CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
Environmental Policy
Environmental Policy
UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
Policy name: Environmental Policy of the University of Peradeniya Policy number: UoP-P 004
Date of Approval: 2021.02.14
Supersedes: Not applicable
Approving Authority: The Council, University of Peradeniya
Administrative Responsibility: Environmental Management Committee of Respective Faculties, Centres and Units, University of Peradeniya
Monitoring responsibility: Environmental Management Committee, University of Peradeniya
Overview:
The University of Peradeniya is one of the most prestigious universities in Sri Lanka which is situated in the suburbs of the historical city of Kandy. Regarded as one of the most beautiful Universities in the world, it is an institution where its natural environment spread across 773 hectares harmonizes with the activities and life in the University.
The University caters to more than twelve thousand undergraduate and 8000 postgraduate students at a given time. As a residential University, it has a large number of students and staff residing in the premises. Arising from the activities related to providing education, research, accommodation, and other facilities to this sizeable community, it is inevitable that the University has to face some environmental concerns and impacts.
As a responsible organization, the University strives to manage these issues by addressing them in a proactive manner. Encouraging students and staff to participate in environmental management related activities in the University is expected to develop environmental awareness and sense of responsibility that would help generate a passion in them for environmental conservation and empower them to apply these skills and practices in their future workplaces.
Scope and Application:
This environmental policy applies to all faculties, institutes, students’ residential facilities, units, centers and other service providing entities within the University of Peradeniya..
Key Policy Principles
The University shall:
commit to maintain an environmental performance beyond what is required by the legal and other requirements and work collectively to monitor, control, and prevent pollution arising from the various activities of university life.
take proactive measures to reduce the energy consumption through improved energy conservation, efficiency improvement, and the use of renewable energy.
place itself as a role model for other organizations by adopting innovative methods in preventing or minimizing environmental impacts associated with chemical, clinical, and other forms of solid waste management.
manage its land sustainability through proper planning of land use, and sustainable forest management
reduce water and carbon footprints through appropriate actions.
practice the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) to reduce the environmental impacts associated with recourse utilization.
promote environmental awareness and responsibility amongst all staff and students through awareness campaigns and training programs.
commit itself to improve its environmental performance continually.
Responsibility
The students, staff and other stakeholders have a great responsibility to achieve the objectives set out in the environment policy.
Relevant Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures proposed to be developed under this policy:
● ISO 14001 Environmental Management system related procedures