More than one in three Australian adults believe the environment was the most important issue to be discussed at the 2020 Summit in Canberra, according to a recent ANU survey. Over 1300 of the 10,000 submissions received by the summit steering committee reflected issues to be addressed by the sustainability stream, and in his closing address Prime Minister Rudd described climate change as the overarching national challenge.

Delegates at the summit discussed and called for a number of environmental initiatives, including:

• Dramatically decreasing our ecological footprint while continuing to grow our economy and improve quality of life so that Australia has the world’s leading green and sustainable economy by 2020
• Environmental considerations to be fully integrated into economic decision making in Australia, at the household, business and government levels
• Effective measures to drive a low carbon revolution and compliment a robust emissions trading scheme, combined with Government lead business and community partnerships
• Climate change and sustainability policy that incorporates the needs of disadvantaged and low-income Australians
• Implementation of a national environmental accounts system, including carbon and water accounts, to inform government business and community decision-making
• An Australian population policy and immigration program that works truly in the national interest and is a model for the rest of the world
• A nationally consistent approach to urban and regional planning as part of a National Sustainable Cities Program, to drive water efficiency and emissions reductions
• All Australians provided with the tools necessary to measure their personal carbon footprint

Development of a carbon bank as part of a national climate strategy that includes flagship clean energy projects, an independent climate information trust and a dedicated education program was also discussed. The carbon bank was described by one of the delegates as “similar (in) quality and character to the Reserve Bank that was enduring long-term and not caught up in the three-year cycle of the government”. Also suggested was the goal of all buildings and homes becoming carbon neutral by 2020.

Disagreement was evident amongst delegates regarding a number of issues, including clean coal versus renewables, population restrictions versus per capita carbon footprint reductions, Genetically Modified crops and Commonwealth funding of public transport versus roads. Despite wide ranging support to cease construction of new coal-fired power stations before carbon capture and sequestration proves commercially viable, no consensus was met on this issue.

Priority sustainability themes to come out of the summit were:

• An integrated, whole-of-government approach underpinned by clear targets and measurement with independent reporting is fundamental
• Strong national leadership and international engagement.  Capacity building and the importance of changing incentives such as price were also widely considered to be central to the discussion
• Stakeholder engagement, including with regional Australians, capacity building and education are needed to support the significant behavioural change required to implement these policies.  Indigenous people must also be involved in policy development and implementation
• The urgent need to complete implementation of long-standing commitments to water reform was also identified

References

• Australia 2020 Summit, Initial Summit Report, http://www.australia2020 .gov.au/docs/2020_Summit_initial_report.pdf
• Kerr, C, 'Call to embark on a carbon revolution', The Australian, April 21 2008
  
• Kerr, C, 'Lighten the load on the planet', The Australian, April 19 2008
• 'Carbon bank pushed at 2020 Summit', The Sydney Morning Herald, April 19 2008