number of years. Canada, for example, began environmental reporting in the late 1970’s. However, most countries, began producing national SoE reports in the 1990s, at times, with support from external, donor-financed projects.

The frequency of reporting varies. New Zealand has introduced a new reporting framework that requires a report every five years, similar to Australia. Whereas, annual SoE reports are produced in China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

SoE reports are published in many formats, with the majority published on the internet, though some countries publish only recent reports. Some countries, like Australia, also make the data used in reports accessible via their websites.

The following section provides a review of the state of the environment practices undertaken in Canada, USA, New Zealand, Europe and Switzerland. Table 3.2 provides a summary of selected SoE approaches.

3.2.1 Canadian State of the Environment reporting Canada’s SoE reporting presents a number of issues which are structured in terms of the human activities that act as pressures on the environment, the condition of the environment, and societal responses to address the issue. Under each of these issues, a number of indicators are used to describe the environment.

To identify the indicators used within the national environment reporting, an Indicators Task Force was created, who conducted a broad survey of key opinion leaders and potential users, and defined criteria by which indicators would be selected. The indicators used are all useful for day-to-day decision-making and could be used to spark behavioural and ethical changes and provide answers to public concern for the environment.59

59 See: http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/Indicator_series/introduction.cfm

http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/Indicator_series/introduction.cfm




























ACT State of the Environment Report Review Final Report Table 3.2: Recent international SoE reporting approaches (by national and state jurisdiction, and by year)


Canada Environmental Indicators 2003


Ecological Life-support Systems Human Health and Well-being Natural Resources Sustainability Human Activities

Biodiversity and protected areas Toxic substances Acid rain Climate change Stratospheric ozone Municipal water use Municipal wastewater treatment Urban air quality Forestry Agricultural soils Energy consumption Passenger transportation Municipal solid waste

12 Headline indicators Online (web html format) with pdf versions available of the overview document and technical document.

USA RoE 2008 Pressure – State – Response

Biophysical Human Health

Air Water Land Human Health Ecological Condition

Indicators to answer 23 questions that EPA believes are of critical importance to its mission and the nation’s environment

Online (web java format) for the 23 questions, in addition a pdf version is available for each chapter and the highlights report.

New Zealand SOE 2007

Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response

Biophysical Human Settlement

Our environment and people Pressures on the Environment (Household Consumption, Transport, Energy, Waste) State of the Environment (Air, Atmosphere, Land, Freshwater, Oceans, Biodiversity)

19 core national environmental indicators derived from 160 environmental indicators.

Online (web html format and pdf format) for full, and summary versions of the report. In addition Environmental Report Cards for a series of indicators are available in pdf.


tate of the Environment Report Review



EEU SOE 2007



Environment and health and the quality of life (Environment and Health, Air Quality, Inland Waters, Soil, Hazardous Chemicals) Climate change Biodiversity Marine and coastal environment Sustainable consumption and production (Production and Resource Use, Consumption, Waste) Sectors that drive environmental change (Agriculture, Transport, Energy, Tourism)

EEA core set of indicators Online in a pdf version only. Maps and graphs used in the report are available online, however, no supporting text is supplied.

EEU SOE 2010

(in preparation) Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response


Climate Change Biodiversity Environment and Health Sustainable Consumption and Production

Adopt EEA core set, plus other EU, OECD, UNECE indicator sets as appropriate

Moving to a web based format instead of print version. A fully web based format will be trialled before implementation

Switzerland Environment 2009


Biophysical Human Settlements

Resources and material flows Energy Transport and mobility Industry, production and commerce Households, consumption and tourism Agriculture Air quality Climate change Waters Soils Landscape and biodiversity Forests Natural hazards Risk of major chemical and biological accidents Noise and vibrations Health and environment

Based on EEA core set of indicators, selected to be relevant to Switzerland

Online and print version available, the online version is only available in full pdf format.

ACT SFinal Report


The interviews also determined that “indicators buried in government reports are of little use to the public and that results must be communicated clearly and understandably to the users. The indicators needed to relate to things that people value or identify with, be directed to something requiring attention or action, illustrate changes in a reasonable time frame, and be flexible enough to respond to changing scientific data and public opinion.”60 In order to present this concise relevant information, Canada produces an Environmental Signals report. More details of this report is provided in Box 3.5.

Box 3.5: Headline Indicators

Canada’s Environmental Signals report contains a set of 12 key “headline” indicators, which are intended to provide a broad overview of trends in areas that are important to Canadians. The indicators do not represent a comprehensive report on the state of the environment, but rather are a series of snapshots that can raise public awareness and act as signposts for their progress towards environmental sustainability. In addition, Canada also publish a more detailed analysis of these issues as well as background technical information and a number of other indicators.

The Environmental Signals report, addresses nine themes: water use, wastewater treatment, air quality, climate change, acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion, wildlife and wilderness, toxic substances, and waste and recycling. Within each theme, the report discusses what is happening and why it is important, ongoing challenges, what the Government of Canada is doing to address the issue, and linkages to other indicators relevant to the theme.

The trend over time for each of these headline indicators is assessed and presented using a meter, as shown below. The meter indicates whether the trend for the indicator is deteriorating, remaining stable, or improving, and to what extent.

Source: adapted from Environment Canada – State of the Environment Information Base, 2005.

60 Ibid.



3.2.2 USA State of the Environment reporting The 2008 USA Report on the Environment (ROE) uses a PSR model to compile indicators currently available to answer 23 questions that the US EPA believes are of critical importance to its mission and the nation’s environment. The indicators are supported by data gathered from federal and state agencies and non-governmental organizations. All of the indicators are peer reviewed against six criteria to ensure that they are useful; objective; transparent; and based on data that are high-quality, comparable, and representative across space and time.61

3.2.3 New Zealand State of the Environment reporting New Zealand’s 2007 SoE report uses a set of core national environmental indicators modelled on the DPSIR model. The core national environmental indicators were chosen from a wider set of 160 indicators, and provide the key information needed for national environmental policy-making and natural resource management in New Zealand. For example, air quality in managed airsheds is one of the core national environmental indicators used to report on the state of New Zealand’s environment. These indicators were also selected for their ability to provide the best representation of the information that is currently available on high-priority issues for the environment.62

3.2.4 European State of the Environment reporting The UNECE “Environment for Europe” process brings together 53 countries to address jointly environmental challenges. The most recent assessment in 2007 is the 4 environmental report prepared by the European EEA. This report focuses on priority areas, such as: air emissions, urban air quality, trans-boundary inland and groundwater pollution, marine pollution, chemical, hazardous waste, waste management, human health and biodiversity.

th

The fifth European environment report is due to be released in 2010. This report will also follow the DPSIR model, however, it is intended that it will move away from an assessment of environmental status and trends, and towards an evaluation of policies. This report will draw on web-based publishing, instead of print versions, and be structured in three sections:

• Part A: pathway to environmental vision by 2050

• Part B: SoE in Europe, and

• Part C: SoE in a national context.

61 See: http://www.epa.gov/roe/ 62 See: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/environmental-reporting/soe-reports/


http://www.epa.gov/roe/

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/environmental-reporting/soe-reports/


The relationships between these sections are shown in Figure 3.1. Within the overall report, four key central themes will be reported on: climate change, biodiversity, sustainable consumption and production, and environment and health (see Figure 3.2). The indicators will mainly be relevant to the Parts B and C, and the report will adopt an EEA core set of indicators, plus EU, OECD, and other indicator sets, as appropriate.

Figure 3.1: Relationship between proposed sections of Europe’s 2010 report

Figure 3.2: Four key themes of Europe’s 2010 report



3.2.5 Switzerland State of the Environment reporting The 2009 Switzerland SoE Report has three parts: a synoptic evaluation of environmental policy implementation, a review of the state of the environment and a comparison with selected European countries. This report is an abridged version of previous SoE reports, and is used as a supplement to the 2007 edition. The approach follows the Europe-wide standardised DPSIR model. Consequently, in addition to the environmental themes, the report also explores the main human activities which have an influence on the environment.63

Similar to the Canadian report, the Switzerland report also uses accompanying pictograms with each indicator, which provides a rapid evaluation tool. Each pictogram indicates the state of the environment and the development trend for the given theme, this allows for the findings to be recognised immediately and by all audiences. For the evaluations, criteria were defined to allow systematic and transparent evaluation of the diagrams throughout (see Box 3.6)

Box 3.6: Switzerland evaluation scale

A four-level evaluation scale was applied:

Good state: objective attained; Adequate state: close to objective; Poor state: objective not attained; Impossible to evaluate: no objective or insufficient data.

The development trends presented normally referred to a period of the previous ten years, and assessed in terms of the objective in question. Development trends were also evaluated on a four-level assessment scale:

Positive trend: marked development towards the objective; Stable trend: little or no development; Negative trend: marked development away from the objective; Impossible to evaluate: no objective or insufficient data.

Source: adapted from Environment Switzerland 2009.

63 See: http://www.bafu.admin.ch/publikationen/publikation/01039/index.html?lang=en


http://www.bafu.admin.ch/publikationen/publikation/01039/index.html?lang=en


3.3 International regional and provincial reporting Three examples of SoE reporting at regional and provincial (state) levels are considered in this section. It considers SoE reporting by Auckland and Taranaki regions in New Zealand, and the province of British Columbia in Canada.

Table 3.3: Recent SoE Regional Reporting Approaches (by jurisdiction, and by year)


Auckland Region SOE 2009 (in preparation)

New Zealand


Biophysical Human Settlements

Urban Transformation Rural Productivity Coastal Management

No indicator list is currently available, however it is noted the indicator(s) will be described with reference to their role as a measure of state, pressure, impact and response. Any underlying assumptions or limitations with be acknowledged, and the level of monitoring and quality of available data will be clearly identified. All indicators will be selected on the basis of criteria consistent with methodologies used nationally and internationally for sustainability reporting, and will meet the ‘SMART’ criteria– that is, that they are specific, measurable, accurate, reliable and time-bound

No information on the reporting method is currently available, however it is likely to follow the previous reports. With a pdf version available as a two part document from a website.

Taranaki SOE 2009

New Zealand


Biophysical Heritage

Land, Soil and Biodiversity Freshwater Coastal and Marine Environment Atmosphere Landscape, Heritage and Amenity Values Natural Hazards Waste Energy Towards Sustainable Development in Taranaki

No indicator list available

Basic web based formats, with introductions, and links to pdf versions. Both summary and full pdf versions are available




British Columbia SOE 2007



Population and Economic Activity Air Quality Water Quality Climate Change Contaminants Ecosystems Species Conservation

44 indicators and supplementary measures. The indicators were selected to provide an update on a wide range of measurable pressures and conditions in the province. They also show the impact of efforts to address environmental problems and the progress society as a whole is making toward sustainability.

Online (pdf format). An overview is provided for each theme, with a detailed pdf version available. The full report is also available in pdf format.

3.3.1 Auckland State of the Environment reporting The next SoE report for the Auckland region is to be released in November 2009. The key objectives of this report are listed as:

• to provide access to scientifically credible, robust, timely and relevant information on the current environmental conditions and trends in Auckland

• to identify driving forces and direct pressures influencing environmental change and quality of life in Auckland

• to identify the possible implications of environmental trends

• to evaluate where possible the effectiveness of current management responses to environmental issues

• to assist decision-making in policy development, implementation and resource management

• to raise public awareness and understanding of environmental issues in order to improve the way we use, manage and value the environment, and

• to make recommendations on specific actions and future directions required to advance Auckland’s progress towards meeting objectives of the Auckland Sustainability Framework.

The Auckland SoE report will use the DPSIR model. The report will be divided into four main sections:

1. Introductory and methodological elements will be addressed in the first section.

2. The second section address the socio-economic driving forces influencing environmental change.

3. A more indepth analysis of human activities driving natural resource consumption and waste generation in the third section.



4. The fourth section captures the traditional elements of SoE reporting, identifying the present state of the regional environment and the direct pressures acting on it. This section will assess the impacts of current environmental pressures, condition and trends, utilising predictive modelling and landuse/population scenarios. The effectiveness of policy responses to environmental issues across a range of regulatory and non-regulatory methods will be quantitatively assessed where possible. Consideration within the report will be given to three distinct themes: urban transformation, rural productivity and coastal management.

3.3.2 Taranaki State of the Environment reporting The Taranaki Regional Council’s 2009 SoE report follows the PSR model, and is similar to previous SoE reports in 1996 and 2003. However, the format has been revised slightly by bringing to the front of each chapter, the values of and pressures on the environment, which provides the reader with a broad context for each chapter. For example, in the fresh water section, information on the issues and pressures are presented before reporting on the state or condition of the environment and management responses. In addition, this report presents the information in a form that is easy to read and understandable to the wider community (see Box 3.7 for further information on this approach).

Box 3.7: Presentation of Information

This report makes an attempt to present the information in a form that is understandable to the community. At the beginning of each chapter there is a box entitled ‘At a glance’. This provides a very short summary of the key points contained in the chapter. Throughout the chapters, information is provided with a reference (footnote) to reports or databases containing more detailed information. Wherever possible, maps, diagrams and photographs have been used to demonstrate environmental conditions and trends. Case studies of particular programmes or examples are presented for added interest and to showcase practical examples of the community ‘at work’ on protecting and enhancing the environment in which we live.

Source: adapted from Taranaki State of the Environment Report, 2009.



3.3.3 British Columbia State of the Environment reporting In 2007, British Columbia released an SoE or “environmental trends” report using the PSR model. This report is more technically based and contains 44 indicators and seven themes: population and economic activity, air quality, fresh water, climate change, contaminants, ecosystems and species conservation. Within environmental reporting, population and economic activity and climate change are driving forces behind pressures on the environment, and consequently are not reported as separate themes.64

3.4 Summary of reporting approaches The primary reporting model is the PSR model, with seven of the fifteen reports assessed in this chapter using this model. However, more recent (or proposed) SoE reporting is using the DPSIR model.

Themes within SoE reports are generally based around biophysical aspects, such as atmosphere, land, biodiversity, inland waters, and coasts, estuaries and the sea. However, human settlements also appears as a common theme. At times, human settlements indicators may be addressed within a socio-economic driving forces section for the reports using the DPSIR model.

It is important for any SoE reporting to present a balance of text and graphics. In this chapter, some examples are presented which provide readers with graphical analysis and text, often with dashboard style indicators to summarise performance, and better inform a reader.

64 See: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/soe/et07/index.html


http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/soe/et07/index.html


4 ACT State of the Environment Review

This chapter reviews the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 and related framework on the basis of relevance, effectiveness, and against best practice State of the Environment (SoE) reporting as outlined in the previous chapters. This chapter reviews the:

• SoE report purpose, objectives and target audience

• SoE model, themes and issues

• SoE indicators

• data requirements, and

• reporting format and reporting products.

4.1 Purpose, objectives and target audience for State of the Environment reporting

4.1.1 Purpose – ACT State of the Environment report A clearly defined and agreed purpose is important for any report (or project) so that all stakeholders involved have a common understanding as to the reason for the report (or project), and what is intended to be achieved.

In terms of SoE reporting, without a clear purpose statement, a SoE report lacks focus and direction, and may ultimately be ineffective. The purpose of any SoE report should be determined at the beginning of the SoE reporting process, and clearly stated near the front of a SoE report – often in an introduction or at times in a methodology section.

The Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 outlines what must be addressed in terms of a SoE (s. 19), however, the Act does not contain a clear SoE reporting purpose, other than what may be inferred from the Commissioner’s functions (s. 12). The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 also lacks a clear purpose statement. The closest to a purpose statement is in the “Report Structure” section within the “Overview and Recommendations”:

“The State of the Environment Report 2007/08 provides an assessment of our environment through six issues papers – climate and greenhouse, air quality, conserving biodiversity, catchment quality, community wellbeing and resource use. Underpinning the issues papers are indicators that provide measurements, analysis and interpretation of specific attributes. There are also two overarching papers, Progressing Sustainability and Overview and Recommendations (this paper).



New to this state of the environment report is the inclusion of a compendium of Snapshots that highlight some of the key programs and activities undertaken in the ACT. An ecological footprint is also included in this report (see Progressing Sustainability Paper).

Although not a “purpose” as such, the OCSE’s SoE reports for the Capital Region have the stated aim of providing:

• an effective tool for community engagement, and

• information to guide future strategic planning.

A clear purpose statement would enhance the value of the ACT SoE report, and influence the entire reporting process. The purpose statement could especially refer to matters, such as assessing and communicating ACT’s critical sustainability and environmental performance, issues and challenges, and advocating and encouraging behavioural and policy change.

4.1.2 Objectives and target audience – ACT State of the Environment report Like a clear purpose statement, one of the key requirements for an effective SoE reporting process is a set of clearly defined and agreed reporting objectives. The objectives of a SoE report are the outcomes that the development and use of the report will achieve. Related to the broad purpose, the objectives are more action focused, similar to “objectives” as described in a strategic plan.

SoE reporting objectives explain to decision-makers and the community what is to be achieved by the SoE, and the objectives provide direction for the process, and establish why an organisation is undertaking the SoE process. At times, SoE objectives may clearly indicate that the report is to inform policy and program development, and complete the strategy-policy-monitoring-review cycle.

Often a major objective of SoE reporting is to enhance the quality, accessibility and relevance of information to improve environmental management or advance sustainable development. SoE reports are also prepared to communicate credible, timely and accessible information about the condition of the environment to decision makers and the community. Objective statements should convey this as well.

In determining a SoE report’s objectives, consideration needs to be given to:

• who is the SoE report for i.e. who is the target audience to reach with the SoE report?

• what will the SoE be able to achieve in terms of improving sustainability and environmental outcomes?



• how will the SoE report be conveyed to the target audience and other stakeholders?, and

• how will the impact of the SoE be measured and assessed, and what are the performance measures?

The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 and the reporting process does not have clear objectives. As identified in Section 4.1.1 above, the ACT SoE “Overview” indicates that the SoE “provides an assessment of our environment …”. A further objective can be inferred from s. 19 of the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 where a SoE must include “an evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of environmental management”.

The above statements could be adapted and developed as objectives that could then be confirmed with the ACT community. The objectives would need to be consistent with a defined purpose of the SoE report, and build on what the SoE report is endeavouring to achieve.

4.2 Reporting model, themes and issues 4.2.1 Model – ACT State of the Environment report

SoE reporting models provide a means to structure and bring a consistent order to themes, issues and indicators. SoE models also aid the understanding of how different sustainability and environmental issues are interrelated. As discussed in Chapter 2, the initial pressure-state-response (PSR) SoE reporting model, has been extended to create a DPSIR reporting model with additional driving forces and impact reporting categories.

The OCSE has used the condition-pressure-response model for all six SoE reports completed to date. While this is a reliable and effective reporting framework, as demonstrated in Section 2.2, it does not fully address driving forces and impacts.

Increasingly, other regions or areas are adopting the DPSIR model (or variants) to better assess and report on the state of the environment and sustainability – for example, in Europe, Western Australia, Victoria, and Auckland (proposed). Adoption of the DPSIR model will provide ACT decision-makers with a more integrated, and long term perspective on the environment and sustainability. This can foster the sustainable use of resources in a way that maintains ecological processes and improves the quality of life, now and in the future.

4.2.2 Themes – ACT State of the Environment report Identification of reporting themes within a broader SoE model assists with classification and provision of a coherent report structure. Reporting through



themes can also be useful where causal links between, for example, pressures and impacts, can be difficult to determine.

Many SoE reports adopt a biophysical theme, however, some build on this to also address human settlement and heritage themes. Adoption of a DPSIR model supports an SoE focus on the environment and sustainability.

The OCSE adopted the following structure for the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 with:

• an overarching paper on progressing sustainability

• six issues papers on: air quality; catchment quality; climate and greenhouse; community wellbeing; conserving biodiversity; and resource use

• four indicator groupings or themes: Atmosphere; Biodiversity; Catchments and Human Settlements, and

• twenty snapshots that are new to the SoE and highlight some of the key programs and activities undertaken in the ACT.

This current ACT structure is broad enough to be adapted to fit within a DPSIR model, while still maintaining a core environment reporting focus, and an emphasis on sustainability.

4.2.3 Issues – ACT State of the Environment report Many SoE reports identify a series of “issues” or topics to help frame reporting. An “issue” is a topic of concern that may affect a particular area in the present or future.65

The ACT is responding to a range of sustainability and environment issues. For example, urban development, water use, transport use, greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change, management of pests and weeds, bushfire and drought.

As outlined above, the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 provides an assessment of six issues. These issues are supported by a number of indicators that provide measurement, analysis and interpretation of specific attributes. Each issue is presented in a supporting paper that details the issue, the indicators, evaluation

65 Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism 2007, The State of the Environment Reporting (SoER) Toolkit, South Africa.



and response. In addition, there are also two overarching papers, “Overview and Recommendations” and “Progressing Sustainability”.

Many issues faced by ACT are common throughout Australia and the world, however the priority of the issues is generally unique and influenced by local geography, community values and events. As such, the priority issues identified for ACT are likely to be different to those in Melbourne or Victoria, for example.

The structure of OCSE’s 2007/08 SoE is shown in Figure 4.1. The 2007/08 SoE report also includes a series of snapshots that highlight some of the key programs and activities undertaken in the ACT. The report also includes ecological footprinting as a part of the Progressing Sustainability paper.

Figure 4.1: Structure of the 2007/08 Report.

Consultation on a new SoE framework for the ACT will be an important opportunity to seek feedback from the ACT community on priority issues. Priority issues could also be tested through use of a stakeholder reference group of environmental, social and economic agencies, businesses and organisations.

Education for sustainability will play an essential role in heightening awareness of sustainability and environmental challenges in the ACT. As such, an effective SoE that reports on priority issues can do much to improve understanding and promote more effective responses to sustainable development.



4.2.4 Indicators – ACT State of the Environment report A SoE report aims to show changes in key issues through time by using indicators related to each theme. Good practice indicators require careful design to be relatively simple and easy to understand and yet represent complex situations in our environment.66

The use of indicators is the fundamental basis of SoE reporting. An indicator is a statistical tool used to measure the current state or trend of a specific component of the environment, including the pressures acting on the environment, and the outcomes of management responses.

SoE reporting frameworks typically contain a number of discrete indicator sets that have different uses and communicate different levels of information to target audiences (see Box 4.1).

Box 4.1: Selected indicator sets

Candidate indicators: any and all suggested indicators that assess environmental performance.

Feasible indicators: candidate indicators that can actually be developed because data is available.

Core set: indicators selected from the feasible candidates, based on a list of criteria (eg significance, measureable, relevance, cost-effective etc).

Supplemental/ complementary sets: indicators developed for specific users and/or to show more detail about specific issues or places.

Headline or key indicators: a small set of indicators selected from the core set to best represent each theme or issue.

Indices: aggregated and composite indicators to give a snapshot for decision makers.

Alarm indicators: indicators to be constantly monitored so as to enable timely warning about adverse changes threatening to exceed set thresholds.

Diagnostic indicators: indicators developed to provide an in-depth analysis of the issues highlighted by the alarm indicators.

Source: UNEP (2006).

66 Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism 2007, The State of the Environment Reporting (SoER) Toolkit, South Africa.



To address all indicator issues and areas relevant to sustainable development, an organised set of indicators is needed. Indicators which are arranged or organised in a coherent manner have several uses including:67

• guiding data and information collecting process

• providing a useful communication tool for decision makers that summarises key information derived from many different sources and sectors

• providing logical groupings of related sets of information and promoting their interpretation and integration, and

• assisting identification of data collection needs and data gaps.

The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 contains 38 indicators to report against the four themes and six issues. The use of these indicators supports the assessment of sustainability and environmental condition and trends, and results of several indicators may allow an evaluation of progress to be made for each environmental issue.

ACT SoE Indicators 2007-08 The 38 “indicators” reported in the 2007-08 ACT SoE Report are outlined in Tables 4.1 to 4.4, along with the primary data source, sub-elements reported and indicator type (considering the “condition-pressure-response” framework).

The reported “indicators” are more groups of indicators than individual indicators as identified by the sub-elements reported and the mix of “condition-pressure-response” sub-elements within some “indicators”. This analysis is further used in Section 5 in constructing a new reporting framework with clearer separation of the “condition-pressure-response” sub-elements.

Table 4.1: Atmosphere

“Indicator” Primary Data Source Main Sub-elements Reported Indicator Type Air emissions National Pollutant Inventory Motor vehicle emissions

Non-vehicle emissions Aviation emissions

Pressure

Air quality (indoor) (Limited data) Homes Workplace Vehicles

Condition and Pressure

67 See: http://ngo.grida.no/soesa/nsoer/project/about/about.htm


http://ngo.grida.no/soesa/nsoer/project/about/about.htm


“Indicator” Primary Data Source Main Sub-elements Reported Indicator Type Air quality (outdoor)

National Environment Protection Council

Airborne lead Carbon monoxide Nitrogen dioxide Ozone Particulate matter

Pressure

Greenhouse gases ACT Government Greenhouse gas emissions Driving force and Pressure

Ozone depletion (Limited data) Ozone depletion Pressure Weather Bureau of Meteorology Rainfall

Temperature Sunshine Relative humidity Evaporation Wind

Condition

Table 4.2: Biodiversity

“Indicator” Primary Data Source Main Sub-elements Reported Indicator Type Ecological communities

ACT Government Vegetation communities Recovery after bushfire

Condition

Ecomanagement ACT Government NRM Plan Conservation Strategy’s Management Plans Community involvement Research Protected areas status

Response

Fire ACT Government Wildfire occurrences Fire management Strategic Bushfire Plan Fuel reduction Hazard reduction Knowledge Monitoring

Condition and Response

Harvesting native species

ACT Government (Limited data)

Recreational fishing Commercial native seed harvesting Kangaroo harvesting Firewood use Wood heater replacement program Licence to take native animals

Pressure and Response

Native species ACT Government Birds Frogs Plant species list Listing of threatened species


Pest animals ACT Government Pest management strategy Legislation Potential new invasive species Declaration and Vertebrate Pest Management Strategy




“Indicator” Primary Data Source Main Sub-elements Reported Indicator Type Pest plants ACT Government Weeds strategy

Regional and national context Legislation Cost of weed control Potential new invasive species Working with the community Declaration


Table 4.3: Catchments

“Indicator” Primary Data Source Main Sub-elements Reported Indicator Type Discharges to waters

ActewAGL Volumes discharged Effluent water quality

Pressure

Drinking water quality

ActewAGL Dam storage Drinking water quality

Condition

Groundwater ACT Government Groundwater use Groundwater quality

Pressure and Condition

Land degradation ACT Government (Limited data)

Salinity Lower Cotter catchment Pine plantation estate Unsealed roads Land management guidelines

Condition, Pressure and Response

Riparian condition Various (Limited data)

Riparian condition Riparian management strategy Community involvement


Surface water quality

ACT Government (Limited data)

Surface water quality Murrumbidgee River Canberra’s catchments and lakes (including bacterial and algae conditions) Surface water dependent ecosystems

Condition

Water use ACT Government ActewAGL

Water resource Water use Groundwater use Water reuse Environmental flows Water demand management Expanding water supply Pricing Water efficiency


Table 4.4: Human settlements

“Indicator” Primary Data Source Main Sub-elements Reported Type Community health ABS

ACT Government Life expectancy Standardised death rates Infant mortality Perinatal deaths Causes of hospitalisation and death Health concerns Indigenous health

Condition and Pressure

Community participation

ACT Government Volunteering Events attendance Initiatives addressing exclusion




“Indicator” Primary Data Source Main Sub-elements Reported Type Contaminated sites ACT Government Contaminated sites

Groundwater contamination Remediation Asbestos


Economy ABS Economic base Construction Business confidence Investment and consumption Inflation Employment Small business

Condition

Education ACT Government ABS

Qualifications Retention rates Benchmarks Enrolments Equity Support for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds Sustainability in action Renewing our schools


Energy use ACT Government ICRC

Electricity consumption Gas consumption Petroleum products Wood

Pressure

Hazardous waste National Environment Protection Council

Movement of controlled waste Treatment of controlled waste Household chemical waste

Pressure

Health services ACT Government Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Primary health care Government responses Patient satisfaction Preventative health measures

Response

Heritage ACT Government National and ACT heritage laws Heritage protection Known heritage places Indigenous heritage Condition of known heritage places Managing the Territory’s heritage Funding


Housing ACT Government Housing affordability Rental housing Public housing Equity and welfare implications Government actions


Infrastructure ACT Government Road and traffic assets Water supply and wastewater assets Energy supply assets Schools assets




“Indicator” Primary Data Source Main Sub-elements Reported Type Landuse ACT Government

ABS Land use types Housing demand Greenfields and new infill development Urban density Valuing open space Community facilities


Noise ACT Government Noise complaints Entertainment venues Other noise issues


Population ABS Population Demographic trends

Driving force and Pressure

Safety ACT Government People and property Community perceptions Traffic collisions Children at risk Women and domestic violence

Condition and Pressures

Socio-economic equity

ABS Employment and income

Condition

Solid waste ACT Government No waste Waste Future challenges


Transport ABS ACT Government

Car use Fuel emissions Taxis Cycling and walking Public transport Bus use Sustainable transport

Condition, Pressure and Response

Headline indicators The development of a set of Headline Indicators and associated selection criteria may assist preparation and communication of the ACT SoE report. The UNEP has highlighted that:

A set of headline indicators may be required, made up of one or two indicators that best represents each issue. It is a way of highlighting the most salient findings in a SOE report and often forms the basis of an executive summary, providing readers, especially decision-makers, with a quick snapshot of issues and trends.

Different governments, for example, the United Kingdom, Australian, Canadian and Western Australian Governments, have used Headline Indicators to report on key environmental and sustainability themes, aspects, topics or indicators to decision makers and the community. In 2002, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), for example, developed “Measures of Australia’s Progress” as a Headline



Indicator reporting framework for Australia.68 A key influence was the United Kingdom equivalent – “Quality of Life Counts” – which was also built on a Headline Indicator framework. The UK Indicators were reported in a range of formats including compact “Quality of Life Barometer” annual report cards.

In Canada, Environmental Signals: Canada’s National Environmental Indicators Series report was accompanied by Environmental Signals: Headline Indicators, a succinct overview for a more general audience. The Headline Indicators report contained a set of 12 key indicators (from 55 in the main report) to provide a series of snapshots with the goal of raising public awareness about progress towards environmental sustainability rather than providing a comprehensive view of the state of Canada’s environment.69

The Western Australia State of the Environment report (2007) has a standard reporting format for each environmental theme including selected Headline Indicators. These are described as “High-level indicators that provide a summary measure of the progress towards meeting the objectives.”70

More targeted communication of environmental performance through Headline Indicators can reduce the size and complexity of any SoE report. It also enhances the prospect of key decision makers, stakeholders and the community reading and actively considering the key findings.

While Headline Indicators can be useful in helping to promote community awareness and discussion, and inform policy responses, it would be unwise to place too much weight in decision-making on a particular set of indicators, at least until the validity and robustness have been established in the light of experience.

If the set of Headline Indicators is to be effective in serving its primary purpose, people must be able to see clearly how the individual indicators are linked to sustainability. Achieving sustainable development will involve changes in present practices and some aspects of present lifestyles. Whether or not Headline Indicators relate to something which is directly affected by the actions of individuals or individual businesses, they ought to be of such a kind that they can

68 ABS 2006, Measures of Australia’s Progress, No. 1370.0. 69 UNEP 2006, Environmental Indicators for North America, Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya, p. 28. 70 Environmental Protection Authority 2007, State of the Environment Report, Western Australia, p. xiii.



be expected to demonstrate the results over time of the desirable changes in practices and lifestyles

Selection of indicators There are a number of selection criteria that can be applied when narrowing down the number of indicators. The selection criteria ensure that the indicators are useful and effective in their provision of information to the decision-makers. The literature on indicators suggest many potential selection criteria, but the following criteria are appropriate to most indicator selections and are commonly included:71

• scientifically credible

• representative of key issues and broader impacts or effects

• responsive to changes within a useful reporting time scale

• useful for prediction

• relevant to needs of policy-makers or enable individuals to make meaningful decisions

• compatible with other indicators to present an overall picture, and

• readily communicable, interesting, clear and easy to understand.

The selection of Headline Indicators could be undertaken using criteria covering:

• Significance – is the sustainability and environmental impact presented by the indicator significant for the ACT?

• Relevance – how relevant is the indicator for communicating and assessing summary sustainability and environmental performance.

• Completeness (including potential stakeholder interest) – does the indicator contribute to the complete picture of environmental performance, and what is the level of potential stakeholder interest.

4.3 Data requirements Collection of data for SoE reports can be undertaken in different ways, for example, for individual SoE reporting projects, or as part of more continuous and comprehensive data collection.

SoE reporting generally relies on data held by various government agencies at different levels of government. This data needs to be compiled, analysed and interpreted in a way that conveys information regarding environmental pressures,

71 For example, see UNEP 2006, Environmental Indicators for North America, Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); and Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism 2007, The State of the Environment Reporting (SoER) Toolkit, South Africa.



impacts and condition, and their associated trends. In order to be useful to SoE reporting, data must also be recent and regularly updated.

Data from non-government sources, such as universities and research institutes, is also used in SoE reporting. However, at times, data sets are difficult to obtain because of technical, administrative or legal obstacles, and financial constraints. Reporting efforts are often hindered by data gaps and these constraints, for example, with regional SoE reporting undertaken by the OCSE.

After a core set of Headline and other indicators is identified, the following steps should be undertaken to address data requirements:

• identify the required data parameters and communicate clearly the data to be collected

• identify appropriate methods for data analysis and interpretation

• develop consistency in the types of information, and

• present data in a way that allows readers to trace this information back to original sources in order to carry out their own research.

Data availability for the 2007-08 ACT SoE report is outlined in Tables 4.1 to 4.4. While there is adequate data for a majority of indicators, there are some important gaps including land degradation, riparian condition, surface water quality, and groundwater. Over time, data gaps with key indicators will need to be filled to ensure robust SoE reporting for the ACT.

In terms of the proposed SoE reporting framework outlined in Chapter 5, and renewed focus on goal-based reporting, further information will likely be required on the efficiency and effectiveness of community and ACT Government responses to improve environmental condition.

4.4 Reporting structure, format and products The structure, format and presentation of an SoE is important as is the availability of different SoE reporting products (e.g. paper copy and electronic summaries and reports).

Generally the best SoE reporting structure is hierarchical with several levels of detail that may be accessed. At the highest level (with least detail), Headline Indicators or an integrated scorecard or dashboard can quickly show the condition of each system and a rating on a basic scale, for example, as shown in the Canadian or Switzerland SoE reports (see Chapter 3).



The next level of detail should include assessments of driving forces on the environment and the current issues. The pressure, state, impact and response indicators should be included in the third level of detail which would also incorporate assessments of each of the major subcategories within these. Recommended management actions, priorities and responses could also be reported. At the most detailed level, information would be available at the individual indicator level. Although this reporting framework may appear unnecessarily complicated at first, the several levels of reporting are required to meet and present the varying information needs of a range of stakeholders.

The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 has a number of levels within the report, and provides “snapshots” for a number of topics. Through the use of Headline Indicators, the “snapshots” could become clearer and be directly linked and traceable to the listed themes and issues.

Presentation of a SoE report is also key to effectively communicating results. Web based formats are generally accepted as common practice, and have the ability to widely disperse the information to a range of people. Within web based formats there are two main options:

• pdf files on web with extra graphics plus embedded links to data sets, quoted sources, further information, and

• incorporating the web into the product with a web communication style (interactive, screen-size elements, use of visual tools, multi-media etc).

The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 is currently published on-line in basic html format. However, there is no full pdf or part pdf versions available for download. Printing the report from the website is also not user-friendly with the loss of formatting and incomplete printing of each page.

Through the use of an appropriate design including colour scheme and contents page, like, for example, the Western Australia approach, the OCSE’s SoE report could become a lot clearer and be better presented. It is also advised that future SoE reports have pdf versions available for downloading and printing.

Overall, the presentation of a SoE report should:

• be written in a manner that non-specialists can understand, through the use of clear diagrams and a structured format

• provide the necessary levels information that can be used by all readers of the report

• use an attractive presentation style and graphics to present information



• highlight the trends and state of the environment through the use of simple diagrams and summaries

• include a concise executive summary or highlights section which reports on key headline indicators, and

• make reference to appropriate monitoring programs that are the source of ecological data, to support the indicators, and provide information on achieving the purpose and objectives and the key environmental issues.



5 Conclusions and Recommendations

This Chapter presents a series of conclusions and recommendations on a future ACT State of the Environment (SoE) reporting model and framework to ensure that future ACT SoE reports are effective and relevant to the ACT community and government. The model and framework is consistent with the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993.

Current ACT SoE reporting practice was reviewed in Chapter 4. Approaches to SoE reporting and examples of best practice that can be adopted by the OSCE were outlined in Chapter 3. The best approaches to SoE reporting have a clear purpose, structure and approach. The approaches are generally characterised by the presentation of clear and concise information, with further data and information available to those users that require it.

The OCSE produces a relatively standard SoE report that addresses ACT and New South Wales legislative requirements. However, with the recent change to the Commissioner’s role72, it is timely to have a more explicit focus on sustainability in the SoE report, and to use the SoE for advocacy and to bring change.

The OCSE has the opportunity to update its SoE reporting framework, and subsequently adopt many of the practices for SoE reporting, that lead to best practice. Through the adoption of a new reporting model, themes, issues and indicators, the OCSE can use SoE reporting to support ACT progress on sustainability. Consistent with this, it is timely to rename the report the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report (see recommendation 10 below).

As noted in the Regional report, OCSE has “the ability to be a strong leader in sustainability and key to this is developing a clear picture of the state of the environment and working in an integrated way to move ahead.” The following sections outline a series of recommendations for future SoE reporting by the OCSE.

5.1 ACT State of the Environment reporting purpose Identification of a clear purpose statement will provide a consistent high level direction for the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report, and

72 As outlined in: Refinement of the expanded role of the Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, Public consultation paper, September 2008.



assist broader communication. The ACT SoE report must include an assessment of the condition of the environment, and an evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of environmental management (s.19, Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993). The new SoE purpose could be inserted into the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 to further reinforce the purpose.

Recommendation 1: Develop a clear purpose statement for the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report.

The purpose of the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report is to provide an assessment of the condition of the environment and sustainability trends, and an evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of environmental management in the Territory.

5.2 ACT State of the Environment reporting objectives Development of a set of clear objectives will enhance the quality, accessibility and relevance of SoE reporting in the ACT. Key objectives for the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report will likely focus on providing information, improving understanding, assessing effectiveness, and promoting progress. The objectives could also be inserted into the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 as with the proposed purpose.

Recommendation 2: Develop a set of objectives for the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report:

The objectives of the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report are to:

• provide accurate, timely and accessible information to the community and government regarding the condition of the environment, underlying pressures, and sustainability trends

• evaluate the effectiveness of community and government actions, policies, and initiatives in terms of progress towards sustainability, and

• increase community and government understanding of environmental and sustainability trends and interactions.

If the new SoE purpose and objectives are inserted into the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993, then s. 19 of the Act could be amended with modification of section 19(2) to become a broad statement relating to “a report on the condition of the environment, underlying pressures, and sustainability trends”. Section 19(2)(a) relating to what matters may be reported could be significantly reduced in length, and Section 19(2)(b) could be modified to focus on “an evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of environmental management and sustainability performance”.



5.3 ACT State of the Environment reporting target audience Identification of a target audience for a SoE report helps focus the information provided within the report to reflect the needs of the target audience. It is recommended that the OCSE adopt a two fold approach to the target audience focusing on community and government.

Government agencies will have an important role in continuing to provide supporting data and information for the OCSE to successfully complete a SoE report. Agencies can also use the SoE report to inform budget and planning processes, policy development and review, and to self-assess environmental and sustainability performance.

Recommendation 3: Adopt a target audience of “Community and Government”, however, continue to provide supporting information to interested agencies, businesses and organisations.

5.4 ACT State of the Environment reporting model A reporting model provides the structure for the entire SoE report, and influences the selection of themes, issues and indicators. The DPSIR model expands on the existing environmental reporting framework used by OCSE, to provide a method for reporting Driving Forces, Impacts, and sustainability concepts.

Recommendation 4: Adopt the DPSIR model for future ACT state of the environment and sustainability reporting.

5.5 ACT State of the Environment reporting themes Adoption of the DPSIR model (Recommendation 4) promotes inclusion of a new “Driving Forces” theme covering population, economy, landuse, and weather and climate. Three other themes – “Catchments”, “Biodiversity”, and “Human Settlements” can be used for the majority of selected indicators. The overarching theme of “Progressing Sustainability” can continue to be used to highlight broader progress with implementing sustainability in the ACT.

Recommendation 5: Adopt a set of five themes for future ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Reports, covering Driving Forces (with population, economy, landuse, and weather and climate), Catchments (including Land, Water and Air), Biodiversity, Human Settlements, and Progressing Sustainability.

5.6 ACT State of the Environment reporting indicators Indicators play a central role in SoE reporting by translating environmental and sustainability data into succinct information that can be readily understood and used by stakeholders. A new set of restructured SoE indicators according to the five proposed themes is identified below (see Table 5.1). Although there are more




individual indicators, the number of reported issues and overall indicators has been reduced from the 2007-08 SoE report. However, it is also recommended that the OCSE engage with stakeholders to confirm and refine the new indicators.

Recommendation 6: As part of development of a broader stakeholder engagement framework, undertake a consultation process with stakeholders to confirm and refine the proposed set of environment and sustainability indicators.

Table 5.1 New ACT Indicator framework

Driving Forces 1. Weather and climate

2. Population

3. Demographic trends

4. Economy

5. Landuse types


7. Extreme weather events

8. Greenhouse gas mitigation

9. Adaptation to climate change

Condition Pressure Impact Response

Catchments (land, water and air)

Land degradation 10. Soil condition 11. Erosion

12. Salinity

13. Catchment management

14. NRM Plan

Water resources 15. Ecological health of streams and rivers

16. Riparian condition

17. Water management

18. Riparian management

Water supply 19. Dam storage

20. Drinking water quality

21. Water use 22. Environmental flows

23. New water supplies

24. Water demand management

Water quality 25. Surface water quality

26. Discharges to waters

27. Effluent water quality

28. Bacterial and algal blooms

29. Wastewater treatment

30. Water reuse

Groundwater 31. Groundwater availability

32. Groundwater quality

33. Groundwater use 34. Groundwater management

Local air emissions 35. Local air quality 36. Motor vehicle emissions

37. Non-vehicle emissions

38. Adverse health impacts

39. Air management



Biodiversity

Ecosystems 40. Vegetation communities

41. Protected areas

42. Vegetation clearance

43. Conservation management

44. Protected area management

Native species – animals 45. Status of native species - animals

46. Pest status 47. Pest impacts 48. Threatened species conservation

49. Pest management

Native species - plant 50. Status of native species - plants

51. Native seed harvesting

52. Firewood gathering

53. Weed status

54. Weed impacts 55. Threatened species conservation

56. Weed management

Human Settlements

Land and housing 57. Housing types

58. Urban density

59. Housing demand

60. Urban development (greenfield/infill split)

61. Green star development

62. Inner city development

Natural hazards 63. Fire

64. Flooding

65. Fire impacts

66. Flood impacts

67. Fire management

68. Flood management

Transport 69. Transport mode

70. Transport assets

71. Transport use trends

72. Traffic accidents 73. Public transport

74. Sustainable transport

Energy 75. Energy sources

76. Energy assets

77. Energy use trends 78. Energy efficiency

79. Renewable energy

Waste 80. Waste

81. Contaminated sites

82. Movement of controlled waste

83. No Waste

84. Site remediation

85. Treatment of controlled waste

Heritage 86. Historic heritage places

87. Indigenous heritage places

88. Historic heritage place protection

89. Indigenous heritage protection

Open space and amenity 90. Community facilities

91. Parks and open space

92. Community safety

93. Noise complaints

94. Open space management



Community participation 95. Community environmental awareness

96. Indigenous engagement

97. Environmental education programs

98. Community environmental involvement

Progressing Sustainability

99. Ecological footprint

Indicators from 2007-08 that are recommended to be withdrawn are:

• Air quality (indoor) – limited data to report and lower priority for reporting

• Ozone depletion – ozone depleting substances are controlled and a lower priority for reporting

• Economy, education, community health, health services, housing and socio-economic equity – to refocus the SoE report more on natural environment and sustainability factors and less on socio-economic.

Headline indicators To better summarise and convey key SoE results to the community and government, a set of Headline Indicators based on the most critical and relevant issues within the Territory should be adopted. This will enable the OCSE to better communicate critical environmental and sustainability issues.

Recommendation 7: Adopt a series of Headline Indicators to report on to the community and government covering:


2. Greenhouse gas emission reduction

3. Ecological health of streams and rivers

4. Catchment management plans

5. Vegetation communities

6. Urban density

7. Water use

8. Water efficiency

9. Transport use (including public transport)

10. Natural hazards (including fire)

11. Community participation, and

12. Ecological footprint.

5.7 ACT State of the Environment reporting data requirements The data requirements for the SoE reporting are subject to the indicator set adopted. Data requirements and sources should be identified in a SoE data management plan building on the assessment in Chapter 4. The data management plan would identify the indicator, data source, data age, update status, and any comments on the data for that indicator.

Recommendation 8: Following confirmation of the final indicator set, review the data requirements for each indicator, and prepare a data management plan for the next SoE.


5.8 ACT State of the Environment reporting structure and products The structure, format and presentation of an SoE is important to promote accessibility and communication of SoE results. For future ACT SoE reporting, for each of the SoE themes and issues, new recommended headings and subheadings are promoted as identified below.

Theme

Introduction to the theme

Theme summary – key issues and indicators

------------------------------------------ Issue

Introduction – introduces and describes the issue

Condition indicator(s)

Pressure indicator(s)

Impact indicator(s)

(Issue continued)

Response indicator(s)

Evaluation of environmental management (against stated goals and targets)

Recommendations (if required)

“Snapshot” and photos (up to two per issue)

Commentary and emerging issues (further commentary as required)

References (or at end of report)

The development of an explicit section within each issue evaluating environmental management performance will strengthen the SoE and provide for goal-based reporting. As identified in Section 2.3.5, the OCSE will not set goals or targets but will comment on the adequacy of community and government responses.

Through the use of colourful, well-structured, user-friendly pages, the OCSE will be able to communicate and disseminate environment and sustainability information (for example, see Appendix A). The continued use of exemplar “snapshots” as used in the ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 will provide local examples of positive or negative performance and is encouraged. In addition, diagrams and pictures to graphically illustrate key trends and performance are strongly recommended.

Recommendation 9: The OCSE should develop a colourful structured html web format that presents the SoE information in an ordered manner and uses diagrams and pictures to highlight the condition and trends for both the headline and other indicators.

Increasingly, a range of SoE reporting products (e.g. printed and electronic reports and internet formats) are used to communicate SoE results. The ACT State of the Environment Report 2007-08 is published on-line in “html format” with a series of hyperlinks. There is no “full pdf” or “part pdf” versions available for downloading. Printing the ACT SoE report from the website is not user-friendly with the loss of formatting.




A summary SoE report should be produced in hardcopy to highlight the trends of the headline indicators, with a main report available for users that require it. In addition, a pdf version of the summary report, and the main report, as well as individual main chapters should be made available and linked on the website, on the main page and in each chapter. The pdf version of the report will also allow more user-friendly printing than the current website.

Recommendation 10: The OCSE should produce a summary report of the headline indicators and their condition and trends for broad distribution.

Recommendation 11: The OCSE should link pdf versions of the summary report, the main report and the main individual chapters on the website, on both the main page and the individual chapter pages.

It is recommended that the ACT State of the Environment Report is renamed as the ACT State of the Environment Report and Sustainability Trends to reflect the increased focus on sustainability. Changing the name of the report will highlight the incorporation of sustainability, and help to promote sustainability to the wider community and government.

Recommendation 12: Rename the State of the Environment report to “ACT State of the Environment Report and Sustainability Trends”.

An on-going communications program will be essential to maintain awareness and continue to promote the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report between release of reports. A post-release communications strategy would inform a strategic approach towards communications.

Recommendation 13: Develop a post-release communications strategy to ensure there is an on-going communications program on the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report.

5.9 ACT State of the Environment Reporting consultation process Consultation regarding development and use of an SoE is important to ensure that the report is relevant to stakeholders and reports on material sustainability and environment issues. Like for previous ACT SoE reports, the OCSE should establish a Stakeholder Reference Group for the SoE report with the mandate to ensure the report’s legitimacy in addition to advising on key environmental and sustainability issues. The OCSE should undertake further community consultation to determine priority reporting issues, and how the SoE should be presented.


Recommendation 14: Undertake a two stage consultation process, with initiation of a Stakeholder Reference Group, followed by broader community consultation to determine priority reporting issues, and how the ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report should best be presented.

5.10 Monitoring and assessing ACT State of the Environment reporting A database for the tracking and monitoring of SoE indicators and recommendations will provide OCSE with a tool to analyse the effectiveness of implemented recommendations. The OCSE is required to report progress against SoE recommendations in its Annual Report, and this could also be promoted more widely to maintain attention on the key findings.

Recommendation 15: Develop and implement a database for tracking and monitoring indicators and recommendations.

Recommendation 16: Continue annual reporting of progress on recommendations and promote results more widely to the ACT community.

5.11 ACT Catchment reporting The OCSE has recently had a report prepared on the “Role of the Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment in Relation to Drinking Water Catchments” (2009). Two recommendations are made in the report on the Commissioner’s future role with drinking water catchments including “prepare a report on the “State of ACT Catchments” biennially” with a number of sub-elements.

To promote efficient and effective monitoring and reporting processes, and directly link with SoE reporting, it is highly desirable that the Commissioner integrate recommended drinking water catchment reporting with SoE reporting. Explicit drinking water catchment indicators have been identified within this proposed SoE reporting framework and can be reported every four years. A separate drinking water catchment report using the indicators could be released every alternate two years.

Recommendation 17: Incorporate drinking water catchment reporting within State of the Environment reporting processes.



References

Aaron, B., Giljum, S., Simmons, C., Blobel, D., Lewis, K., Hammer, M., Cavalieri, S., Lutter, S., and Maguire, C. 2008, Potential of the Ecological Footprint for monitoring environmental impacts from natural resource use, Report to the European Commission, DG Environment.

ABS 2006, Measures of Australia’s Progress, No. 1370.0.

Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) 2000, Core Environmental Indicators for Reporting on the State of the Environment, State of the Environment Reporting Task Force.

Auckland Regional Council 2008, State of the Environment Project Plan, New Zealand, 14 August 2008.

Beeton RJS, Buckley Kristal I, Jones Gary J, Morgan Denise, Reichelt Russell E, Trewin Denis (2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee) 2006, Australia State of the Environment 2006, Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.

Commission for Environmental Cooperation 2008, The North American Mosaic: An Overview of Key Environmental Issues, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Montreal, Canada.

Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability 2005a, Framework for State of Environment Reporting, Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Victoria, August 2005.

Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability 2005b, State of the Environment Reporting in Victoria: Consultation Guide and Background Paper, Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Victoria, November 2005.

Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability 2008, State of the Environment Victoria 2008, Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Melbourne Victoria.

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism 2007, The State of the Environment Reporting (SoER) Toolkit, South Africa.



Environment New Zealand 2007, Environment New Zealand 2007, Ministry for the Environment, Wellington, New Zealand, December 2007.

Environmental Protection Agency 2008, State of the Environment Queensland 2007, The State Government Queensland, Environmental Protection Agency 2008.

European Environment Agency 1993, Environmental Indicators: Typology and Use in Reporting, Copenhagen.

European Environment Agency 1999, Environmental Indicators. Typology and Overview, Technical Report, 25, Copenhagen.

European Environment Agency 2000, Questions to be answered by a state-of-the environment report: The first list, Copenhagen.

European Environment Agency 2007, Europe’s Environment: The fourth assessment, EEA Copenhagen 2008.

European Environment Agency 2009, EEA’s SOER2010: outline and objectives, presentation by Jan-Erik Petersen, Ecoinformatics meeting, EEA, Copenhagen.

Environmental Protection Authority, Western Australia 2006, Linking Environmental Management Frameworks State of the Environment: Reporting Series – Discussion Paper 4, Environment Protection Authority, Perth Western Australia, November 2006.

Environmental Protection Authority, Western Australia 2006, Ecological Footprint accounting for Western Australia, SoE Reporting Series, Technical Paper No. 4, Western Australia.

Environmental Protection Authority 2007, State of the Environment Report: Western Australia 2007, Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Western Australia.

Gasparatos, A., El-Haram, M., and Horner M. 2008, “A critical review of reductionist approaches for assessing the progress towards sustainability” In Environmental Impact Assessment Review 28 (2008), pp. 286–311.

Global Reporting Initiative 2006, Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, Version 3.0, Amsterdam.

Global Reporting Initiative 2005, Sector Supplement for Public Agencies – Pilot Version 1.0, Amsterdam.



Minister for the Environment 2009a, Reporting on New Zealand’s Environment: How the national environmental reporting program works, New Zealand Government, February 2009.

Minister for the Environment 2009b, A Technical Guide to New Zealand’s Environmental Indicators, New Zealand Government, March 2009.

Minister for the Environment 2006, Reporting on our Environment, New Zealand Government.

OECD 1991, Environmental indicators, a preliminary set, OECD, Paris.

OECD 1993, OECD Core Set of Environmental Indicators, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

OECD 1993, Using the Pressure-State-Response Model to Develop Indicators of Sustainability, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

OECD 1993, Core set of indicators for environmental performance reviews, A Synthesis Report by the Group on the State of the Environment, Environment Monographs 83, OECD, Paris.

Rapport, D. and Friend, A., 1979, Towards a comprehensive framework for environmental statistics: a stress-response approach, Statistics Canada Catalogue 11-510, Minister of Supply and Services, Ottawa.

Rapport DJ, Singh A, 2005, An EcoHealth-based framework for State of Environment Reporting, Ecological Indicators 6 (2006) 409–428.

Segnestan L. 2002, Indicators of Environmental and Sustainable Development: Theories and Practical Experience Environmental Economics Series, Paper 89, The World Bank Environment Department.

Tapio, P. and Willamo, R., 2008, Developing Interdisciplinary Environmental Frameworks, In Ambio, Vol. 37, No. 2, March 2008.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 2006, Environmental Indicators for North America, Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA), Nairobi, Kenya.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 1972, Educational, informational, social and cultural aspects of environmental issues: Recommendation 95, United Nations Environment Programme, Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm.



United Nations 1992, Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Victorian Auditor-General’s Office 2008, Local Government Performance Reporting, Victoria.

Wackernagel, M. and Rees, W. 1996, Our Ecological Footprint, New Society Press.



Appendix A Proposed Report Format

A proposed report format for the next ACT State of the Environment and Sustainability Trends Report is outlined below (see Figure A1.1). The approach features distinct reporting of condition (or state), pressure, impact and response indicators, with graphs and photos, and “snapshots” of positive or negative performance. It also contains the Commissioner’s assessment in the lower right hand box of ACT performance against stated objectives, goals or targets.

An introduction to the subject, for example, water management and use, would also be provided at the start of each reporting section, and further commentary provided at the end of each section, with key references. At times, there may be no identified impact indicators, and additional state, pressure or response indicators should be reported as required.

Figure A1.1: Example ACT SoE reporting format

Doc No: KMWJAU/90400/Issue 1, Rev 0 A-1 Date: 9 September 2009


Doc No: KMWJAU/90400/Issue 1, Rev 0 A-2 Date: 9 September 2009

Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd Melbourne Level 1, 542 Station Street, Box Hill, Melbourne, VIC 3128 Tel +61 3 9899 9777 Fax +61 3 9899 1214 Sydney Level 22, 68 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Tel +61 2 9250 9900 Fax +61 2 9241 2228 Brisbane Suite 758, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Tel +61 7 3010 9272 www.halcrow.com

Documents

Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd - envcomm.act.gov.au€¦ · Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd Melbourne Level 1, 542 Station Street, Box Hill, Melbourne, VIC 3128 Tel +61 3