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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1609 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

sustainability agenda. It is 10 years since the Rio de Janeiro United Nations Conference on Environment Development-10 years since the international community adopted Agenda 21, an unprecedented global plan of action for sustainable development.

The Earth Charter was one of a range of initiatives that emerged from the conference in Rio 10 years ago. The principles of the Earth Charter, whilst very broad and general, could be assumed to underpin the actions of a responsible government, and there is clearly synergy between the policies and objectives of this government and the principles of the Earth Charter.

In August this year the United Nations will host in Johannesburg the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Leaders from government, industry and non-governmental organisations from all over the world will unite in Johannesburg to review progress since Rio, re-affirm their commitment to sustainability, and identify quantifiable targets to better implement Agenda 21.

The world summit will focus the world's attention and it will direct action towards meeting difficult challenges, including improving people's lives and conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in population, with ever increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security. This government recognises that achieving a sustainable society is an enormous challenge, even in a small jurisdiction like the ACT, but we have made a commitment to endeavour to meet that challenge.

I note that the Earth Charter has been brought to the attention of the Assembly twice previously, once by Ms Tucker in February 1999 and then by Mr Brendan Smyth in August 2000. Clearly, there is general support for the broad principles embodied in the Earth Charter.

The establishment of the Office of Sustainability is a key initiative by this government in achieving a thriving and sustainable Canberra-that is, a city that enjoys social equality, environmental quality and economic prosperity. A key initial task of the office has been to look to other national and international jurisdictions, agencies and non-governmental organisations to develop an understanding of progress that has been made in the area of sustainability.

Earth Charter Australia is one such organisation and the Earth Charter document is one of a range that will inform the work of the office and the development of an overarching strategy for achieving sustainability for the ACT. The Bellagio principles and those contained in the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment, the Rio Declaration and the Australian National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development will also be useful in this context.

The Office of Sustainability will be engaging the Canberra community in facilitating the development of the sustainability strategy. It is envisaged this process will result in the development of a strategy which is unique to the ACT and its circumstances. Whilst the establishment of the Office of Sustainability is a key initiative in progressing sustainability in Canberra, this government has made a range of other commitments that are relevant in achieving a sustainable society. These, too, are founded on fundamental benefits and principles similar to those articulated in the Earth Charter.

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