The National Environment Conference 2003 had the central themes of Environment, Ethics, Economics and Engineering –with discussion focusing on our human activities, their environmental impacts and our responses to those impacts in our progression towards a more sustainable future.  

Eminent keynote speakers, in plenary sessions, addressed the broader issues in each theme.  The conference broke into Streams, invited speakers presented papers, relevant to the Theme, in their area of expertise, applying their extensive knowledge to the issues arising in our pursuit of ecologically, socially and economically sustainable communities. 

2003 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE

Water

Land

Community

Energy

Air

DAY 1

Environment

Our activities cause environmental impacts.

Water quality degradation due to human activities, environmental flows, water wastage, impact of climate change on hydrologic cycle.

Land degradation due to inappropriate land use practices, environmental impact of industrial, agricultural, forestry activities

Loss of agricultural and natural land due to urban expansion, solid waste and sewage disposal, transportation

Increasing greenhouse gases due to use of fossil fuels, water temperature impacts, coal/uranium mining, radioactive wastes

Degradation of air quality due to human activities, underwater, urban, and rural noise pollution, odour  issues.

DAY 2 AM

Ethics

Our activities have ethical (political, legal, social) repercussions in planning a sustainable future.

Recreational fishing, water supply, amenity, community expectations, governments response, distribution/ and allocation, agricultural water use and allocation

Loss of top soil, dispersal of agricultural chemicals into environment, sustainability of food supply, loss of old growth forests, maintenance of biodiversity

Sustainable communities without loss of quality of life, reduction in biodiversity, life cycle assessment

Fossil fuel use and export - global vs national interests, implications of international agreements in global warming.

Air quality and health, noise reduction and mitigation measures, odours and urban expansion - planning strategies, air usage

DAY 2 PM

Economics

Our social response to the activity and its environmental impact will affect the economics of the activity

Quotas and licensing in fisheries management, aquaculture, coastal and inland water quality, water reuse economics, infrastructure charging, water markets.

Salinity initiative, acid sulphate soil management, quotas and licensing in forestry management, farm forestry, plantation timber, agricultural economics

Inter- and intra-generational equity, incentives to implement sustainable development practices, mining issues, EMS to improve triple bottom line, environmental education

Green energy subsidies -carbon credits, energy efficient housing, energy efficiency in industry, demand side management (DSM)

Legislative requirements for air, noise and odour pollution prevention devices.

DAY 3

Engineering

Engineering solutions for a sustainable future.

Sustainable water use & disposal, industrial & municipal effluent treatment, aquaculture for sustainable fisheries, irrigation efficiency, stormwater improvement.

Sustainable agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry, food processing and waste management practices, sustainable forestry practices, carbon accounting.

Sustainable industrial and urban development, recycling and reuse, sustainable waste management.

Sustainable energy through improved efficiency, alternative sources, cleaner production

Sustainable quality of life for communities through industrial air quality improvement, noise abatement, odour reduction.