Home Articles posted by sustain (Page 4)

Author Archives: sustain

Three new wind farms to deliver 200 MW clean energy through reverse auction

Three new wind farms will be built in Victoria and South Australia as a result of the ACT Government’s first wind energy reverse auction. Australian Capital Territory Minister for the Environment Simon Corbell said the reverse auction has resulted in a $50 million direct investment into the local economy and broader economic benefits in excess of $240 million. The three winning projects were: The Ararat Wind Farm, an 80.5 megawatt (MW) wind farm developed by RES Australia west of Ballarat, Victoria The Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm, a 19.4 MW wind farm developed by Canberra company Windlab Limited west of Bendigo, …

Read the full article

Renewable biofuel production avoids competition with food resources

The efficient production of both biofuel and animal feed from one crop is now possible, and can be done on a farm without the need for off-site processes. The research, published in the open access journal Biotechnology for Biofuels, demonstrates the practical potential of an alternative to fossil fuels that does not compete with food resources. ‘First-generation’ biofuels include ethanol produced from food sources such as corn and sugarcane. While recognized as a renewable energy source with potential to improve fuel security, their production has caused controversy over competing land-use for food and increased grain prices. The fermentation of non-food …

Read the full article

Sustainability: Are We Winning?

Peter Newman | TEDxPerth Most sustainability talks are about the doom and despair associated with climate change. In his talk, Peter Newman compiles recent trends to show the hope that we could perhaps change enough to meet the global challenges, especially in our cities. Decoupling fossil fuels from wealth and liveability can now be seen with peak fossil fuel investment, peak power consumption, peak car use and peak oil. Peter is the Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University and Director of CUSP. He is a Lead Author for Transport on the IPCC and was a member of the Advisory Council …

Read the full article

Sustainability vs. Resilience

By William E. Rees, originally published by Resilience.org: Sustainability vs. Resilience In my opinion this article [The End of Sustainability] is poorly reasoned, and mis-represents (misunderstands?) both sustainability and resilience. Two sample quotes to illustrate (ignoring for a moment that the authors use a questionable definition/understanding of sustainability)… read the full article here

Sustainability in Business Association Education 2015

The Sustainability in Business Association will celebrate its 6th birthday this year with a change of focus and a wider business and sectoral agenda. Included in the new initiatives are; • An updated website with increased member content. This will include sustainability podcasts and papers from a number of conferences. • Members will have the opportunity to present at a selection of conferences and have their business papers published internationally with an ISBN number. Academic papers will also have the option of peer reviewing before publication. • Sustainability streams and access to member rates will be available at the following …

Read the full article

Urban Farming Is Growing a Green Future

With seven billion mouths to feed, human agriculture exerts a tremendous toll on the planet, from water draws to pollution, and from energy use to habitat loss. But there is also a growing set of solutions, from organic agriculture to integrated pest management. More people around the world are taking a look at urban farming, which offers to make our food as “local” as possible. By growing what we need near where we live, we decrease the “food miles” associated with long-distance transportation. We also get the freshest produce money can buy, and we are encouraged to eat in season…more here Urban Farming Is Growing …

Read the full article

Sustainability – the logic and power of transformative collaboration

Climate change is a global issue, and action must come from every aspect of society to yield the needed change. How can corporations make a difference without losing income? Keith Weed from Unilever argues that sustainability and economic growth can go hand-in-hand, after implementing a few key approaches.

“Using less, paying more” – Making the case for long term investment in water efficiency

Major capital investment in seawater desalination and recycled water in response to the Millennium drought (which ravaged parks, sporting ovals and gardens) caused a steep increase in water prices just when water efficiency efforts really stepped up. With the drought now broken in eastern Australia, and water consumption at low levels, customers are now “using less but paying more” as utilities strive to recover large capital costs.  This makes continuing water efficiency efforts problematic.  However, this paper articulates why this is just a short-term problem and that a long-term strategy for maintaining investment in water efficiency is important to create …

Read the full article

Growing cities from within: urban agriculture in inner Brisbane.

The integration of ‘multifunctional’ land uses including agriculture, has benefits such as decentralised food production, food security, reinforcement of farming as a way of life, cultural landscapes and biological diversity (Bjørkhauga and Richards, 2008). The difficulty arises as multifunctional approaches, although analysed from a policy and economic perspective, have not been integrated in spatial analysis (Wilson, 2009, p. 278). Notable studies make it clear that we currently do not have the tools to deal with the planning or operation of multifunctional agriculture integrated with peri-urban communities. New ways of looking at farming practices are needed (Lawrence, et al., 2004; Bjørkhauga …

Read the full article

Implementing the Illawarra Regional Food Strategy – the Kiama way

The current food system faces many challenges of equity, sustainability, waste avoidance, human health, and animal welfare.  We must address these challenges in order to secure a resilient food future.  Local Government has a role to play in enabling access to adequate and nutritious food through; our built and natural environment, planning, governance, service delivery, and policies. The Illawarra Councils recognise the important role of food in our lives, and its impact on our communities.  Our region joins a growing movement focussed on rebuilding a relationship with good food, which is ethically produced, with minimal ecological impact.  The development of …

Read the full article