Governments and Sustainability
The Northern Territory Government is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability in a number of ways.
The Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts is a key department that administers a number of initiatives towards sustainability. Biodiversity, Vegetation Management, Environment Protection and Natural Resources are some of the areas covered.
The development of an Environment Protection Agency is considered by the Northern Territory Government as critical to strengthening protection of the environment while ensuring that decisions about development take into account economic and social factors as well as environmental factors. To facilitate the establishment of an EPA in the Northern Territory the Government has appointed an interim EPA Board whose role is to consult with the community and stakeholders, and to provide recommendations to Government, about the form and function of a permanent EPA. For latest news visit the EPA Board website.
The EPA Program is currently responsible for the implementation of the environmental assessment process in the Northern Territory. This is a statutory process administered under the Environmental Assessment Act and Administrative Procedures which establish a framework for assessing the potential or anticipated environmental impacts of proposed developments.
Northern Territory Government’s Building Sustainability Services (BSS), Department of Planning and Infrastructure, provides technical policy advice and services, benchmarking and reporting tools, and oversees projects to promote ecologically sustainable Government infrastructure including the Northern Territory Government Energy Smart Buildings Policy.
The evaluation process for Northern Territory Government Tenders includes consideration of environmental issues and whole of life cost to improve the sustainability of government and the products and services used, and to encourage adoption of sustainable practices in business and industry.
The Northern Territory EnvironmeNT Grants Program, a Northern Territory Government initiative, provides individual grants to community groups, industry associations, local government and individuals. Projects that provide benefits to the environment through direct action, research or education are eligible to apply.
Projects are invited each year, prior to the closing date, that:
- provide opportunities for the NT Community to develop a better awareness and understanding of recent developments in environmental management;
- help the community become wiser at efficiently using our non-renewable resources, re-using waste products and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions; and
- promote environmental sustainability and producer stewardship principles.
- Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts (NRETA)
- Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (DPIFM)
Renewable Energy Rebate Programs - Power and Water Corporation
Other Northern Territory Government Programs and initiatives include:
The Northern Territory Strategy for Greenhouse Action
The draft Stormwater Management Strategy
The Renewable Energy Rebate Program
The Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme
Australian governments are collaborating on sustainability issues. Click on the Australian Collaboration Website to see how.
The Australian Government’s Department of the Environment and Water Resources facilitates Government Sustainability by working with all agencies across the Australian Government to provide advice, communication networks, and access to best practice environmental management techniques from around the world.
Local Government Initiatives
Local Agenda 21 (LA21) was first described in Agenda 21 - the global blueprint for sustainability that was agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 (the Rio Earth Summit).
LA21 is a program that provides a framework for implementing sustainable development at the local level. LA21 aims to build upon existing local government strategies and resources (such as Corporate plans, vegetation management plans, and transport strategies) to better integrate environmental, economic and social goals.
ICLEI Local Governments for sustainability is a not for profit international association of local governments and national and regional local government organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development.
The views expressed in the linked websites should not be considered to be the views of the Northern Territory Government.
