POLICIES FOR ACHIEVING ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

General agreement on the need to conduct our economic activities in a more sustainable manner breaks down into different schools of thought and important value differences once sustainability is examined in detail. A sustainable energy future presumably means one based on renewable energy supplies, but there are major differences of opinion on the opportunities for energy conservation in the current system, and on the rate of transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Similar differences between 'technical optimists' and those espousing the ecological view occur in the areas of food and material consumption, employment creation and the desired level of overall resource consumption. The most difficult questions concern sustainability and Australia's international relations. To what extent is there a beneficial relationship between international trade and sustainability? If international disparity of income is one of the greatest obstacles to achieving sustainability, how can it be overcome? There are a number of relevant short-term policies that are economically and ecologically beneficial, such as providing fiscal incentives for energy conservation, incentives for renewable energy research and development, pricing and taxing for environmental externalities, and making structural changes within the government. Longer term, more difficult policies include a re-orientation of education and research towards less resource-intensive industries, seeking smaller, high value export markets, reforming governmental planning processes and involving the community in participative planning. In the international arena, Australia could take the lead in regional inter-governmental activities, co-ordinate raw materials resource diplomacy, and stimulate international discussion of mechanisms for income redistribution.