[permaculture-oceania] National Environment Protection Measure needed on Eco-efficiency & Sustainability

[Petra.Kahle at haztech.com.au]

Here is an opportunity to ask for what we want. Jeff has included an 
explanation on what is missing in the act.
Petra.

>From: Jeff.Simpson at haztech.com.au
>Subject: Review of the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994
>   - NEPM needed on Eco-efficiency and Sustainability
>
>
>National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) needed on 
>Eco-Eficiency & Sustainabity
>
>The National Environment Protection Council Act 1994 is under review 
>and we have until the 25th August 2006 to comment ( 
>www.ephc.gov.au/nepc/act_review.html). The objects of the Act are to 
>provide all Australians with the benefit of equal environmental 
>protection wherever they live, and to ensure that decisions of the 
>business community are not distorted by variations between 
>participating jurisdictions in relation to environment protection measures.
>
>The terms of reference are given in: 
><http://www.ephc.gov.au/pdf/nepc/NEPC_Act_Review_06_TOR.pdf>www.ephc.gov.au/pdf/nepc/NEPC_Act_Review_06_TOR.pdf
>
>The Environment Protection & Heritage Council (EPHC) Objectives, 
>Vision Statement, Terms of Reference, Immediate Priorities can be 
>found at: 
><http://www.ephc.gov.au/ephc/vision_state.html>www.ephc.gov.au/ephc/vision_state.html 
>Information about the NEPC origins are at: 
><http://www.ephc.gov.au/nepc/origins_nepc.html.>www.ephc.gov.au/nepc/origins_nepc.html. 
>The Act can be found at:: 
><http://scaletext.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/2/1168/top.htm>http://scaletext.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/2/1168/top.htm
>
>
>One of the key areas in the Act not as yet addressed by an NEPM and 
>mentioned in EPHC priority issues is
>"Eco-efficiency and Sustainability
>- Pursuing eco-efficiency and conservation of natural resources, 
>including energy and water use, through national approaches to 
>sustainable consumption and production.
>- Developing innovative approaches to business sustainability such 
>as working with the financial sector to promote improved outcomes 
>for the environment and heritage of Australia and New Zealand."
>
>Jeff Simpson's Comment: In Australia today we need to have 
>industries and a community that minimise its impact using 
>Eco-efficiency and Sustainability, whilst still competing in a 
>worldwide market. An NEPM would be an effective tool to have created 
>to help us to do this whilst being consistent across Australia (and 
>with time harmonised worldwide)
>
>In particular I am looking for that initial selection criteria and 
>practical tools for individuals in companies and the community to 
>use, when trying to decide which chemical product for a particular 
>use is reasonably Eco-efficient and Sustainable. This needs to be 
>done on a harmonised basis worldwide so that our initial efforts 
>become one layer in an ever more focussed set of layers, as we 
>develop our skills over the years in this area.
>
>However the NEPC Act does not adequately address how such an NEPM 
>can be created, even though the concept of "ecologically sustainable 
>development" is key in the Intergovernmental Agreement on the 
>Environment Schedule. An additional entry needs to be added under 
>Division 2, 14, (1) such as: Implementation of eco-efficiency and 
>sustainability practices (to enable effective choices of products 
>and services to minimise impacts and maximize benefits).
>
>Can you please put in a Submission on this particular issue and urge 
>others to do so.
>
>Regards
>
>Jeff Simpson
>Hazardous Materials, Regulatory Affairs and
>Chemical Hazard Classification Consultant
>
>Haztech Environmental
>18 Laurel St, Ashburton 3147
>03-9885-1269; 0403-072-092
>Jeff.Simpson at haztech.com.au

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