Awareness raising

Coal & Allied believes that emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) resulting from human activities are contributing to climate change. Avoiding human caused changes to the climate is an important international goal. In order to achieve this goal the world needs reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases.

Recent climate change engagement activities by CSIRO* in the Hunter Valley have shown the community expects government and industry to act.

Demonstrating our commitment and actions to external audiences and seeking opportunities to work with them is also an important part of awareness raising.

Coal & Allied has designed a communications programme that provides consistent messages for all our employees, and provides support to our energy use reduction programmes while also providing context to the broader societal issue of climate change.

Examples of programmes include:

Together Today - Coal & Allied is a foundation member of this campaign to promote energy and water efficient solutions within the community in the Hunter Valley
An extensive internal communications programme including presentations, communications tools and features in the employee newsletter. This helps us actively promote information to our workforce on initiatives they can participate in outside of work, such as Earth Hour, ClimateSmart home service and the Enviro Saver programme
Energy efficiency activities with schools and at local shows and community days which actively engage our staff with our community to discuss the work we do and also the choices we all have that may reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases
A series of engagement activities were developed for community education purposes, including using a stationary exercise bike to physically demonstrate the difference in energy required to power an incandescent light bulb compared with a compact fluorescent light bulb. The bike is showcased at local schools and community events.

Results

In 2008, Rio Tinto Coal Australia employees (including Coal & Allied employees) were surveyed on their awareness of climate change. The results indicated that 80 per cent of employees were aware of what Rio Tinto Coal Australia was doing to address climate change.

This is an increase on the 60 per cent awareness level revealed in the same survey in 2007. The increase has been attributed to the roll-out of the Climate Change Action Plan in 2007 and the continued engagement with our workforce and stakeholders.

* In 2007, CSIRO conducted a number of climate change and energy workshops in Muswellbrook and Singleton on behalf of Coal & Allied. The workshops explored participants' values and beliefs about the environment and how these values translated into their own behaviour.

The majority of participants in the workshops believed climate change was an important issue in Australia and should be addressed by urgent action. People saw a role for government to take the lead in addressing the issue of climate change mitigation. There was also a strong feeling that government and industry should play a greater role in energy conservation. Report back workshops with participants were held in both communities in October 2008. Coal & Allied has asked the CSIRO to continue facilitating these workshops and associated activities into 2009.