Environmental impacts

By Andrew Stackpool

In the 2004 Defence Attitude Survey, Air Force personnel demonstrated an increased awareness of the impact of their actions upon the environment. A Hornet bombs High Range near Townsville.

AIR Force personnel have convincingly demonstrated their concern about the possible impacts of their actions on the environment.

The recent 2004 Defence Attitude Survey showed a significant increase in positive environment attitudes by both civilian and uniformed members of Defence since the subject was included in the first survey in 2002.

The 2004 survey measured environmental attitudes by asking if personnel believed Defence had a responsibility to look after the natural environment and if personnel in respondents’ units were actively taking steps to reduce the environmental impacts of their actions.

Air Force members showed the greatest increase in their response with 57 per cent agreeing that personnel in their units took an active role in reducing the environmental impacts of their actions. This is an increase of 14 per cent from the 43 per cent who responded in the 2002 survey, and was the highest percentage change across the organisation.

Assistant Secretary Environment, Heritage and Risk Terry Weston said he recognised the significant progress and commitment of Air Force in implementing Defence’s environmental program.

“The results of the survey are consistent with Air Force’s wide ranging commitment to sustainable environmental management as part of its risk management and governance framework,” he said.

The results are based on a 10 per cent sample of the organisation, surveyed every four months annually.

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