One of the most successful efforts ever undertaken by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has been the Tennessee 2000 Initiative. This voluntary partnership was created in March 1993 in response to a challenge from the Tennessee Cons ervation League that the TDEC find ways to improve its capacity to protect the environment and to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals released to the environment.
The 2000 Initiative’s members hail from industry, environmental/citizen advocacy groups, higher education and government. These diverse representatives have worked together to find “common ground” and cooperative projects that benefit Tennessee’s citizen s and their environment. The committee undertook an active role in late 1993, and its dedicated efforts have continued.
In January 1995, the 2000 Initiative developed a mission statement, vision statement, customer list and goals to help chart the group’s course into the next century. Working with TDEC’s Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Awareness, the 20
00 Initiative is already making progress toward attaining these goals.
The 2000 Initiative employs a variety of tools to spread the good news about pollution prevention and to assist manufacturers in implementing waste reduction practices. By announcing and working toward a reduction goal, producing the Corporate Challenge Report and hosting regional pollution prevention conferences, the 2000 Initiative is offering expert assistance to all Tennessee industry, including those firms that are unable to afford consulting or waste auditing services.
In April 1994, the industry members of the 2000 Initiative announced the 2000 Initiative Corporate Challenge, a goal to reduce the state’s aggregate Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) emissions by 50 percent by the year 2000. The Industry Subcommittee members pledged to reduce emissions at their own facilities and to provide technical outreach to smaller Tennessee companies to assist them in reducing their toxic releases toward the 50 percent reduction goal.
The Tennessee Corporate Challenge Report, published in April 1995, represents the commitment of the 2000 Initiative Industry Subcommittee to give the public insight into their facility operations, corporate philosophies and efforts of members to reduce th eir impact on the environment. Beginning in 1996, this report will be produced annually and will feature pollution prevention success stories from companies across Tennessee.
The 2000 Initiative voluntary partnership brings to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation a balanced perspective from its customers and identifies common ground among diverse stakeholders. Most importantly, the 2000 Initiative helps st ate government carry out one of its most important missions: protecting Tennessee’s environment.
For more information about the 2000 Initiative, call at 615/532-0760.
The 2000 Initiative Committee is a credible, respected source of factual information on environmental issues. All Tennesseans benefit from the committee’s educational outreach, through a better understanding of the issues, their risks, the priorities and
the solutions.
The spirit of cooperation exhibited by the 2000 Initiative motivates Tennesseans to work together to achieve meaningful environmental improvements. Methods for measuring these improvements are in place and document environmental progress and a better qua
lity of life.
MISSION
VISION FOR THE YEAR 2000
CUSTOMERS
Business/Industry Educators/Students
Public Citizens Legislative Branch of Government
Media Government Agencies with
Medical Community Environmental Responsibilities
Governor of Tennessee
GOALS
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