31 January 2019
The OECD Environmental Performance Review can be a platform to rebuild Australia’s natural capital
The Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSD Australia) has welcomed the latest review of Australia’s environmental performance from the Organisation for Economic Coordination and Development (OECD).
BCSD Australia was engaged to provide a business non-government organisation perspective during the consultation phase, as part of our science-based approach and targeted business solutions, to scale up business impact, and enable companies to be better placed to unlock market opportunities, consolidate an enduring license to operate and better manage risks.
The review provides clear confirmation that Australia needs to increase its action on energy and climate change if it is to come close to achieving its Paris Agreement targets, with a national, integrated energy and climate policy framework identified as being essential for this. It also outlined the need for a framework on environmental sustainability to support Australia’s green growth and its work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“While the OECD review sets out a clear need for improvement in a number of areas of Australia’s environmental performance, it also confirms that those areas which have shown improvement have been achieved without negative impact on the economy,” said Andrew Petersen, CEO of BCSD Australia.
“Implementing the advice by the OECD to embrace environmental-economic accounts in budget documents, drive a broader strategy with measurable targets on the circular economy and also implement a framework to implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals will help Australia advance green economic growth and improve its environmental governance and management.
“This review shows the need to continue decoupling Australia’s economic growth and its environmental pressures. This can be done by scaling up and accelerating action on climate, species and aquatic and terrestrial landscape protection, improved water management and building a circular approach to waste,” Mr Petersen said
ENDS.
For more information, please contact:
Andrew Petersen
CEO
BCSD Australia
t: +61 (0)2 8005 0780
bcsda@bcsda.org.au
About the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSD Australia)
Previously known as Sustainable Business Australia, the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSD Australia) is the national peak body representing forward-thinking companies and organisations that are working towards the transition to a sustainable Australia. Our mission is to accelerate this transition by making sustainable business more successful. We are the Australian partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Australian focal point for the Natural Capital Coalition. Our members come from all sectors and industries, representing more than 150,000 employees across Australia.
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