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Monash University confirms commitment to environment and sustainability

4 April 2007

Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins signs the Tailloires Declaration on 22 March 2007 -- accompanied by Rob Norris, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Chair of the University's Environmental Policy Committee

Monash University has signed the Talloires Declaration -- an international, voluntary ten-point agreement that focuses on universities' obligations to promote awareness and understanding of sustainability issues through teaching, research and community engagement.

Monash University Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins officially signed the declaration on 22 March.

The Talloires (pronounced Tal-Whar) was developed in 1990 in Talloires, France during an international conference of university presidents who were concerned about the condition of the world's environment.

Professor Larkins said Monash's support of the declaration was an excellent way of confirming the university's commitment to a better environmental future.

"We already have a wonderful track-record in sustainability management and Monash, over many years, has undertaken numerous initiatives driven by our concern and interest in an ecologically sustainable environment," Professor Larkins said.

"We have an exemplary record in best-practice initiatives which are wide-ranging, including water and energy conservation, with our commitment to cut our energy consumption by 20 per cent by 2010.

"As a signatory, we are making public our efforts, while also confirming our commitment to keep setting an example on environmental responsibility by establishing institutionally sustainable policies and practices of resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally sound operations."

When the Declaration was initiated in 1990, there were 31 signatories; there are now 321 signatories worldwide.

For further information, please contact Belinda Towns, Sustainability Reporting Manager, Monash Sustainability Institute, on +61 3 9905 9875.