Perspective article

By Fiona Wain, CEO, Environment Business Australia
December 2007

As the year draws to a close, it is encouraging to reflect on changes since the election. There is still much work to be done to develop our industry and its domestic and export markets but I believe that there is far greater understanding in the Rudd Government, even in its early days, about the role we can play in helping Australia develop its next competitive edge. This was evident as 'Team Australia' went in to bat in Bali. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and Ministers Penny Wong, Peter Garrett, Simon Crean, Wayne Swan, and Stephen Smith all attended the UNFCCC conference. This presence and Australia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol played an important role in helping to shape the final outcome of the conference.

The renewed support for Australia was palpable. We have come in from the cold and are being welcomed as key allies again in the fight against climate change. Australia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and 'can do' attitude is already opening new doors for the Australian environment industry and cleantech sector. We look forward to working closely with the Prime Minister and his Ministers.

I join with Rob Purves, EBA Councillors and Robyn Kennedy in sending you all best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. The office will re-open on 7 January and I will be back at the beginning of February. In the meantime, please note details of the EBA events that begin again on 6 February and I look forward to seeing you at the Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane event.

Fiona Wain

What does Bali mean for your company?

Bali was a strange beast. Recommendations put forward years ago by Environment Business Australia finally gained worldwide recognition - the toolbox approach and a policy enabling framework for technology deployment can be seen in the policy archives on the EBA website.

The frustrating aspect was that although countries are now talking our language we have lost 10 years of action we could ill afford to lose. The pace needs to be increased and governments, business and NGOs need to address the urgency and the scale of the challenge as well as the opportunities that are available.

Technology transfer was one of the key themes of the Bali conference but it was also a major stumbling block. To try to break through the impasse EBA proposed a 'virtual shop-front' to help speed up commercial deployment of clean technology and financing. The press release can be seen on the EBA website. Details will be discussed at the EBA forums in February. The concept was put forward by EBA to help show how new approaches can fast-track what needs to happen nationally and internationally.