MSS015014A
Develop response to sustainability related regulation

This unit of competency covers identifying responsibilities and developing an appropriate response to schemes regulating sustainability, including carbon and carbon equivalent use and emission. It includes the ongoing monitoring and adjusting of responses to the regulatory environment and organisational situation.

Application

This unit applies in organisations that are may be impacted by sustainability regulation. Some possible applications are carbon containment/reduction schemes/regulations or incentives or other schemes that may be implemented. The application of the unit includes Australian and overseas schemes where the organisation is part of an export value chain or is a subsidiary required to report against a scheme covering an overseas parent.

It would typically be undertaken by a manager or technical specialist who had a major responsibility for sustainability as part of a broader work role, or sustainability may be their primary work responsibility. The manager or technical specialist may undertake this alone or as part of a team.

The technical measurement of operational performance or measurement of emissions or other environmental impact is not covered by this unit. Specific units covering these and similar aspects are contained within the MSS40211 Certificate IV in Environmental Monitoring and Technology.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

1

Interpret regulation

1.1

Determine emissions/sustainability issues as defined by the relevant regulation

1.2

Compare organisation’s profile with regulatory definitions/ descriptions

1.3

Determine impact on the organisation in its current state

2

Develop possible organisation responses to impact

2.1

Determine ‘no change’ cost of compliance

2.2

Facilitate the suggestion of alternative responses

2.3

Determine benefit/cost for feasible alternative responses

2.4

Compare alternative response to current state impact

2.5

Rank responses by desirability

3

Select appropriate responses

3.1

Short-list ranked responses

3.2

Discuss short-listed responses with key stakeholders

3.3

Determine responses to be implemented and timelines for implementation

3.4

Develop and overall strategic plan to implement agreed responses

4

Implement agreed responses

4.1

Develop implementation plan for agreed responses

4.2

Negotiate required resources with relevant stakeholders

4.3

Negotiate timelines and measures/indicators of success with change stakeholders

4.4

Acquire and deploy resources required to achieve agreed responses

4.5

Monitor implementation and take action as required to achieve required responses

4.6

Renegotiate with relevant stakeholders as necessary

5

Recommend further improvements

5.1

Measure improvements actually obtained

5.2

Identify non-compliances with planned improvements

5.3

Determine additional improvements desirable

Required Skills

Required knowledge includes:

relevant regulations/legislation

stakeholders and methodology required to determine organisation’s current state and fit compared to regulations/legislation

brainstorming techniques

cost-benefit analyses techniques

methods of dealing with regulatory requirements and the benefits arising from each

project/improvement planning/scheduling techniques

process monitoring and critical measures

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards

Required skills include:

calculating compliance costs

calculating marginal cost of abatement curve

negotiating with value chain members, staff and regulators

solving problems at a strategic level

communicating across all internal and external levels

developing implementation plans

analysing impact of regulations on current and future states

Evidence Required

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to recommend organisation response to sustainability related regulations, implement agreed responses and suggest ongoing strategies.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

determining sustainability regulatory environment for an organisation

identifying a range of possible responses to regulation

analysing and ranking possible responses according to benefit/cost to organisation

consulting with stakeholders to identify agreed response

implementing and monitoring agreed response consistent with regulation and stakeholder purpose.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units addressing sustainability at the enterprise level or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Method of assessment

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment


Range Statement

Regulation

Regulation includes:

regulations and legislation as may be in force to regulate emissions or similar

standards (such as AS/NZS ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards), codes of practice and other sustainability related regulation arrangements

Alternative responses

Alternative responses include:

process, procedural and practice changes to reduce carbon emissions

value chain changes to reduce carbon emissions

carbon trading responses modify cost of compliance

other market operations where relevant

material, component and product changes to reduce emissions/improve compliance

Desirability ranking

Determining desirability ranking includes:

regulatory required changes

direct dollar benefit/cost

customer benefit

stakeholder perception:

shareholders

employees

community

financial community

other

life cycle improvements


Sectors

Sustainability


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills


Licensing Information

Not applicable.