The Sustainable Business Unit provides both applied research and consultancy services for business organisations that are committed to working towards a sustainable future, including:
GHG auditing and audit verification
As organisations are major contributors to global GHG emissions, they will have to play a significant role in helping to achieve the reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. Starting with a verifiable and auditable inventory of their sources and types of emissions (e.g., a carbon footprint) is an essential and effective first step in identifying the overall carbon intensity of their businesses and account for and report their environmental impact.
Accounting for and reporting for emissions facilitates public reporting, the participation in voluntary or mandatory emission reporting programs, participation in an emission trading scheme, recognition for early voluntary action, as well as meeting and exceeding stakeholder expectations.
A GHG inventory improves the organisation's understanding of its GHG emissions profile and thereby its potential GHG liability or exposure in a carbon constrained economy.
The Sustainable Business Unit supports organisations in quantifying and reporting their GHG emissions and helps them prepare a GHG inventory that represents a true and fair account of their emissions.
Development of value added GHG management strategies
In generating effective action in terms of reducing GHG emissions and their wider environmental impact, a GHG management plan enables organisations to manage the risks and opportunities associated with GHG emissions, as well as mandatory reporting requirements. It supports decision making processes and GHG target setting by making choices among various strategies for defining and achieving a GHG reduction. Emission reduction strategies are then driven by desired sustainability targets, business goals, any relevant policy context, and meeting and exceeding stakeholder expectations.
The optimal way to reduce overall GHG emissions is to avoid the generation of emissions in the first place. Specific avoidance activities depend on the type and magnitude of emissions sources in an inventory, and often will be about changing behaviour. In contrast to the avoidance of GHG emissions, emissions reductions aim at minimising the emissions intensity of business activities.
Offsetting residual emissions most typically includes projects that invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation.
Corporate sustainability and climate change adaptation strategies
The development and implementation of the right incremental and transformational change strategies for sustainability enables organisations to achieve competitive advantages through the strategic adoption and development of sustainable production processes, products and services, as well as innovative human and knowledge resource management practices.
Briefings on legislative reporting requirements
The Sustainable Business Unit provides briefings on Government key policies designed to encourage organisations to become more carbon and energy efficiency, including the National Greenhouse Energy Reporting System, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program.
Understanding and confirming legal obligations as well as reporting on schedule to mandatory programs is essential to avoiding penalties.
Development and implementation of tools for mapping corporate sustainability and sustainability-oriented culture change
Changing attitudes towards corporate sustainability and tougher standards set by government, industry associations and other stakeholders prompt organisations to identify better way of doing business that enables them to become more sustainable.
The implementation of sustainability practices in firms will often necessitate changes or even transformation of the existing culture of an organisation. The Sustainable Business Unit assists organisations with understanding stakeholder pressures and implementing the changes that make them more sustainable themselves and also more sustaining of the environment and society.
