GAP continues to successfully progress its environmental agenda through the "Second Track" Process. Our initiatives in the area of ecological sustainability over the period 2003-2009 have ranged from the resilience of Australia's urban infrastructure towards increased climate variability to water and energy resource management, and the role of ICT in environmental security to commercial opportunities in Australia's emerging carbon market.

GAP has also supported public discussion of topics such as Sustainability Insights, Environmental Capitalism and the Carbon Economy through its online think-tank, Open Forum.

See below the summary of the following initiatives:
• Low-Carbon Economy Task Force 2009
• GAP Urban Water Reform Forum 2008
• GAP Forum on Commercialising Nanotechnology in Water 2006
• GAP Forum on Ecological Sustainability 2004

In response to the Australian Government's release of its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in December 2008, GAP established the Low-Carbon Economy Task Force, a group of scientists, public policy experts and concerned businessmen, to develop thought leadership and explore commercial opportunities in Australia's emerging low-carbon market.

The task force investigated the impact of climate change and related policy development on the Australian business community. Drawing on its members' personal and professional interest in the debate, the group gave particular focus to improving economic efficiency and leveraging practical outcomes.

The resulting 100-page report, "Low-Carbon Economy: Business Opportunities for Australia" ^new!, released on 27 November 2009, represents the output of task force meetings and supporting research.

The document reflects the discussions and contributions of task force members and draws upon existing reviews and climate change studies. It emphasises business opportunities in the short, medium and long term and explores the market potential for Australian companies in renewable energy sources, low carbon research and development and investment options in South Asia.

The meetings of the Low-Carbon Economy Task Force have been held during the year 2009 in Sydney, Australia.

In 2008, in association with the Allen Consulting Group, GAP run a series of forums for a group of key officials and regulators from the Commonwealth, New South Wales and Victorian governments, as well as the water industry, brought together to address the major challenges facing the urban water sector.

The objective was to develop a vision for urban water pricing, investment and regulation which would support the long term economic, environmental and social needs of Australia in the context of a changing climate.

The Forum's final report entitled "Urban Water: A vision for national road map for national progress" maps out a pathway and key actions to achieving this vision, drawing on formal analysis and input from industry and government practitioners.

The report was launched on 4 August 2009 at Parliament House in Canberra by the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM, MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Water. To read the media release, click here.

The GAP Urban Water Forum meetings have been held during the year 2008 in Melbourne, Australia.

This high level Forum launched a practical Year of the Built Environment initiative - the formation of an Australian National Committee on Business Building Sustainable Cities. Entrepreneurs, utilities representatives, professional service sector (architects, planners, infrastructure investors, scientists) met with the regulators in the environmental and building industry. Among 55 participating organisations were the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Colliers International, Mirvac Group, Energy Australia, Walter Construction Group, Jones Lang LaSalle, Office of the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Green Building Council Australia, Melbourne Water, RTA, CleanUp Australia, Waste Service NSW, Sinclair Knight Merz, Gold Coast City Council, Baker & McKenzie, CSIRO, the Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria and many others.

<< Download ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY report [PDF 996KB]
 
<< Download GAP Press release 22.11.2004 [PDF 98KB]

A keynote presentation was given by Bjorn Stigson, President of the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) - a coalition of 170 international companies united by a shared commitment to sustainable development, with annual total turnover of $3 trillion and 2 billion customers daily. Since the formation of the Council in 1990, Mr Stigson has been actively involved with the business response to the challenge of sustainable development. With extensive experience in multinational business, he serves on the boards of a variety of international companies and advisory councils, and is considered one of the world's authorities on these issues (read the ABC World Today's interview with Bjorn Stigson on 1 July 2004).

The Sponsors of the GAP Forum on Ecological Sustainability 2004 were:

The discussion focused around opportunities in Energy (from a greenhouse and reliability of supply viewpoints), Water (from the household scale to the bigger infrastructure issues), and Waste (particularly minimizing construction waste). A background theme was adaptation to increased climate variability - implications and opportunities from systems design to individual dwelling units. Driven by the imperative of consumer-led environmental improvement, the Forum promoted a holistic understanding of environmental business issues and developed the initial agenda for the Australian National Committee on Business Building Sustainable Cities, which will:

• place Australian know-how in global market place
• identify business opportunities
• develop standards
• foster research and product development
• enhance the community's awareness of the positive aspects
   of sustainability
• be a catalyst in developing new management techniques
   for private and public enterprises
• foster links between Australian SMEs and multinational building
   companies for joint ventures

The GAP Forum on Ecological Sustainability was held on 29 and 30 June 2004 in Sydney, Australia.

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Last Updated 8 July 2010