ANNUAL REPORT 2014-15 RENEWAL Annual Report 2014-15 Environment Victoria is one of Australia’s leading environment groups, independent and not-for-profit. We advocate for big, important and permanent changes to safeguard our environment and the future wellbeing of all Victorians. Visit environmentvictoria.org.au Level 2, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053 Telephone (03) 9341 8100, [email protected] This report is printed on 100% recycled paper. www.environmentvictoria.org.au Photo on cover copyright Doug Gimesy and generously provided to Environment Victoria. See www.gimesy.com 2 Environment Victoria Annual Report 2014-15 Contents BIG ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR 5 ABOUT US 6 A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO 7 OUR CAMPAIGNS AND PROGRAMS 8 OUR CHALLENGES 16 OUR GOVERNANCE 17 DIRECTORS’ REPORT 18 OUR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 21 WALKING THE TALK 36 THANK YOU 38 About this report Environment Victoria produces an Annual Report describing our activities and performance over the reporting period, including our sustainability performance. In striving for a sustainable planet, we are conscious of the economic, social and environmental impacts of our activities and committed to measuring our performance and minimising our environmental impact. This report covers our activities for the 2014-15 financial year and discloses those activities of most interest to our key stakeholders, our financial performance and the direct sustainability impacts of our operations. We have used the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)’s G4 Sustainability Reporting Framework to assist us and this report contains Standard Disclosures from the GRI G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. We have defined the content of this report to respond to the commitments set out in our 14-15 Annual Plan and our Charter. It outlines our performance against our strategic objectives, which were developed in consultation with our key stakeholders a few years ago. We welcome feedback regarding the content of this report and our activities generally. All correspondence can be directed to [email protected] or by calling 9341 8100. Environment Victoria 3 4 Environment Victoria Photo credit: Doug Gimesy. See www.gimesy.com Annual Report 2014-15 BIG ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR Above: How The Sunday Age saw our election campaign. Our activities at a glance: Running the deepest-ever grassroots environment Assisting the successful community campaign to close election campaign in this state, putting the the Anglesea power station. environment and climate change back on the agenda Securing the reopening of the Hazelwood mine fire in Victoria. inquiry, including further examination of the fire’s Supporting 1000 committed volunteers campaigning impact upon the health of Latrobe Valley residents and to Reclaim Victoria’s Environment (including 386 in the inadequacy of mine rehabilitation provisions. our four target seats) and four new local groups of Highlighting the job opportunities in coal mine volunteer activists across Melbourne’s suburbs. rehabilitation and securing a commitment from the Ensuring the incoming state government publicly Andrews Government to review rehabilitation bonds committed to leadership on climate change. at all mines. Securing an extra $10 million for the protection Assisting almost 5000 Victorian low-income parents to of river banks in the 2015-16 State Budget and the reduce energy use in their homes through our Future beginning of a process to exclude livestock from Powered Families program. riverside areas across the state. Launching our divestment campaigns in partnership Saving the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target from with Powershop, Bank Australia, Energy Makeovers being scrapped, and then securing an increase. and Positive Charge to assist our 72,000 supporters to go zero emissions. Delaying a new allocation of coal and the development of a coal export industry for Victoria. Find out more about these achievements on the following pages. Securing commitments from the incoming ALP state government, including to scrap anti-windfarm laws, remove cattle from the Alpine National Park and develop a renewable energy action plan and an energy efficiency strategy. Above: We made getting cows out of rivers and rehabilitating mine sites election issues. Environment Victoria 5 Annual Report 2014-15 ABOUT US Our goals Safe Climate Healthy Ecosystems One Planet Living 2050 The global climate is safe 2050 Victoria’s ecosystems are 2050 Victorians live well and our for all living things. restored, healthy and sustainable. ecological footprint is sustainable. 2020 Victoria has helped to avoid the 2020 Victoria has halted the 2020 Victoria’s ecological footprint has most dangerous impacts of climate continued decline of its ecosystems been reduced by at least 25 percent. change by taking responsibility for and they are on the road to recovery. its high levels of greenhouse gas emissions at the turn of the century and halving them by 2020. Environment Victoria is one of Our values Australia’s leading environment Courage to always speak up for our environment groups, independent and Respect for people and for nature not-for-profit. Inclusivity and fairness in the way that we work We advocate for big, important and and the outcomes we seek in our environment and our work permanent changes to safeguard our Pride environment and the future wellbeing Our operating model of all Victorians. Environment Victoria has a three-point approach to A healthy environment underpins the lives, health achieving our vision and goals. and prosperity of all Victorians and safeguarding our Shared solutions: We work with others to develop bold environment is critical to our wellbeing. Right now our environment and climate are in serious trouble and, solutions that rapidly transition Victoria to a sustainable because of this, so are all Victorians. future. We can restore our environment, safeguard our climate Empowerment: We inspire people, governments and and secure a healthy future. Victoria can have a safe businesses to take action on environmental solutions climate, healthy rivers and magnificent forests rich through advocacy, education and empowerment. with wildlife as well as liveable cities and communities. By making the necessary changes to power our cities Accountability: We hold people of influence, and industries with clean energy, eliminate waste and governments and businesses to account for their restore natural capital, we will also create hundreds decisions and actions through research and analysis, of thousands of new sustainable jobs; modern, smart public commentary, thought leadership and showcasing industries and a more prosperous, resilient future. best practice. We all have a responsibility to act. Our choices today Leadership will determine the future for our environment and of all Victorians. Because the challenges we face are both urgent and large, our response must be too. That’s why we advocate for big, important and permanent Shared solutions changes and help Victorians to do the same. Empowerment GOALS Accountability Partnership 6 Environment Victoria Annual Report 2014-15 A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO For the past three years Environment Victoria has focused on building a more powerful voice for the environment in this state and nationally. And now it feels as though the results are really starting to show. After a difficult term with the previous state government, campaigns to reduce Victorians’ emissions that also which consistently attacked the environment, we now support our organisation financially. And we continue to have a state government promising to lead on the grow our supporter base – we are now 72,000 strong! environment and climate change. That is in no small Our Board guides our work for the long term. So while part due to the committed efforts of our supporters and we had a big impact this year, we will also be even more volunteers, who have been working hard to elevate the effective in the years ahead. All of our Board members status of the environment as an issue in key areas across are also volunteers who give their time extremely the state. We worked with over 1000 volunteers through generously. Huge thanks to them for their efforts. the state election campaign in 2014-15. We know the challenges ahead are great, and time The opportunity now is for us to drive the transformative is short. But we also know that Environment Victoria change we need in Victoria, and then see that change is a growing and powerful community that is already replicated nationally and internationally. It’s an exciting succeeding in building a better future. Thank you for place to be. your contribution and we look forward to working with Our state will be crucial to the outcome of the 2016 you over the months and years ahead. federal election. The investment we made this year in deep community organising in pivotal electorates will again pay dividends. We are well on the way to our aim of elevating the environment above politics, where it belongs. This financial year we’ve achieved a lot. We stopped coal allocations (again), saved and expanded energy efficiency programs, got livestock out of our rivers and secured commitments to develop a nation-leading climate change and renewable energy agenda. Check out the long list of wins on page 5, and thanks for your support in making this progress possible. We’ve also taken the next steps towards building a sustainably funded and independent organisation. Mark Wakeham Amanda Nuttall We’ve reduced our reliance on government funding and CEO President diversified our fundraising efforts – thank you for your incredibly generous support. We’ve developed new Environment Victoria 7 Annual Report 2014-15 1. A SAFE CLIMATE We advocate for, and help pioneer, the shift to a pollution-free and energy efficient economy. Above: Our campaign to stop a coal allocation made news with a big win. Despite major setbacks at the federal level (including the repeal of the carbon price), 2014-15 was a turning point for the environment in Victoria.