Page 5592 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 9 December 2009
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The history of the program comes from the development of an understanding that government leaves a large environmental footprint, and there is a need to change this culture, while also understanding that governments have the ability, by purchasing environmentally preferable products, to increase demand for greener products in the marketplace, therefore allowing market adjustments to assist in the cultural change of a community.
In adjusting the procurement and purchasing practices of the ACT government in relation to schools becoming greener and reducing health risks to children, teachers and other staff, much can be learned from the United States Environmental Protection Agency who recommend the following guiding principles for purchasing. They include:
• environmental factors as well as traditional considerations of price and performance as part of the normal purchasing process;
• emphasise pollution prevention early in the purchasing process;
• examine multiple environmental attributes throughout a product’s or service’s life cycle;
• compare relative environmental impacts when selecting products and services; and
• collect and base purchasing decisions on accurate and meaningful information about environmental performance.
All of these criteria are easily met and work within a triple-bottom-line approach that is essential if we are to lead the community in continuing to shift the culture towards a more green and sustainable future. The International Forum on Chemical Safety wrote:
The most effective means of protecting children from chemical risks is by preventing hazardous exposures. This can best be achieved by identifying risks and implementing preventive measures that will reduce unsafe exposure, minimise risks, and promote transparent science-based risk assessment procedures.
In many countries there are already rigorous programs and measures in place to manage chemical risks, particularly where there is potential for high exposure such as for pesticides, food additives and drugs. Experience shows that adopting robust regulatory programs and implementing them vigorously can be an efficient way to prevent harm to children.
The ACT Greens believe that governments, individuals, communities, non-government organisations, industries that make and use chemicals and multinational organisations all have significant roles to play in addressing children’s health issues. Parents are also a critical player in protecting the health of their children and should have information and knowledge about the presence of environmental risks to their children.
We believe that with any such change there will need to be a suite of strategies. Actions that could be taken to improve chemical safety for children could be placed
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