A pragmatic approach to sustainability Dr Robin Batterham Chief Scientist Australian Government International Conference on Sustainability Engineering and Science

The decisions are made by the Australian Government My role is to advise the Australian Government on science issues Role of the Chief Scientist

Sustainable development In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development, published Our Common Future. The "Brundtland Report", as it is better known, defines sustainable development as: … development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainability… a better definition? “…using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.” (National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, 1992)

Three main considerations What can we do differently? Community Economics Environment

Environment concerns need sound and stable economics for investment Both require sound and stable communities The rate of change in any direction is limited But what to measure?

Alternative approach to sustainability indicators Step 1 develop a conceptual framework defining what is being evaluated Step 2 sub-divide the overall objective into more specific objectives until they are able to be measured Step 3 identify indicators that focus on operations objectives Step 4 aggregated indicators that lower levels to form a core set: the reporting convenience

A generic component tree … Source: Bureau of Rural Sciences, Science for decision makers (2002 )

Climate change as an example “ The necessary measures to reduce energy- and industry-related CO2 emissions can be organized in three groups: intensified energy saving, structural changes ….. and geological CO2 storage as a bridging technology.” - German Advisory Council on Global Change 2003 Fossil fuels dominateRenewables dominate Opportunities for gas and geosequestration 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by

Cost increases with level of control i.e. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions Mitigation cost is a combination of direct abatement, implementation costs and macroeconomic costs The USA has the greatest cost increase for small emission reductions compared to other developed nations Climate change trade - offs EU USA Ireland 350 IRELAND EU USA % -20%0% 20% Greenhouse Gas Reduction Marginal Cost of t C (in 1990 US$)

Business-as- usual technology gap Stabilisation technology gap Source: Battelle, GT C 480 GT C Commitment to stabilisation requires closing two technology gaps

Breakthroughs needed! Estimated Electricity Generation Costs - Inclusive of Capital Costs Source: Towards a truly national and efficient energy market (Parer)

Goals that buy time are potentially valuable and may be steps on the path to sustainability. However more breakthroughs are needed

Delivering breakthroughs The UK has placed science, skills and innovation at the top of their spending priorities" Source: 'Science and innovation: working towards a ten- year investment framework' March 2004 UK Treasury Queensland Government drivers of economic growth in the smart state attributes significant proportion of growth to productivity improvements flowing from innovation

New knowledge generation and its application Stage of new business development process 3,000 raw ideas 300 ideas submitted 125 small projects 9 early stage developments 4 major developments 1.7 launches 1 success Source: Stevens and Burley Plotting the rocket of radical innovation, 2003

Old Curiosity driven Block funding 1 partner/sponsor Output focused Inward looking Non-strategic view New User-driven Focus on generating income Multiple partners/investors Outcome focused Outward looking Strategic view Source: K Woodthorpe, People and innovation Corporate Advisors, The New Generation Institutions Changed nature of research

No. publications per professor 10 x2 x 3 x No. visiting researchers (AvH) per professor Amount of 3 rd party funding & No. EU projects (relative to no. professors) Source: DFG Funding Ranking 2003 Total volume DFG funding approvals (%) “Top 20”Remaining % 44% German funding distribution Excellence “Top 20” vs “61 – 80”

A future framework Environmental/Community factors Economics/Technology Drive sustainability Rate of change tolerated

The Challenge for Research Australia’s excellence and stability are key assets in the global economy Commercialising IP Securing new ideas through international partnerships Business-university linkages Essential to look ahead Industry commitment to research training Raising levels of productivity through use of emerging technologies

Two streams of research Linear Research Publication/ Patent Knowledge diffusion Collaboration Networks Mobility Both are important… But what should we focus on?

Conclusions Technology/economics, environment and community all interact on the path to sustainability Sustainability demands more innovation Changing nature of science and technology and of institutions and industry How to achieve more breakthroughs?