The
principles, values and practices of sustainability are humanitarian in nature,
environmentally sound and make good business sense.
Through integrated improvements in
social, economic and environmental spheres, there is
now a bottom-up, grass roots movement with top-down
support at the highest levels to not only improve life, but literally to
save the planet! They have
been designed to be applied at all levels of
human endeavour.
The
principles and practices of sustainability form the basis for large scale governmental
action, as well as being incorporated into the
fundamental principles on which businesses,
communities and individuals operate.
In its
adoption of these principles, values and operational
procedures, the Water Corporation is heavily reliant
on its staff to be co-creative partners this new,
noble and dynamic endeavour.
While the
Water Corporation has an obvious mandate for the
sustainable management of the State's water resources,
it is also committed to the sustainable development of
its staff, consumers and business partners,
communities and the environment in general.
Optimal
success in the application of sustainable development
in the Water Authority will requires staff to understand and practice
sustainable development as it applies to their
particular work role. Staff will also participate in the development of work
practices which aim to support and nurture themselves
and other staff to help enable all of us to reach our full potential.
Sustainability
may well be one of the greatest movements
in recent history. It currently engages all the major
nations of the world in a series of unprecedented
agreements and conventions.
International
agreements are being translated into national, state
and local initiatives, policy, legislation and
practices.
| The
1992 "Earth Summit" drew together
more heads of government than any other
meeting in history. Agenda
21, a 700 page action plan for
stainability, including climate change,
biological diversity and forests, was signed
by 179 nations representing 98% of the world. |
Western
Australia is leading Australia and maybe the world
through its recent development and implementation of a
Sustainability Framework for the State
Sustainability Strategy.
This
comprehensive framework launched in 2003
includes:
- seven foundation
principles and four process principles that
reflect the core values of sustainability
- six
vision for Western Australia's sustainability
- six
goals for government and 42 priority areas for
action
All WA
government departments and authorities, including the
Water Corporation, have subsequently developed Sustainability
Action Plans
to reflect and progress the aspirations of the State
Sustainability Strategy.
