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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).
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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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