Click here to go to the following issues:

Economic Aspects | Natural Resource Aspects | Institutional Aspects | Social Aspects |  Australia

INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTRALIA


Click here to go to these sections:

INTEGRATED DECISION-MAKING

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

The Commonwealth of Australia is a federation of six self-governing States and two self-governing mainland Territories. The Federal Government's powers and responsibilities are defined in the Australian Constitution and the State and Territory Governments are responsible for all other matters. State and Territory Governments also have established systems of Local Government, and there are approximately 750 local Councils throughout Australia.

 

The principle of sustainable development is now broadly accepted and built into the working programmes of the key bodies of national governance, which bring together the National and State governments. An example of these key bodies is the Ministerial Councils, including: 

  • Australian and New ZealandEnvironment and Conservation Council (ANZECC)
  • Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ)
  • Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council (AMZMEC)
  • MinisterialCouncil on Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture (MCFFA)
  • Australian Transport Council

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

Environmental powers are not specifically dealt with in the Australian Constitution and are not the sole province of any one sphere of government. There is recognition that environment and sustainable development issues need to be addressed on a local, regional, national and international scale. This is reflected in the development of national strategies and agreements, which provide the main domestic basis for the implementation of UNCED outcomes.

 

A cooperative approach with strong leadership at the national level on environmental issues has provided the cornerstone to Australia's policy development and program delivery since 1992. This approach within the Government extends as well to non-governmental organizations and community groups.  In order to oversee the development of national strategies and policy issues concerning the environment and ecologically sustainable development there is a range of mechanisms, which provide an administrative and Ministerial framework for advice and input. Overall coordination is effected through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), relevant Ministerial Councils, including Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ), Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council (MDBC), National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) and related working groups reporting to these bodies. 

In addition, the ICESD regularly consults with the following non-governmental organizations: World Wide Fund for Nature, Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace, Australian Council for Overseas Aid, National Farmers Federation, Business Council of Australia, Minerals Council of Australia, Australian Council of Trade Unions, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, National Environmental Law Association, Environment Management Industry Association of Australia, Australian Association for Environmental Education, Institute of Engineers, Women and the Environment Network, Action for Solidarity Equality Environment and Development (Youth NGO), Community Aid Abroad, National Association of Forest Industries, and Environs Australia (formerly the Municipal Conservation Association).

The 1992 Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment (IGAE) is an agreement among all spheres of government concerning their roles and responsibilities in decision making processes and sets out mechanisms for resolving national issues. The IGAE provides a framework for a cooperative approach to environmental decision making, policy development and program implementation. The IGAE recognizes the need for effective integration of environmental and economic considerations and is based on the acceptance of ESD principles by all spheres of government. Members of the Government involved in the IGAE include the following:

  • Australian Government Departments: Prime Minister and Cabinet; Environment, 
  • Sport and Territories; 
  • Foreign Affairs and Trade; 
  • Primary Industries and Energy.

State Government Departments involved include: Premier's, New South Wales; Premier and Cabinet, Victoria; Office of the Cabinet, Queensland; Premier and Cabinet, Western Australia; Premier and Cabinet, South Australia; Premier and Cabinet, Tasmania; Chief Minister's, Northern Territory; Environment, Land and Planning, Australian Capital Territory, and Australian Local Government Association.  

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

Australia has a number of key strategies in place to support sustainable development. The principal and overarching strategy is the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD), which seeks to address sustainable development from a distinctly Australian perspective. The National Strategy for ESD has three core objectives: 

·         to enhance individual and community well-being and welfare by following a path of economic development that safeguards the welfare of future generations; 

·         to provide for equity within and between generations; and 

·         to protect biological diversity and maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems. 

Other key strategies which have been implemented since 1992 include the National Forest Policy Statement, the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, the National Greenhouse Response Strategy, the Commonwealth Coastal Policy, the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy, and the National Landcare Program.

 

At a national level there has been considerable work undertaken on reviewing and monitoring national agreements and strategies. A number of these reviews were concurrent with the five-year time frame of the United Nations General Assembly review of progress since UNCED. The focal point for these review processes was the senior Intergovernmental body, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

The National Strategy for ESD has been reviewed on two occasions with reports on implementation prepared for 1993 and the period 1993-95. Outcomes from the second review process are currently being directed towards targeting key areas for further progress. The IGAE was reviewed in 1995, and a review of respective governmental roles and responsibilities with respect to the environment was undertaken with an overarching aim of improving the cooperative framework established under the IGAE. In parallel with this process, federal environmental legislation will also be reviewed. These reforms will encourage the implementation of ESD through better environment protection coupled with greater certainty for industry in decision-making processes.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

In order to oversee the development of national strategies and policy issues concerning the environment and ecologically sustainable development there is a range of mechanisms, which provide an administrative and Ministerial framework for advice and input. Overall coordination is effected through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), relevant Ministerial Councils, including Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ), Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council (MDBC), National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) and related working groups reporting to these bodies. 

In addition, the ICESD regularly consults with the following non-governmental organizations: 

·         World Wide Fund for Nature;

·         Australian Conservation Foundation, 

·         Greenpeace; 

·         Australian Council for Overseas Aid; 

·         National Farmers Federation;Business Council of Australia;Minerals Council of Australia; 

·         Australian Council of Trade Unions; 

·         Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission; 

·         National Environmental Law Association;

·         Environment Management Industry Association of Australia;Australian Association for Environmental Education;

·         Institute of Engineers; 

·         Women and the Environment Network; 

·         Action for Solidarity Equality Environment and Development (Youth NGO);

·         Community Aid Abroad; 

·         National Association of Forest Industries;

·         and Environs Australia (formerly the Municipal Conservation Association).

 

Programmes and Projects   

Australia is implementing economic instruments and developing the use of market-based mechanisms, which incorporate the environmental and social costs of resource use into pricing. Measures under way include improved pricing and allocation of water, cost recovery for solid waste disposal and a price differential for leaded petrol. A compendium of Australia's experience in using economic instruments to meet environmental objectives has been prepared by Environment Australia.

Since 1992 there has also been general international consensus on the need to provide more quantifiable advice to policy makers on the progress towards implementing sustainable development. In Australia there have been a number of approaches in this regard. In 1996, the first comprehensive Australian State of the Environment (SoE) Report was released. The Report, which was called for in the National Strategy for ESD, provides a key element in providing information on the condition of and the pressures on our natural environment, and societal responses to these pressures and conditions. In addition, many State, Territory and Local Governments are in various stages of undertaking state of the environment reporting. At a sectoral level there is also a range of initiatives on developing sustainability indicators. Work on improving information available to decision-makers has also been undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The ABS has researched and produced a range of publications on environmental statistics.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has developed national accounts balance sheets to include the market value of natural assets including forests, subsoil assets and land. These estimates are based on resource use values and exclude non-monetary environmental values. The Commonwealth has recently published a handbook on a range of techniques for environmental valuation and their application in decision making. The Australian Bureau of Statistics is also developing a range of environmental accounts, including physical accounts in an input-output framework, and financial accounts for environmental protection.

Status 

National Decision-Making Structure

 

1. National Sustainable Development Coordination Body:

YES

2. National Sustainable Development Policy:

YES

3. National Agenda 21/other strategy for SD

YES

4. Local/Regional Agenda(s) 21:

YES

5. Environmental Impact Assessment Law:

YES

6. Major Groups involved in Sustainable Development Decision-Making:

YES

 

National Instruments and Programmes

 

1. Sustainable. Dev. or environmental education incorporated into school curricula:

YES

2. Sustainable Development Indicators Program:

YES/IN PROGRESS

3. Ecolabel Regulations:

YES

4. Recycle/Reuse Programs:

YES

5. Green Accounting Program:

YES

6. Access to Internet:

YES

7. Access to World Wide Web:

YES

8. National World Wide Web Site for Sustainable Development or State of the Environment:

YES

 

Policies, Programmes and Legislation

 

1. Combatting poverty:

YES

2. Changing consumption and production patterns:

YES

3. Atmosphere:

YES

4. Land Use Planning:

YES

5. Forest and Deforestation:

YES

6. Desertification and Drought:

YES

7. Sustainable Mountain Development:

YES

8. Sustainable Agriculture:

YES

9. Biological Diversity:

YES

10. Biotechnology:

NO

11. Oceans and Coastal Areas:

YES

12. Freshwater Management:

YES

13. Toxic Chemicals:

YES

14. Hazardous Wastes:

YES

15. Solid Wastes:

YES

16. Radioactive Wastes:

YES

17. Energy:

YES

18. Transport:

IN PROGRESS

19. Sustainable Tourism:

YES

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

No information is available

Information   

No information is available

Research and Technologies 

No information is available

Financing 

The Federal Government recognizes the need to provide a secure funding base for initiatives addressing Australia's environmental and ecologically sustainable development challenges. Recognizing the importance of the health of the environment to economic, social and conservation objectives, the Federal Government has decided to establish a $1.25 billion Natural Heritage Trust. The Natural Heritage Trust is to be largely funded by the partial sale of a publicly owned telecommunications utility. Like many governments, the Australian Government is under fiscal pressure, and in examining alternatives to taxation or borrowing, has decided that the short-term financial gains derived from the sale of a public asset should be used to establish a long term investment in Australia's environment for current and future generations.

The Natural Heritage Trust is based on the protection, conservation and sustainable use of Australia's natural resource base through constructive and cooperative partnerships between governments, communities and the private sector. The establishment of the Trust also marks a new era of innovative and secure environmental funding, re-orientation of environmental financing toward areas of genuine national importance, and better integration of conservation and natural resource management programs to rehabilitate and ensure the protection of the natural environment.

 

Cooperation

Australia supported the establishment of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and has been a member of the Commission since its inception. Australia's commitment to the principles of Agenda 21 is also reflected in the appointment of an Ambassador for the Environment. Australia has consistently supported an expanded role for NGO participation throughout the UNCED process. This commitment has been reinforced by having NGO representatives on Australian delegations to all sessions of the CSD.

Australia funds key international institutions involved in promoting multilateral solutions to environmental problems. Among these organisations are United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), United Nations Education and Scientific Cooperation Organisation (UNESCO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the twenty-two international agricultural research centres, including the sixteen centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. 

Since 1992, Australia has undertaken a range of substantial measures to integrate and promote the principles of sustainable development throughout the development cooperation program. The policy basis for the development program is contained in the document, "Towards a Sustainable Future." This policy focuses on the key themes contained in Agenda 21, namely; the economic and social dimensions of development, the conservation and management of resources for development, and strengthening the role of major groups. In particular the policy basis is targeted towards sustainable development priorities in the Asia-Pacific region. The environmental expenditure component of Australia's aid program increased from A$ 120 million in 1992 to over A$ 160 million in 1995.

 

 

* * * 

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th, 6th, and 7th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: February 1999.

Click here for the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development.

Click here for the Australian Environmental Impact Assessment Network

Click here for the Australian Environmental Education Network

Click here for the State of Environment Report.

Click here for information on Regional Environmental Indicators Project

Click here for the National Land and Water Resources Audit

Click here for the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators

Click here for the State of the Environment - Australia

Click here for the Australian Agency for International Development, AusAID

Click here for a draft national cleaner production strategy - 'Towards Sustainability: Achieving Cleaner Production in Australia'.

For information on Environmental Law around the World, click here:

| Australia | All Countries | Home |

 

MAJOR GROUPS

WOMEN

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies    

Australia continues to address the issue of increasing the influence of women in environmental decision-making in a number of ways. These include supporting the involvement of women and their organizations in environment policy processes particularly in relation to ecologically sustainable development.   

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations  

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was signed on 17 July 1980 and ratified on 28 July 1983.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans   

Australia's National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (NSESD) requires the development of ESD related policies, programs and actions, which incorporate the particular concerns of women, while ensuring that actions to achieve ESD do not have inequitable effects on women. Decision makers are explicitly requested to assess, and make efforts to minimise, where inequitable or disadvantageous, the gender impacts of ESD related decisions.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement   

No information is available

Programmes and Projects   

No information is available

Status   

No information is available

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

No information is available

Information   

No information is available

Research and Technologies   

No information is available

Financing   

No information is available

Cooperation

Australia supports international programs addressing women and environmental issues through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). AusAID provides funding to a number of UN agencies that work closely with women, including the UN Fund for Population Activities, the UN Environment Program and the UN Development Fund for Women. AusAID also assists women in developing countries through its funding of individual bilateral projects and through NGOs.

Also at the international level, Australia's participation in the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in September 1995, reflected a commitment to fully integrating the principles of ecological sustainability into all aspects of regional, national and global development and to ensure that women participate on an equal basis in this process.

 

 

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th and 6th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 June 1998.

For information on WomenWatch in different countries, click here:
For information on national plans of action in the follow-up to the Beijing Conference, click here:

 

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies    

The Government consults with young people through the Australian Youth Policy Action Coalition (AYPAC), the national non-government youth peak organisation.

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations  

Australia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in December 1990 and the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in May 1991. Australia has encouraged multilateral agencies to promote the goals of the World Plan of Action for Children in their programs.   

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans   

No information is available

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement   

No information is available

Programmes and Projects 

As part of Australia's National Program of Action for Children, development cooperation programs will place greater emphasis on priority areas for children such as immunisation, enhancing the status of women, refugee assistance and basic education. The aid program is concerned with encouraging a reduction in child exploitation through its contribution to the economic and social development of developing countries. 

Status   

In January 1997, the Federal Government announced the Green Corps Program which provides young people with full-time training, for up to twelve months, on community based environmental projects. Projects include land care, eco-tourism and restoration activities, and survey and data collection work. Training associated with projects is linked, where possible, with career opportunities in fields such as environmental management, science, conservation and restoration

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

No information is available

Information   

No information is available

Research and Technologies   

No information is available

Financing   

No information is available

Cooperation

Internationally, Australia's commitment to education and training issues is reflected through bilateral and regional programs with:

·         developing countries; 

·         participation in multilateral fora such as APEC and the OECD; support for the United Nations' specialised agencies including WHO and UNICEF; 

·         support and contributions to the World Bank and Asian Development Bank; 

·         provision of consultancy services to regional projects funded by international finance institutions; and 

·         the establishment of the Australian International Education Foundation.

 

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

 

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies    

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) is a decentralised organisation, combining representative, policy-making and administrative elements. It was designed to put into effect the principle of self-determination for indigenous Australians. Aboriginal Land councils represent indigenous people in relation to land matters in a number of geographic regions. They also participate in a number of related environmental and social issues. Aboriginal groups have for some time been jointly managing a number of national parks, including the major parks of Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Kakadu, Gurig and Nitmiluk in the Northern Territory. The management of these areas increasingly seeks to incorporate traditional practices and knowledge and recognises the value of indigenous cultures to Australia's heritage.   

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations  

The Federal Government has fully recognised the importance of strengthening the role of indigenous peoples through the enactment, in 1989, of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act. That Act established a statutory body whose corporate objectives and functions specifically seek to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the development of policies and operations of government programs.

The most significant event influencing Australian domestic policy on indigenous peoples, and the environment, is the High Court Mabo decision of June 1992 on native title. The Native Title Act 1993, which is the Federal Government's response to the Mabo judgement, seeks to strike a balance between the recognition and protection of the rights of native title holders and the land development needs of all Australians.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans   

No information is available

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement   

No information is available

Programmes and Projects   

No information is available

Status   

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are among the most disadvantaged groups within the Australian community.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise approximately 1.6% of the total Australian population and currently own approximately 15% of the land. However, there are a number of characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land which have implications for environmental and land management. Although much Aboriginal land is largely agriculturally non-productive, it contains localised areas which are rich in resources and which are the focus for many competing land uses. Aboriginal land use is a mixture of traditional and introduced, small scale and extensive, high impact and benign land uses that interact and overlap with each other. Aboriginal land managers are faced with the complexity of these often interrelated and overlapping land uses and their sustainability.

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

No information is available

Information   

No information is available

Research and Technologies   

No information is available

Financing   

No information is available

Cooperation

 No information is available

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

 

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

The Australian Government is committed to consulting widely with the community on domestic and international environment matters.

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations  

For the purpose of ensuring that the views and interests of the community are taken into consideration, the Government has created a range of channels for consultation. A peak body reviews the international agenda, focussing on Australia's objectives in meetings of the Commission on Sustainable Development and other international environment meetings. This fora is chaired at Ministerial level. There are on-going consultations between Government and relevant NGOs on topical international negotiation and issues relating to the implementation of Agenda 21.   

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans 

The Australian Government encourages participation by NGOs on Australian delegations to international environment convention meetings, at their own expense. Two NGO advisers join Australian delegations to a number of the major environmental meetings, one from an environment/development organisation and one from business

At a domestic level, the Intergovernmental Committee on Ecologically Sustainable Development conducts annual consultative meetings with NGOs on matters relating to the implementation of the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development. Meetings of a group of peak conservation organisations with the Environment Portfolio Minister are held on a regular basis and an informal dialogue is maintained at officer level with both industry and environment NGOs. More detailed consultations take place on a range of specific environmental issues covered by chapters in Agenda 21. Forests, coastal areas, and ocean and freshwater resources, are all areas of particular importance for Australia and consultations on them with NGOs are extensive.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement   

No information is available

Programmes and Projects  

Environment Australia administers a program of grants to voluntary conservation organisations (the GVCO program). The program aims to help environmental organisations, both nationally and internationally, for the protection and enhancement of ecological processes and natural resources as essential components of the well-being of current and future generations. Assistance is given to organisations which raise community awareness and understanding of environmental issues and ecologically sustainable development principles. Funding is provided under the program to maintain or enhance the operational capacity of eligible organisations to pursue their programs.

NGOs contribute in a unique way to grass roots development and the building of personal contacts between Australians and people in the developing world. The central mechanism through which the Australian Government provides funding to NGOs is the allocation of development project subsidies from the AusAID-NGO Cooperation Program. AusAID administers this program in consultation with the NGO community through the Committee for Development Cooperation.

Status   

No information is available

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

No information is available

Information   

No information is available

Research and Technologies   

No information is available

Financing   

No information is available

Cooperation

 No information is available

   * * *

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

 

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

There are approximately 750 Councils in Australia, which vary in size, population, geography and budget. Local Government responsibilities also vary depending on the State jurisdiction, but include land use planning and management, and infrastructure and service provision. Local Government activities, including in such areas as urban planning, environmental health, water supply, pollution control, sewerage treatment, waste management and disposal, and natural resource management, can significantly influence the management and protection of the environment, for example. For this reason, many Councils are involved in developing conservation and management strategies to improve their environments within their municipality and region.

Most Councils in each State and Territory are represented by their respective Local Government Association. These associations are represented nationally by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). ALGA's core business is intergovernmental relations, and involves representation on the Council of Australian Governments and intergovernmental committees including the Intergovernmental Committee on Ecologically Sustainable Development.

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations   

No information is available

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans   

No information is available

Decision-Making: Major Group Involvement

No information is available

Programmes and Projects 

Environs Australia (formerly the Municipal Conservation Association) has taken a lead in translating Agenda 21 into practical measures to assist its implementation by Local Government. Funded by the Federal Government, Local Agenda 21, Managing for the Future provides a guide to successfully implement Local Agenda 21. Many Councils are developing Local Agenda 21s, or are involved in processes which are consistent with its principles.

 

Status

No information is available

Challenges

No information is available

Capacity-Building, Education, Training and Awareness-Raising

No information is available

Information

No information is available

Research and Technologies

No information is available

Financing

No information is available

Cooperation

No information is available.

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

Click here for Local Agendas 21.
Click here for Local Government On-Line Australia.
Click here for the Local Government Guide to Agenda 21.

 

WORKERS AND TRADE UNIONS

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

Australian trade unions play an important role in reducing the economic and human costs associated with poor occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental performance through their activities in specific workplaces. More broadly, trade unions play a role in developing and implementing economic, social and environmental policies and programs. Development of the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development brought together trade unions, industry, conservation and community groups in an effort to address their mutual interests and concerns for ESD.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has participated in a range of consultative processes with respect to both domestic and international issues. The ACTU participated in the Australian Government's NGO Forum on International Environmental Issues and the National Greenhouse Advisory Panel. In addition, the ACTU participated in Australian delegations to the Commission for Sustainable Development and to the First Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC).

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations   

No information is available

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans   

No information is available

Decision-Making: Major Group Involvement

No information is available

Programmes and Projects 

No information is available

 

Status

No information is available

Challenges

No information is available

Capacity-Building, Education, Training and Awareness-Raising

No information is available

Information

No information is available

Research and Technologies

No information is available

Financing

No information is available

Cooperation

No information is available.

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

 

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies

No information is available

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations

No information is available

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans   

The Australian Government recognises the central role played by business and industry in the economy and in efforts to move towards a more ecologically sustainable pattern of development. The Government has therefore involved industry closely in the development of strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting ecologically sustainable development. Business and industry representatives are also included on delegations attending international meetings on environmental issues.

Decision-Making:  Major Group Involvement

No information is available

Programmes and Projects   

Environment Australia aims to facilitate environment protection in Australia and the region by bringing Australian technological and managerial solutions to environmental problems. A key focus is to facilitate the growth of Australia's environment management industry based on both domestic and export markets. A strong and growing environment industry serves to promote environment protection and has an underpinning role in supporting ecologically sustainable development. Environment Australia works collaboratively with the environment management industry and has a good working relationship with the peak industry body, the Environment Management Industry Association of Australia (EMIAA). There are a number of other programs aimed at facilitating the growth of the Australian environment industry.

Status   

There is a wide range of initiatives occurring within government and industry to encourage more sustainable practices. Industry has shown it can provide leadership in demonstrating best practice approaches, such as Alcoa's rehabilitation program at a Western Australian mine site, which was recognised by the United Nations Environment Program for its excellence and is now part of the Global 500. The Government has also provided assistance to industry to promote the adoption of environmentally sound practices.

Challenges

No information is available

Capacity-Building, Education, Training and Awareness-Raising

No information is available

Information

No information is available

Research and Technologies

No information is available

Financing

No information is available

Cooperation

No information is available

 

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

 

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITY

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies    

Scientific expertise is integrated into policy-making at all spheres of government. At an operational level, most agencies have working relationships with scientists and engineers and their expertise is instrumental to effective policy-making in line areas of policy like health, environment, industry, communications, defence, education and so on. The Primary Industries and Energy portfolio has a specialised agency, the Bureau of Resource Sciences, which is responsible for managing the interface between science and policy and interpreting scientific knowledge for the benefit of decision makers. This promotes better linkage between scientific and technical knowledge and strategic policy and program formation. New information technologies are being used in decision support systems that can integrate large quantities of data from a variety of sources, including remote sensing, so that this information can be utilised in a meaningful way.

Distinguished scientists and engineers provide advice on environmental issues to all spheres of government through the Australian Science and Technology Council and the Prime Minister's Science and Engineering Council. Parliamentary committees regularly examine science-related issues of national importance, holding public hearings across the country. More specialised bodies such as the National Greenhouse Advisory Committee provide expert scientific advice on specific issues of importance to the Australian Government. Scientific and technical inputs are sought in the development of negotiations towards international agreements, and consultative processes enable the public to comment on these inputs (e.g. development of an Australian position on the Biosafety Protocol).  

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations

The Government is also concerned that scientific practice is undertaken safely and humanely, and has developed stringent guidelines for work in hazardous areas like nuclear science, toxic chemicals and genetic manipulation. Voluntary guidelines include the code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, guidelines for small scale genetic manipulation work, guidelines for large scale work with recombinant DNA, and procedures for assessment of the planned release of recombinant DNA organisms. The Federal Government intends to introduce legislation covering research, contained use and field trials of genetically manipulated organisms.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans   

Australian Governments recognise the important role scientists, technicians and engineers will play in addressing economic, social and environmental problems and is considering, and acting on, many of the issues raised in Agenda 21.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement   

No information is available

Programmes and Projects