2023 Sustainability Forum

There were a lot of issues raised by the speakers and through questions from those who attended. Attendees had many more questions than time allowed which was a sign of the importance of the topic and the enthusiasm of those attending. 

The issues discussed included:

• • Sustainability is broad, climate change is something that we are all aware of, but it includes - diminishing natural planetary resources, plus deforestation, habitat loss, species extinction, chemical pollutions, waste from a throw-away culture, population, and soil depletion.

  • There needs to be a sense of urgency about taking action on improving sustainable outcomes for the future – we are faced by an exacerbating crisis.

  • Sustainability is about life, but all life ceases at some point of time – what are the limits for life? These are decisions for all of us.

  • Ethics must be at the centre of sustainability – economics is a secondary consideration

  • No ecological system can stand continuous growth. What are the limits to growth?

  • Sustainability or sustainable growth needs limits. As a community what limits do we accept?

  • The Tasmanian Sustainable Strategy needs to be flexible and responsive to environmental changes and respond to reports as they are released. The Strategy is an iterative process for now and the future.

  • There has not been a State of the Environment Report since 2009 and the next one is due in mid 2024 – this report will be essential for shaping the strategy.

  • Current forestry practices are the single greatest source of GHG emissions in Tasmania and need to be reviewed. (There’s hope that the MONA Forestry Congress to be held in November will find workable solutions.)

  • Forestry practices in the state are threatening creatures in the wild including endangered species such as the Swift Parrot.

  • There is a social aspect to sustainability in that growth, to better provide for the less well off can be the excuse to continue as business as usual. But the only reasonable alternative is a more equitable distribution of wealth both within and beyond Australia.

  • The Sustainability Strategy will need to work alongside other government initiatives and with all government departments so there is a consistent approach.

Take home messages

• As the world warms and a multitude of other problems caused by mankind become increasingly evident, there needs to be real action now.

• While Tasmania may be considered to be comparatively well situated there are many big decisions to be made about the future direction of the state.

• The proposed Strategy will be responsive to submissions from Tasmanians so it is important to stay in touch with this initiative into the future.

• While the set date for the consultation has officially passed, Cameron McClennan, Project Manager, is still happy to receive submissions over the next couple of weeks.