Page 4639 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 15 December 1993
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Fundamental to the draft strategy is the implementation of ESD principles, namely, that decision making processes should effectively integrate both long- and short-term economic, environmental, social and equity considerations; that the lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation in cases where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage; that the global dimension of environmental impacts of initiatives and policies should be realised and considered; that consideration should be given to economic growth and diversification which can enhance the capacity for environmental protection; that there is a need to maintain and enhance international competitiveness in an environmentally sound manner; that cost-effective and flexible policy instruments need to be adopted; and, finally, that there should be community involvement in decisions and actions which affect the community.
This draft environment strategy aims to provide a comprehensive framework for linking together many of the local initiatives which are in place and also to provide for the development, review and revision of a range of strategies and legislation needed to improve environmental management. The major sustainability issues for the ACT are examined in the draft strategy, including the significance of per capita resource use and the importance of regional cooperation on environmental issues. A range of key issues are identified and discussed. These include land use decision making, biological diversity, water management, energy, transport, waste management, cleaner production processes, economic development and cross-border issues. The current situation in relation to each issue is described, long-term objectives are outlined, and ways of meeting these objectives are also suggested. I am particularly interested in the community's views on the long-term objectives that are identified to address each sustainability issue in the paper and the suggested processes to achieve these objectives.
In releasing this draft strategy, the Government has been quite explicit about specific commitments it is prepared to make. Among these commitments are, in the short term, the development of a comprehensive environment education strategy, a 50-year water supply strategy, together with its implementation, and a solid waste management strategy. Further to this, commitment has also been made to a long-term environment sustainability strategy. This incorporates a comprehensive strategy for coordinating planning and environmental management activities in the region and a population strategy which includes a resource use strategy. The resource use strategy is designed to achieve a high level of amenity to residents and population levels the environment can sustain.
Each strategy will reflect the Government's commitment to ESD and its underlying philosophy, which includes integration of long- and short-term economic, environmental, social and equity issues. Each strategy will also reflect the values of all components of the environment, not only those that can be measured readily or given a dollar value. The state of the environment indicators will be identified, best environmental practice will be promoted, and action plans and mechanisms to monitor, review and evaluate progress of implementation will be incorporated into each strategy.
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