31/01/2005 - More ACT
industry facilities are responding to the
challenges of pollution by reporting their
emissions, the Australian Minister for the
Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell,
said today.
Releasing the 2004 National Pollutant Inventory
website, Senator Campbell said the number
of ACT facilities reporting had risen steadily
since the NPI was first established six
years ago.
"It is heartening to see the number
of ACT facilities reporting emissions has
risen by 16 per cent, the highest increase
in the country," he said.
"This shows that industries are taking
their responsibility to report emissions
to the public seriously.
"Making this information publicly
available is important to help minimise
pollution. Having more industries reporting
gives us a much clearer picture of the range
and extent of pollution and helps industries
to address problems in their facilities."
The NPI programme involves the Australian,
State and Territory governments to assist
industries to reduce emissions by providing
valuable benchmarking data on emissions
of 90 different substances.
"Members of the public use the online
NPI to compare emissions from individual
facilities, industrial sectors, and from
regions," Senator Campbell said. "The
States and Territories can use the NPI to
monitor achievements by industry in meeting
environmental targets."
The Minister said the NPI data must be
analysed in context, for example a large
amount of one substance may be potentially
less damaging than a small amount of another
substance. It was also misleading to add
together amounts of different substances.
Senator Campbell praised industries taking
the lead in emission reduction and said
companies implementing cleaner production
techniques and installing pollution control
equipment are playing a key role in reducing
pollution.
"In 2004 nearly half of the substances
listed on the NPI had decreased emissions
compared to the last reporting year, and
for the second year in a row there has been
a welcome decrease in emissions of potentially
harmful substances such as lead and toluene,"
Senator Campbell said.
"This is particularly pleasing at
a time when solid economic growth reflects
higher activity across many sectors. This
shows it is possible to achieve strong economic
growth with a smaller economic impact."
Emissions of air pollutants such as carbon
monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur
dioxide, have remained similar to last year.
Motor vehicles continue to be the chief
source of pollutant emissions.
"I urge industry and individuals to
visit this informative web-site to help
understand pollution issues in their local
areas and Australia-wide. As well as providing
a benchmarking tool for industry to formulate
pollution reduction targets, I hope people
will use the information to look at reducing
emissions on a local level, for example
reducing dependence on cars and installing
energy efficient appliances at home."