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BALANCING DEFENCE TRAINING AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
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Defence environmental policy
In December 2001, Defence launched its Environmental Policy committing the
organisation to legislative compliance, prevention of pollution and continuous
improvement of its environmental performance. The Policy recognises the importance
of protecting the environment, and the need to ensure that best environmental
practices continue to be implemented throughout Defence. Management of activities
to minimise environmental impacts, and promotion of environmental sustainability,
are key elements of the new policy.
Defence’s response to the challenge of protecting the marine environment
In recent years Defence has responded strongly to the challenge of demonstrating
sustainable environmental management. For example, Defence managers now overtly
refer to the need to balance the need to train for war and warlike activities, with the
need for sustainable environmental management. 1 This commitment is reflected in the
instructions governing the conduct of major exercises such as TALISMAN SABER. In
the marine environment this is also particularly evident in the RAN’s commitment to
implement measures to minimise environmental risks arising from training activities.
This is effected through mechanisms such as Bridge Cards, which now include the
operational procedures for ships (and aircraft) that take into account factors such as
effects on marine mammals (see Figure 1).
Routine passage, OOW manoeuvres
Figure 1: Example of RAN Procedure Card (PS1) – Guide to Officer of the Watch (OOW)
Routine Passage – stand-off distances for whales