A pragmatic approach to sustainability

1. International Conference on Sustainability Engineering and Science A pragmatic approach to sustainability Dr Robin Batterham Chief Scientist Australian Government

2. Role of the Chief Scientist My role is to advise the Australian Government on science issues The decisions are made by the Australian Government

3. Sustainable development In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development, published Our Common Future. The "Brundtland Report", as it is better known, defines sustainable development as: … development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 

4. Sustainability… a better definition? “…using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.” (National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, 1992)

5. Three main considerations Economics Community Environment What can we do differently?

6. Environment concerns need sound and stable economics for investment • Both require sound and stable communities • The rate of change in any direction is limited • But what to measure?

7. Alternative approach to sustainability indicators • Step 1 develop a conceptual framework defining what is being evaluated • Step 2 sub-divide the overall objective into more specific objectives until they are able to be measured • Step 3 identify indicators that focus on operations objectives • Step 4 aggregated indicators that lower levels to form a core set: the reporting convenience

8. A generic component tree … Source: Bureau of Rural Sciences, Science for decision makers (2002)

9. Climate change as an example “The necessary measures to reduce energy- and industry-related CO2 emissions can be organized in three groups: intensified energy saving, structural changes ….. and geological CO2 storage as a bridging technology.” - German Advisory Council on Global Change 2003 Opportunities for gas and geosequestration 2000 2100 Fossil fuels dominate Renewables dominate 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050

10. 350 300 USA 250 Marginal Cost of t C (in 1990 US$) 200 150 100 EU 50 IRELAND 0 -20% 0% -40% 20% Greenhouse Gas Reduction Climate change trade - offs • Cost increases with level of control i.e. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions • Mitigation cost is a combination of direct abatement, implementation costs and macroeconomic costs • The USA has the greatest cost increase for small emission reductions compared to other developed nations 350 USA EU Ireland

11. 1300 GT C 480 GT C Commitment to stabilisationrequires closing two technology gaps Business-as-usual technology gap Stabilisation technology gap Source: Battelle, 2003

12. Estimated Electricity Generation Costs - Inclusive of Capital Costs Breakthroughs needed! Source: Towards a truly national and efficient energy market (Parer)

13. Goals that buy time are potentially valuable and may be steps on the path to sustainability. • However more breakthroughs are needed

14. Delivering breakthroughs • The UK has placed science, skills and innovation at the top of their spending priorities" Source: 'Science and innovation: working towards a ten-year investment framework' March 2004 UK Treasury • Queensland Government drivers of economic growth in the smart state attributes significant proportion of growth to productivity improvements flowing from innovation

15. New knowledge generation and its application 3,000 raw ideas 300 ideas submitted 125 small projects 9 early stage developments 4 major developments 1.7 launches 1 success Stage of new business developmentprocess Source:Stevens and Burley Plotting the rocket of radical innovation, 2003

16. Changed nature of research New • User-driven • Focus on generating income • Multiple partners/investors • Outcome focused • Outward looking • Strategic view Old • Curiosity driven • Block funding • 1 partner/sponsor • Output focused • Inward looking • Non-strategic view Source: K Woodthorpe, People and innovation Corporate Advisors, The New Generation Institutions

17. 100 Total volume DFG funding approvals (%) 50 56% 44% 0 10 x 2 x “Top 20” Remaining 122 3 x Amount of 3rd party funding & No. EU projects (relative to no. professors) No. visiting researchers (AvH) per professor No. publications per professor Excellence German funding distribution “Top 20” vs “61 – 80” Source: DFG Funding Ranking 2003

18. Rate of change tolerated A future framework Environmental/Community factors Economics/Technology Drive sustainability

19. The Challenge for Research • Australia’s excellence and stability are key assets in the global economy • Commercialising IP • Securing new ideas through international partnerships • Business-university linkages • Essential to look ahead • Industry commitment to research training • Raising levels of productivity through use of emerging technologies

20. Two streams of research • Linear Research Publication/ Patent • Knowledge diffusion Collaboration Networks Mobility Both are important… But what should we focus on?

21. Conclusions • Technology/economics, environment and community all interact on the path to sustainability • Sustainability demands more innovation • Changing nature of science and technology and of institutions and industry • How to achieve more breakthroughs?