ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
background
The university vision is to be a premier technological institution in the region providing transformative education where graduates are globally competitive, innovative, and responsive to the demands of a changing world. NwSSU shall, as its mission, lead in providing highly technical and professional education and lifelong learning in the trade, fishery, agriculture, science, education, commerce, engineering, forestry, nautical, and other emerging programs in the digital age. It shall generate cutting-edge technology and undertake sustainable community development in accordance with the university mandates, thrusts, and directions.
Environmental conservation and sustainability plan is one of the key elements in achieving the development goals of the university. The plan identifies the priority areas, goals, and strategies towards a sustainable eco-friendly university.
The NwSSU students, faculty, and non-teaching personnel are actively engaged with the environmental programs and activities. The university recognizes strong partnerships and linkages with the local government units (LGUs), government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and non-government organizations (NGOs) that contribute to solving local environmental issues towards global environmental challenges through research, extension, and with good leadership and best practices of the administration.
The university is committed to constantly improve its programs and activities on the environmental challenges and developments in achieving the priority areas and goals of the environmental developments of the organization through environmental awareness and campaigns to contribute on reaching a sustainable environment.
Environmental Conservation and Sustainability Plan on Priority Areas
The environmental conservation and sustainability plan identifies the priority areas, goals, and strategies.
The priority areas are:
- land use developments;
- disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation;
- waste management and sanitation;
- water conservation management; and,
- alternative.
Proper management and reducing carbon footprint and appropriate strategies of the five (5) priority areas would help the university in achieving the solutions towards reduction of greenhouse gases and addressing the United Nation Sustainable Developments Goals.
Priority Area Number 1: Land Use Developments
Land use developments with comprehensive planning process in developing the area is an important consideration for plans and developments. Through this planning process, the university should determine the specific uses of land and other physical and natural resources of the university. The process should lead the key officials and technical personnel in decision-making on how development will undertake in the university in consideration with the demands, and growth of the institution without degrading natural resources of the environment. The university considers the land area to incorporate the development without compromising the natural resources and the life of the people as part of the environmental sustainability in promoting open and green spaces, special consideration for those critical areas, hazard-risk areas within the university, and the built- in environment. All plans of the university should be consistent and linked with the identified policy guidelines and options of the four major land use policy areas to ensure their complementation.
Goal 1
Protect sustainable and eco-friendly access to open and green spaces areas.
Strategies:
- development of a policy which maintains the protection and commitment of ecological values of all viable and important species;
- implementation of standard, policies, and regulatory framework in support the engineering and architectural design;
- planting of trees with the university belt and maintenance of existing trees;
- maintenance of open and green spaces for public use;
- promotion of green infrastructure in the design of vertical and horizontal infrastructure; and
- designing buildings with zero emissions in operations
Other strategies:
- development of policies on low impacts maintenance practices in areas protecting natural ecological values, and
- development of an integrated open and green spaces to adapt to the changing environment.
Priority Area Number 2: Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation (DRRM-CCA)
DRRM-CCA is one of the important priority areas of the university, since the country is prone for natural and man-made disasters and exposed to the different natural hazards from typhoons, flooding, and earthquakes. The university includes plans which focus on the four thematic areas of RA 10121 (disaster prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response, and disaster rehabilitation and recovery). Climate change has a significant impact on the changes of weather patterns. The university promotes resiliency among students, faculty, and personnel in coping with the effects of natural calamities.
Goal 2
Reduce risk from natural disasters and improve resilient communities in the university.
Strategies:
- development of standard, policies, and regulatory framework in support of the engineering design for DRRM-CCA;
- updating of disaster risk reduction and management plan of the university (contingency plan, evacuation route plans, etc. for every hazard);
- establishment and maintenance of evacuation centers;
- keeping a pool of trained volunteers for University DRRM Office;
- holistic capability building for DRRM to reduce vulnerability to natural hazards;
- establishment of linkages for relief goods operations with the coordination of UDRRM, LGU-CDRRM, DWSD, and other non-government organizations;
- convergence with the other national and local government agencies, international and local NGOs for livelihood and rehabilitation and recovery stage.
Priority Area Number 3: Waste Management and Sanitation
Waste management and sanitation is one of the issues and have significant impact on the environment. With the increasing population and threat of infectious diseases, waste and sanitation management program of the university continuously coordinating with the LGU through the City Solid Waste and Management Office (CSWMO). The university ensures that waste is properly segregated, and facilities are properly sanitized.
Goal 3
Reduce waste generation and maintain sanitation.
Strategies:
- collaboration with LGUs, NGO, and other stakeholders on waste management plans;
- installation of sufficient trash bins visible to the students and other clientele;
- development of policies on single-use plastic and waste reduction;
- promotion of 5Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle); and
- establishment and maintenance of material recovery facilities.
Priority Area Number 4: Water Conservation Management
The university and the community play an important role in protecting and conserving our water resources. The university produces many types of wastewaters from different offices and chemicals from the laboratory rooms which significantly impact the environment. Promoting water conservation, proper management, and practices of water resources will lead to sustainable sources of water and cost-savings on utility bills.
Goal 4
Reduce untreated water effluents to improve water quality.
Strategies:
- development of wastewater management plan;
- establishment of wastewater facilities; and
- adoption of policy/framework based on Philippine Clean Water Act.
Goal 5
Reduce water consumption.
Strategies:
- development/maintenance of water conservation strategy program/ mechanism;
- maintenance of a rainwater capture system;
- regulation of alternative sources of water, g., deep well; and
- periodic preventive inspection of water lines.
Priority Area Number 5: Alternative Energy
The university has a mechanism of reducing electricity consumption and carbon footprints based on the memorandum and office orders. Reduction of electricity and carbon footprints would help not only for environmental benefits but also cost savings on utility bills.
Goal 6
Reduce energy use and carbon footprints in the university community.
Strategies:
- designation of zones for all motorized vehicles and implement policy that limits the number of vehicles that enter the campus;
- maintenance of parking space for university personnel and students and encourage to walk while in the university campus to reduce carbon footprints;
- active promotion for participation in major awareness on energy conservation practices;
- encouragement on efficient laboratory equipment for energy consumption;
- establishment/maintenance of power-generating equipment using renewable sources of energy, e.g., solar panels and LED lights; and
- promotion of linkages with the other government agencies to meet the energy conservation objectives of the university through building code/design revisions.
This is the heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.