View
916
Download
3
Category
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
A lecture to first year students at the ANU and the National University of Singapore introducing key sustainability concepts with reference to Australia.
Citation preview
1
Landscapes, lifestyles& livelihoods
SRES 11 March 2008
Andrew CampbellTriple Helix Consulting
www.triplehelix.com.au
2
Key Points
• Sustainability is the challenge of our age
• Business as usual is not a viable option
• We need new thinking for this challenge
• Young professionals are and will be crucial
• Some career tips from an antediluvian old fart
2
3
My perspectives
• Farming background western Victoria
• Forestry & rural sociology training
• Extension officer Vic govt
• Manager, Potter Farmland Plan
• National Landcare Facilitator
• Development of NHT & NAP in Aust Government
• 7 years as CEO of Land & Water Australia
• Now out on my own again…
4
Landscapes, Lifestyles and Livelihoods
•• Triple Triple HelixHelix, not triple bottom line, not triple bottom line—— interwoven and interdependentinterwoven and interdependent—— richer than an accountancy metaphorricher than an accountancy metaphor—— separates lifestyles from economicsseparates lifestyles from economics—— heterogeneity is implicitheterogeneity is implicit—— not not agri-centricagri-centric
•• Developing Developing AustralianAustralian Landscape Literacy Landscape Literacy•• We need an alphabet, grammar & canon,We need an alphabet, grammar & canon,
grounded in placegrounded in place
3
5
A word on ‘landscape’•• Managing Managing wholewhole landscapes landscapes
- - ““where nature meets culturewhere nature meets culture”” ( (SchamaSchama))- landscapes are socially constructed- landscapes are socially constructed- beyond - beyond ‘‘ecological apartheidecological apartheid’’- - NRMNRM means means peoplepeople management management- engage values, perceptions, aspirations, behaviour- engage values, perceptions, aspirations, behaviour
•• IntegrationIntegration--across issues across issues –– e.g climate, energy & water e.g climate, energy & water--across scales across scales –– fixing the Federation fixing the Federation--across the triple helixacross the triple helix
--landscapes, lifestyles & livelihoodslandscapes, lifestyles & livelihoods
6
Engaging the community
• no magic bullets, most knowledge resides in the community• we face major societal choices
– Sustain what? For how long? Over what area? For whose benefit?Measured by whom?
• sustainable NRM = behaviour change• economic & regulatory signals remain weak• many responses need to be collective• ‘trickle down’ adoption doesn’t work for sustainability• need new spaces for debate
– eg deliberative fora, citizens’ juries
4
7
• highly variable spatial and temporal scales
• the possibility of absolute ecological limits
• irreversible impacts and related policy urgency
• complexity, connectivity, uncertainty & ambiguity• cumulative rather than discrete impacts
• value-laden issues & new moral dimensions
• systemic problem causes
• contested methods and instruments
• ill-defined property rights and responsibilities• expectation of stakeholder/citizen participation
Australian NRM issues are typicallyAustralian NRM issues are typicallycharacterised bycharacterised by (after Dovers):(after Dovers):
8
a huge policy agenda• Defining environmental deliverables - leadership• Fostering innovation
– Breakthrough technologies– User-friendly metrics and measuring systems for carbon, water & energy– Smarter institutions, including markets
• Best-practice regulation• Sorting out the planning hierarchy (i.e. the Federation)
• Integrated, “whole-of-government, all governments” approaches to climate,water and energy interactions
• Setting minimum standards• Juicier carrots and smarter sticks• Monitoring and evaluating impact - including long-term sentinel system• Bringing the community along
5
9
•• a small young nation in a vast ancient continenta small young nation in a vast ancient continent
•• unique biological & cultural richness and diversityunique biological & cultural richness and diversityin a highly variable climatein a highly variable climate
•• communities on-sidecommunities on-side
•• few people and dollars per unit landscapefew people and dollars per unit landscape
•• malleable institutions, an open economymalleable institutions, an open economy
•• sufficient know-how to make progresssufficient know-how to make progress
•• the sustainability journey is the challenge of our agethe sustainability journey is the challenge of our age
through the through the macroscopemacroscope
Australia: the continent
• Area comparable to mainland US• 7% to 10% of world’s species• oldest, most isolated continent• oldest living life forms• tallest flowering plants• largest areas of coral reef and sea-grass• 37,000km coastline• 3rd largest fishing zone
6
11
The driest, flattest, most poorly drained, nutrientdepleted and geologically stable continent
12
0
Australian lowland rivers
Based on Puckridge et al (1998)
Means that Australian lowland rivers areMeans that Australian lowland rivers arethe most variable on Earththe most variable on Earth(Martin (Martin ThomsThoms))
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
amaz
on
sao
syr
vis
mis
sis
sth
yang
tze
nth
colo
rado
son
god
ree
hua
ura
fitzr
oyva
a
limpo
po
coop
er
Index ofIndex ofVariabilityVariability
High
Low
Mississippi
Colorado
The lowest run-off and The lowest run-off and streamflow streamflow of any continent,of any continent,and the worldand the world’’s most variable climates most variable climate
7
• 12 mega-diverse countries have 60-70% of world’s biodiversity–Oz the only industrialised economy of the 12
EXTRAORDINARY ENDEMISM–Centre of marsupial radiation
–1350 endemic terrestrial vertebrates(Indonesia is next highest with 850 species)
–30,000 sp flowering plants (85% endemic)
–>300,000? Invertebrate taxa (>95% endemic)
–93% amphibians; 89% reptiles; 85% mammals
–world’s highest reptile diversity
Biodiversity
14
Biodiversity• One of the world’s most diverse fish faunas
(3500 spp)
• 50% of the world’s sharks and rays
• Southern coastline– Highest known diversity of red and brown algae
( > 1150 species)
– Highest known diversity of crustaceans, sea squirtsand bryozoans
8
15
watery facts• Water use is increasing• Water supply is probably decreasing
– (and definitely becoming less reliable)
• Community concern is very high• Water is a major political and policy priority• Water is cheap to buy, but expensive to move
– Especially up hill, or through small pipes/nozzles– Energy, climate and water issues are converging
Perth’s Annual Storage Inflow GL (1911-2005)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
19
11
19
14
19
17
19
20
19
23
19
26
19
29
19
32
19
35
19
38
19
41
19
44
19
47
19
50
19
53
19
56
19
59
19
62
19
65
19
68
19
71
19
74
19
77
19
80
19
83
19
86
19
89
19
92
19
95
19
98
20
01
20
04
To
tal
an
nu
al*
in
flo
w**
to
Pe
rth
da
ms
(G
L)
Annual inflow 1911–1974 (338 GL av) 1975–1996 (177 GL av) 1997–2004 (115 GL av)
Notes: * year is taken as May to April and labelled year is beginning (winter) of year
** inflow is simulated based on Perth dams in 2001 and 2005 is total until 3 August 2005
9
Murray-Darling Basinfrom Bryson Bates (CSIRO)
Present: Past 5 years driest 5-year period on record Australian droughts have become hotter since 1973 SE Australia snow depths @ October 1 decreased 40% in
last 40 years Climatic record will be subjected to intense scrutiny through
South Eastern Australia Climate Initiative
Runoff projections (Beare & Heaney, 2001) 2050: −10 to −19% (B1) or −14 to −25% (A1) 2100: −16 to −30% (B1) or −24 to −48% (A1)
Projected agricultural costs: US$0.6B (B1) to US$0.9B(A1)
18
Unhelpful assumptions
• “the driest inhabited continent”
• “governments can’t agree on water”
• “cities could take all our water”
• “environmental flows and irrigation security are
incompatible”
10
Existing farming & grazing systems
•• ‘‘LeakLeak’’ water, sediments, nutrients, biocides, $$$$$, water, sediments, nutrients, biocides, $$$$$,
CO2, CH4, and biodiversity in many regionsCO2, CH4, and biodiversity in many regions
•• export young people from rural communitiesexport young people from rural communities
•• Most degradation occurs in Most degradation occurs in ‘‘extremeextreme’’ (if not unexpected) events (if not unexpected) events
•• Ad hoc broadacre land clearing is no longer tenableAd hoc broadacre land clearing is no longer tenable
•• Clearing & grazing of rivers & streams amplifies problemsClearing & grazing of rivers & streams amplifies problems
•• Water needs to be used much smarterWater needs to be used much smarter
20
Variation in water use efficiencywithin sectors
6.853.3Pears*
12n/a5.6Maize #
n/a
n/a
5.7
9
Average
124Cotton #
13.54Citrus #
10.62.8Peach/Nectarines *
176Dairy Pasture ML/Ha
HighestLowest
this shows extension is needed as well as R&D
~ DRDC - More Milk and Dollars, * MDBC project I7044, # Schofield and Thompson
11
We need farming systems that are
•• diverse, resilient, well-buffered, anticipatory, flexible,diverse, resilient, well-buffered, anticipatory, flexible,responsive, opportunisticresponsive, opportunistic
•• highly tuned to a variable climatehighly tuned to a variable climate
•• optimally leakyoptimally leaky
•• much more profitablemuch more profitable–– eg. twice the production from half the area with quarter the watereg. twice the production from half the area with quarter the water–– producing carbon, energy and water where appropriateproducing carbon, energy and water where appropriate
•• integrated into regional economiesintegrated into regional economies
•• attuned to lifestyle aspirationsattuned to lifestyle aspirations
22
Existing farming & grazing systems
• not tuned to Australian climates, soils, biota• Quotes from two graziers (Qld & WA):
“If we had discovered England, do you think we’d have shot all the sheep and cattle,cleared all the oak forests, and grazed it with kangaroos?”
and
“I am sick and tired of trying to keep aliveanimals and plants that just want to die in this country,
while shooting and clearing animals and plants that are adapted to itand just want to live in this country.”
12
23
On-ground change for individuals
three pillars– people need to want to change, to know what to do,and have the means to do it
• commitment– influenced by sense of place and of community (local & wider)
• know-how– options need to be viable and adoptable
• capacity– can be helped at the margins with incentives
24
Adoption reality check
• Old adoptability rules still apply (Pannell et al 2006)• Economic & regulatory signals remain weak• On-farm change is more likely where innovations:
– Offer relative advantage over existing systems/approaches
– Are not too complex
– Can be trialled, tested and evaluated (preferably on a modest scale)
– “Fit” with the farmer’s outlook, capacity and farming system
– Offer good returns within a reasonable timeframe
• But relative advantage can be defined in interesting ways….
13
25
A farmer perspective
Tom & Cynthia Dunbabin, “Bangor”Dunalley, Tasmania, Winners of the 15th McKell Medal
Too many policies remainprescriptive
Farmers have a strong sense ofplace, built on generations of landmanagement.
Partnerships with landholders,based on trust, and respectful oftheir sense of place are anessential precursor to moresuccessful approaches.
26
The Dunbabin Sense of Place Model
• Landholders’ strong sense of placedrives environmental actionsthrough responsibility towards, andpassion for the place (farm, beach,mine etc).
• Shared knowledge (science, culturalhistory etc), and broaderunderstanding of place, greatlyhelps in developing andimplementing positive actions.
14
27
The Dunbabin Sense of Place Model (2)
• When legislation, or other forcedchange impacts on the SoP of thelandholder, responsibility becomesaccountability and passion becomessocial stigma - driving a negativereaction rather than a positive action.
• Measures such as stewardshippayments have to be tailored in away that strengthens the passionand responsibility that drive thepositive actions.Figure 2
28
The Dunbabin Sense of Place Model (3)
• well designed programs add to theeffectiveness of the original model –not overturn it...
• There is no need to change thestrong Sense of Place farmers orother resource users have. It is farbetter to enhance that by addingadditional values, values shared bythe wider community.
Figure 3
15
29
Sustainabilityanother form of relative advantage
• Still a useful term – won’t go away• Needs to be unpacked & grounded at farm and landscape scale
• Sustain what? Over what area? For how long? For whose benefit? As
measured by whom?
• SAGE farmers– A group of leading farm businesses from across diverse commodities– Convened by LWA to look at how leading businesses understand and
measure farm sustainability performance– Working on a
Farm Sustainability Dashboard
SAGE Sustainability dashboard
16
31
Fitzgerald wilderness
Wholelandscapecommunity ledconservation
32
Bush wisdom with the community
• Information collection on an area basis, notsubject or species
• Research hot wired to action
• Information stored in and spread from a regionalbase
• Continuity of work, staff and population
17
The regional NRM investment modelan integrated approach
•• The regional model (56 catchment bodies) is an ambitious attempt toThe regional model (56 catchment bodies) is an ambitious attempt toimplement sustainable NRM at a landscape scale:implement sustainable NRM at a landscape scale:–– Devolve decision making & resource allocation to appropriate scaleDevolve decision making & resource allocation to appropriate scale
–– Tap into and build on deep local knowledge and connection to placeTap into and build on deep local knowledge and connection to place
–– Work across issues and industries in an integrated wayWork across issues and industries in an integrated way
•• integration means making wholeintegration means making whole–– across scales, issues, land tenures and land usesacross scales, issues, land tenures and land uses–– in the usersin the users’’ context context - landscapes, lifestyles & livelihoods - landscapes, lifestyles & livelihoods
•• that requires that requires excellent relationshipsexcellent relationships
•• And And comprehensive knowledgecomprehensive knowledge
•• The The ‘‘redesignredesign’’ imperative does not just apply to farming imperative does not just apply to farmingsystemssystems
•• Cities also have a huge ecological footprintCities also have a huge ecological footprint
•• Urban lifestyles are equally unsustainable, with a biggerUrban lifestyles are equally unsustainable, with a bigger
disconnect from resource conditiondisconnect from resource condition
People in neo-Georgian housesPeople in neo-Georgian housesshouldnshouldn’’t throw stonest throw stones
18
The urban-rural divide- not as wide as we think?
Some parallels:Some parallels:•• income distribution (Neil Barr)income distribution (Neil Barr)
•• lifestyle aspirations (lifestyle aspirations (Lia Lia Bryant)Bryant)
•• systemic systemic unsustainabilityunsustainability
•• shifts in perceptions & values neededshifts in perceptions & values needed
•• gap between expert aspirations and availability of practical,gap between expert aspirations and availability of practical,profitable, easily-adoptable solutionsprofitable, easily-adoptable solutions
•• desperate need for new optionsdesperate need for new options–– technologies & systems technologies & systems
A A ‘‘true Australiantrue Australian’’ would would
•• only use drinking water for drinkingonly use drinking water for drinking
•• live & work in buildings, towns & cities tuned to climate andlive & work in buildings, towns & cities tuned to climate andlandscape (eg AGO, 60L, Homebush)landscape (eg AGO, 60L, Homebush)–– check out check out www.60Lgreenbuilding.comwww.60Lgreenbuilding.com
•• use more renewable energy (sun, wind, wave)use more renewable energy (sun, wind, wave)
•• emphasise native species/habitats in cuisine, gardening, pets,emphasise native species/habitats in cuisine, gardening, pets,holidaysholidays
•• put comparable voluntary effort & $$$ into environmental repairput comparable voluntary effort & $$$ into environmental repairas they expect of farmersas they expect of farmers
19
37
Rethinking the environment
• as integral to national identity
• from a cost to an opportunity
• from ‘fixing problems’ to strategic repositioning
• from public policy problems to vibrant, globally
sexy industries
The environment industries(1996-97 figures from EIAA report)
•• a dynamic, a dynamic, ‘‘new economynew economy’’ sector sector
•• $500B global market growing 7% per year$500B global market growing 7% per year
•• Oz market $8.6 BillionOz market $8.6 Billion (ex tourism)(ex tourism)–– 1.6% GDP1.6% GDP–– resource providers 14%, equipment manufacturers 28%,resource providers 14%, equipment manufacturers 28%,
services 58%services 58%–– 2000 firms employing 127,000 people2000 firms employing 127,000 people–– $300m exports growing fast$300m exports growing fast
•• know-how can be a major export earnerknow-how can be a major export earner
20
39
Young professionals
• Will continue to be in great demand• Can shape remarkable careers• Mobility and flexibility crucial, BUT;
– Build on a solid base of skills and expertise
– Understand yourself, how you relate to others,how others see you
– Take time out to sharpen the saw (several times)– Cultivate mentors, patrons, exemplars
• Don’t forget to have a life!
40
Take home messages• Sustainability is the challenge of our age• You are key players in the biggest game of all• The Australian environment, and sustainability industries, are
critical to national identity and competitiveness• Rich and diverse opportunities for environmental professionals in
almost every aspect of economy and society• Work out what you want and what you have to offer• Be opportunistic, but don’t lose sight of long term goals
GO FOR IT!
Recommended