In a wide ranging talk, three experts in the fields of research, science and building design offered a scorecard on our current management of the environment and Australia’s place in the green revolution.
A health check of the Earth shows we’re not in good shape, according to Professor John Dodson, head of the Institute for Environmental Research at ANSTO.
“We’re just about out of control,” the environmental scientist said at an innovation lunch on the business case for sustainable development.
“We are currently consuming about one and a half planet earths. If there is not a reverse in this trend that could blow out to about three planet earths by 2050.”
Professor Dodson’s dire warning is based on mounting evidence highlighting the state of the Earth’s natural systems that scientists say is a direct result of human impact.
From deforestation in Paraguay, through exploitation of underground water systems in Saudi Arabia, to radical changes in land cover in Florida human misuse has had a major impact on the climate. Some of which Professor Dodson admits we still do not fully understand.
Exploitation of ground water systems is an area the environmental scientist does know a lot about through his work at ANSTO.
“We do a lot of work on underground water systems. Our latest work has been in Perth where we are measuring the tritium in ground water molecules to work out their age.”
With the help of a particle accelerator based at ANSTO’s Lucas Heights campus, researchers have been studying elements in water at the atomic level.
“Using the STAR Accelerator our main aim is to work out where the recharge point is to understand whether the water is able to regenerate.”
Scientists do this to determine what water systems are suitable for human use.
While Professor Dodson’s talk presented the facts on how we are currently placed it was another speaker at the lunch who took a glimpse at our possible future if we embraced more innovation.
Professor Edward Blakely is very concerned for our future.
The Honorary Professor in Urban Policy and Disaster Recovery at the United States Studies Centre at Sydney University challenged the audience to imagine one possible scenario where Australia was the global centre of excellence in education and sustainable development.
“We need to be Australia Inc.
“Australia’s future is building cities the world will live in,” the professor prophesized.
Just as Germany was known for building cars, Professor Blakely wanted to see a future where the moment you said sustainable development, you immediately thought of Australia.
He said the key to this was arming the world with the right education.
“We need to be a net importer of people who will be educated in Australia.”
Matthew Jessup, the sustainability expert for Lend Lease said there was evidence we are on the right track.
Matthew is one of Australia’s leading green building experts having worked on commercial buildings like 30 The Bond in Sydney, the first CBD office building in Australia to commit to a 5 star energy rating.
He said most companies had green firmly planted in their DNA and that there were new opportunities to maximising green dividends.
“Thinking beyond sustainable is the new opportunity,” he said.
“We need to look at ways of generating wealth, stewardship and regenerative outcomes.”
Published: 21/06/2012