National Health and Medical Research Council Emissions Reduction Plan

Emissions Reduction Plan

Purpose

The goal of this Emissions Reduction Plan is to provide a pathway for NHMRC to contribute to the achievement of the APS Net Zero 2030 target through emissions reduction activities. This plan encompasses existing and new priorities and actions within NHMRC to reduce emissions.

This Emissions Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with the Strategy, associated guidance and reporting standards for annual emissions reporting.

Net zero greenhouse gas emissions

APS Net Zero 2030 is the target set by the Australian Government to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from government operations by the year 2030. It includes scope 1 and scope 2 emissions from activities in Australia and its territories, as described in the Strategy. The APS Net Zero 2030 target applies at the aggregate level to non-corporate Commonwealth entities and generally covers the entirety of the entity’s organisation. From an organisational perspective, this means minimising the greenhouse gas emissions that are within our control.

Governance and reporting

Progress against actions identified within this Emissions Reduction Plan, and any additional measures adopted, will be included in our annual reports. This, combined with annual emissions reporting, will be used as a measure of NHMRC progress towards reducing its emissions.

As part of the Net Zero in Government Operations Annual Progress Report, the Department of Finance will aggregate these measures to provide whole-of-Australian Government emissions reporting.

NHMRC’s Operational context

As at 30 June 2024, NHMRC employed 243 APS staff in our Canberra and Melbourne locations. The majority of staff are located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

NHMRC leases building space in 2 locations, ACT and Melbourne, which is predominantly office space.

Baseline emissions

Baseline emissions are a record of greenhouse gases that have been produced in the past and were produced prior to the introduction of any strategies to reduce emissions. The baseline emissions from financial year 2022-23 are the reference point against which emissions reduction actions can be measured.

The baseline emissions for this plan focus on scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, consistent with the APS Net Zero 2030 target. Electricity-related emissions were calculated using the location-based method. The complete 2022-23 greenhouse gas emissions inventory tables for NHMRC are presented in our 2022-23 annual report.

Engagement

In the development of this plan, NHMRC is committed to:

• building a strong environmental ethos by increasing awareness and commitment by employees and key stakeholders
• integrating environmentally sustainable and innovative practices into day-to-day activitie
• supporting the ACT Sustainable Energy Policy, including the 100% renewable energy target
• supporting the Australian Government’s policy for the APS to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030.
• NHMRC’s outsourced Property Service Provider (PSP) provide a Whole-of-Australian-Government (WoAG) approach to the delivery of Leasing Services and Facilities Management Services.
  • Continued engagement with the Department of Finance to address:
    Climate Action in Government Operations –to ensure that this plan aligns with the Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy and the Commonwealth Climate Disclosure requirements
  • Travel Team – to discuss options and considerations for lowering travel emissions

Emissions reduction targets

NHMRC is following the APS Net Zero 2030 target in full, as per the Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy. The target covers the entirety of our entity’s operations within Australia and its territories for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, as described in the Strategy.

Priorities and actions

For NHMRC to contribute to the achievement of the APS Net Zero 2030 target, targeted action on existing emissions reduction measures and the introduction of further or new measures is required. These actions are summarised in the following points, with further detail provided below:

• leasing agreements contain appropriate Green Lease schedules under the National Green Leasing Policy
• ensure compliance with the Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO) Policy reporting requirements, providing a summary of the agencies performance against each of the energy end use categories (where requested)
• utilise sustainable materials and product selection where required
• formulation of Energy Management plans, scheduling Building Management Committee meetings and undertaking NABERS tenancy ratings

Additional actions

• capture all available waste data (where available) into a monthly report detailing the waste type and recycling content from the agency
• implement strategies to help reduce the agency waste-to landfill and overall waste production volumes.

Buildings

Continued assessment of NHMRC’s flexible working arrangements to support greater efficiency of office space.

ACTION:

NHMRC will review office space utilisation and flexible work arrangements to support any future requirement for additional leased tenancies.

Electricity

Renewable electricity

Participate in the WoAG electricity procurement for renewable electricity being established by the Department of Finance, due to commence 1 July 2025.

ACTION:

NHMRC will consult with the Department of Finance to ensure participation in WoAG electricity procurement as per the Strategy and replace all electricity contracts with renewable electricity.