QUEENSLAND BUSINESS INVITED TO CLIMATE CHANGE DEBATE
Published Monday, 29 October, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Queensland businesses have been invited to join the State Government in devising strategies to take advantage of the business opportunities in meeting the challenges of climate change.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, told the 2007 ecoBiz Conference in Brisbane today there are opportunities to develop techniques, processes and machinery to provide more ecologically sustainable outcomes for business.
“ecoBiz 2007 provides a focus for forward-looking businesses to learn and share ideas on being climate smart, eco-efficient, and alert to the greening of the marketplace,” Mr McNamara said.
“Corporate goals of being profitable and competitive haven’t changed, but the context in which business is being conducted is changing fast.
“Business sustainability is a strategy for being around in the future, and for staying competitive.
“It’s about ensuring prosperity, and future development in the face of emergent issues such as climate change.
“Sustainable businesses are adaptive and resilient, capable of envisaging a competitive profile in a world changed by the climate, and being able to find solutions to depleted energy sources and re-valued commodities.”
Mr McNamara announced to the conference he would be convening a business round-table; a reference panel to provide advice for Queensland businesses on the best way to deal with climate change.
He said the round-table will involve high-level technical and business leaders, and environmental scientists, to explore business-related strategies for confronting the future carbon-constrained economy, and dealing with the effects of climate change already being felt.
“No part of the Queensland community will be untouched by the impact of global warming and climate change,” Mr McNamara said.
“We can expect major climate change impacts upon sectors such as coastal property development, agriculture, tourism, and marine infrastructure.
“Business can plan to change on its own terms, or be forced to make changes on someone else’s terms.
“Our efforts to find a way to live and work sustainably will determine the living standards not just of today’s Queenslanders but of all generations that follow after us.
“We need partnerships and collaboration, technology and ideas, education and broad commitment to co-operation from across the community.
“Our response to climate change and future sustainability must translate into new products and services, and solutions Queensland can export to other countries.
“From the state that endured the white-shoe brigade, we welcome the contribution of a new green-shoe brigade.
Mr McNamara said innovation and sustainability are not destinations.
He said they are processes that lead us further into the future, a place we’d prefer to see well stocked with solid, profitable, flexible and inquisitive Queensland companies.
“We must create more resilient communities and new opportunities for the people of today... and tomorrow,” he said.
“These are not tasks we can leave to others who follow us.
“They are things we must do ourselves, and we must start doing them now.
“Queensland has just begun the journey to combat the impacts of climate change, and the future will judge us by our wit and our courage to complete the journey.”
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, told the 2007 ecoBiz Conference in Brisbane today there are opportunities to develop techniques, processes and machinery to provide more ecologically sustainable outcomes for business.
“ecoBiz 2007 provides a focus for forward-looking businesses to learn and share ideas on being climate smart, eco-efficient, and alert to the greening of the marketplace,” Mr McNamara said.
“Corporate goals of being profitable and competitive haven’t changed, but the context in which business is being conducted is changing fast.
“Business sustainability is a strategy for being around in the future, and for staying competitive.
“It’s about ensuring prosperity, and future development in the face of emergent issues such as climate change.
“Sustainable businesses are adaptive and resilient, capable of envisaging a competitive profile in a world changed by the climate, and being able to find solutions to depleted energy sources and re-valued commodities.”
Mr McNamara announced to the conference he would be convening a business round-table; a reference panel to provide advice for Queensland businesses on the best way to deal with climate change.
He said the round-table will involve high-level technical and business leaders, and environmental scientists, to explore business-related strategies for confronting the future carbon-constrained economy, and dealing with the effects of climate change already being felt.
“No part of the Queensland community will be untouched by the impact of global warming and climate change,” Mr McNamara said.
“We can expect major climate change impacts upon sectors such as coastal property development, agriculture, tourism, and marine infrastructure.
“Business can plan to change on its own terms, or be forced to make changes on someone else’s terms.
“Our efforts to find a way to live and work sustainably will determine the living standards not just of today’s Queenslanders but of all generations that follow after us.
“We need partnerships and collaboration, technology and ideas, education and broad commitment to co-operation from across the community.
“Our response to climate change and future sustainability must translate into new products and services, and solutions Queensland can export to other countries.
“From the state that endured the white-shoe brigade, we welcome the contribution of a new green-shoe brigade.
Mr McNamara said innovation and sustainability are not destinations.
He said they are processes that lead us further into the future, a place we’d prefer to see well stocked with solid, profitable, flexible and inquisitive Queensland companies.
“We must create more resilient communities and new opportunities for the people of today... and tomorrow,” he said.
“These are not tasks we can leave to others who follow us.
“They are things we must do ourselves, and we must start doing them now.
“Queensland has just begun the journey to combat the impacts of climate change, and the future will judge us by our wit and our courage to complete the journey.”
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004