Ecologically Sustainable Development

EPBC Act Section 516a Reporting

• Overview
• Requirements under Section 516A
• Guidelines and Criteria

Overview

One of the key objectives of the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is to promote ecologically sustainable development (ESD) in Australia.

Requirements under Section 516A

Section 516A of the EPBC Act requires Commonwealth organisations to include in their Annual Reports a report on the environmental performance of the organisation and the organisation's contribution to Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD).

• The Department of the Environment and Heritage: Detailed Report for 2002-2003 Under Section 516a of the EPBC Act
• Environment Australia: Detailed Report for 2001-2002 Under Section 516a of the EPBC Act

Guidelines and Criteria

The Department of the Environment and Heritage has further developed the EPBC Act Section 516A Reporting Guidelines to assist Commonwealth agencies in implementing Section 516A and the additional guidance to help agencies decide which of their activities to report on. Sets of generic indicators to assist agencies with on-going monitoring of their ESD and environmental performance have also been provided.

• EPBC Act Section 516A Reporting Guidelines
• Criteria for Determining ESD Relevance
• Generic ESD and Environmental Performance Indicators for Commonwealth Organisations