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  • From: Russ Grayson <pacedge@magna.com.au>
  • To: Intl permaculture list <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [permaculture] Sustainability News
  • Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 08:48:11 +1100


NEWS from PacificEdge Media...
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Running out of space?
www.wcs.org/humanfootprint
 
Wildlife Conservation Society analysis of the human footprint map indicates that 83% of the land's surface is influenced by one or more of the following factors:  human population density greater than 1 person per square kilometre, within 15 km of a road or major river, occupied by urban or agricultural land uses, within 2 km of a settlement or a railway, and/or producing enough light to be visible regularly to a satellite at night.  98% of the areas where it is possible to grow rice, wheat or maize (according to FAO estimates) are similarly influenced.

Australia's National Research Priorities  www.dest.gov.au/priorities/default.htm

In December 2002 Australia announced four national research priorities which are intended to provide a vision for research by focusing research effort on key challenges for Australia today and into the future. They build on current strengths while seeking new opportunities in emerging areas:

1. An Environmentally Sustainable Australia;
2. Promoting and Maintaining Good Health;
3. Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries; and
4. Safeguarding Australia.

Learning for Sustainability  www.epa.nsw.gov.au/cee/learning+for+sustainability.htm
 
NSW recently launched its first three-year environmental education plan. It aims to build the capacity of the whole community to be engaged in making environmental improvements and living sustainably.

Environment Industry Action Agenda: Barton Group report
www.isr.gov.au/library/content_library/EIAA1stYearreport.pdf
 
A useful report on the first year of the Environment Industry Action Agenda (EIAA) has been released by the Barton Group.  It offers a good overview of progress on a number of sustainability fronts.  The report shows that while few of the EIAA recommendations have actually been achieved in the first year of the Agenda, progress  towards many of  them is underway, including the establishment  of a Business Roundtable on Sustainable Development.

Environmental Purchasing Guide


Environment Australia and the Australian Greenhouse Office are preparing voluntary environmental purchasing tools for Commonwealth procurement officers. Comments on an Issues Paper, a draft Environmental Purchasing Guide and fifteen draft Checklists are currently being sought by 7 March.  The Guide provides an introduction to the key environmental issues relevant to public procurement, as well as outlining the policy framework in which Commonwealth procurement takes place.

The checklists cover a range of key goods and services procured by the Commonwealth. These include: paper and cardboard, packaging, office equipment, office equipment consumables, refrigerators, dishwashers, desk lighting, recycled products, building management services, waste management services, cleaning services and printing services. Each checklist identifies key environmental performance criteria and provides model tender specifications. 

Which Paper?

www.resource.nsw.gov.au/officebuildings
 
The second edition of the "Know Your Paper – A guide to purchasing recycled content office paper" is now available. This excellent and comprehensive guide, produced by Resource NSW, covers all issues associated with the purchase of recycled content copy paper and provides listings of copy paper on the market and the suppliers that stock them.

Where to for Australia's natural resources? http://audit.ea.gov.au/ANRA/docs/final_report/final_report_overview.cfm
 
"Australia's Natural Resources 1997-2002 and Beyond" is a new report from National Land and Water Resources Audit which summarises the condition and management opportunities for Australia's soils, water, rivers, estuaries and biodiversity. "Having all this information in the one publication, not only improves our understanding of the scale of the challenges we face, but also helps farmers and regional communities identify workable and lasting solutions."


..................................
PacificEdge Media
pacedge@magna.com.au
Phone: 02 9588 6931
PO Box 446 Kogarah NSW 2217 Australia



  • [permaculture] Sustainability News, Russ Grayson, 03/05/2003

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