Terms of Reference of the Environmental Policy Implementation Committee (EPIC)
The EPIC is mandated to:
- Assist with drafting and implementing green policies, including the monitoring of their implementations bi-annually. including strategies for measuring and reducing the National Assembly’s carbon footprint.
- Assist with ensuring all Secretariat Staff, Members of the National Assembly and other building users fully understand the contribution they can make to improving the environmental performance of the National Assembly.
- Assist with introducing and enforcing policies and actions that safeguard resources by minimizing waste and identifying ways to reduce, reuse, repair and recycle materials.
- Ensure policies and strategies are implemented to purchase in an environmentally conscious and responsible manner in areas such as energy and water efficiency.
- Ensure the continuity of the Parliamentary Mangrove Sanctuary Project.
- Introduce, manage and implement projects and activities that support and encourage the biodiversity of the parliamentary grounds, increase the water and energy efficiency of the institution, environmental protection and promote climate adaption and climate change mitigation.
- Promote the Parliament as a Green Parliament and work with stakeholders and civil society in addressing environmental protection and climate change.
- Be eco ambassadors as Parliamentary Staff of the Assembly.
- Provide a bi-annual management review to the National Assembly and performance information will be made publicly available.
The Committee may make revisions to the sustainability policy statement, every 5 years, subject to the approval of the Clerk of the National Assembly.
The Environmental Policy Implementation Committee (EPIC) is chaired by the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Ms. Alexandria Faure and was set up following a month-long Sustainability Audit that was carried out in collaboration with the NGO - Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S) as part of an internal initiative in January 2019. This initiative embraced the challenge of improving on the energy usage of the parliament whilst promoting environmental awareness.
The National Assembly was the first organisation in Seychelles to have collaborated with a local NGO that has expertise in this area, and the audit provided the institution with a detailed report on the environmental impact of its daily operations. It also identified an action plan and recommendations on improvements that could be made in regards to energy, water and waste management.
Following from this, the National Assembly made a long-term commitment to reduce water and energy consumption and waste production. This was launched with the implementation of a sustainability policy and the Environment Policy Implementation Committee.
The Committee is on a voluntary basis and is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the National Assembly's progress in implementing different action plans to become a sustainable and environmentally friendly institution. The Committee is also tasked with implementing environmental policies, educating and raising awareness of staff on how they can lead sustainable lives as well as reporting annually on the improvements and missteps made by the institution.
In addition to participating in the audit and establishing this Committee, the National Assembly has made big steps in reducing its negative environmental impact by installing solar panels for energy generation, implementing a rainwater harvesting system for the management of the grounds and Commonwealth Garden and getting rid of plastic bottles in the Chamber and Committee Rooms.
The Action Plans of EPIC are as below:
