Disposable society has caught up with us. Australia to lead the charge to a Green economy

There is an estimated value of $AU 6 billion worth of metal contained in waste streams in Australia per year. This is the equivalent in volume to 50% of total metal consumption.

What is Australia industry, business and society going to do with this valuable waste resource? How can Australia move towards a more Green sustainable economy?

Sharing economy is slowly trickling through with the likes of GoGet and Air BnB, but Australia needs to think long-term if it is to build a sustainable economy. Implementing a car-sharing scheme without also focusing on fuel efficiency undermines the environmental benefits because the use phase has greater impacts than the manufacturing phase.

This is one such observation that will be addressed amongst others at the World Resources Forum Asia Pacific tomorrow.

Monday June 1st, UTS and UNSW co-host the inaugural World Resources Forum with a slew of industry leaders and policymakers attending and presenting from around the world to work towards a sustainable economy.

When: Monday – Wednesday 1-3 June
Sessions from 8.45am – 4pm
Where: UTS Aerial Function Centre, Level 7, Building 10, 235 Jones St Ultimo (Mon-Tues)
Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray Street, Sydney (Wednesday for the International Sustainability Symposium
Who:
1. Damien Giurco, Associate Professor and Director at Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS to launch an action agenda for a circular economy (based on recycling and reusing resources), Giruco has identified ‘Renewable energy revolution is arriving with $270 billion invested globally last year’ – Australia can tap into this with our vast solar resource to power mines and to drive energy intensive minerals processing operations .
2. Janet Salem, United Nations Environment Program will highlight key indicators to help Australia be a leader in Green Asia
3. Dr Alex Wonhas, Executive Director Energy and Resources CSIRO
4. Steve Morris, Close the Loop – using recycled printing toners to make asphalt
5. James Moody, CEO of Sendle, Australia’s first Carbon-neutral delivery service
6. Mathias Schluep, World Resources Forum Switzerland (and equivalent of Switzerland’s CSIRO)
Rebecca Collins