November 2001 (Update B)

This issue:


What is "Net Ecosystem Exchange"..?

Plants take a lot of carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. That's good for the atmosphere as it reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere where it would otherwise add to global warming. Unfortunately most of the carbon fixed by plants is also released again, either through respiration by plants, or through leaf shedding, with the fresh litter broken down, as carbon is released in the decay of litter. In order to manage forests and other vegetation to maximise their carbon storage, it is vital to understand the processes that determine the carbon gains and losses. The combined effect of these processes is called "net ecosystem exchange" (or NEE).

Greenhouse Accounting held a workshop in the ACT during April 2001 for sixty leading scientists in the NEE field from Aust & NZ to review current knowledge for this continent. It was a special gathering as it brought together the full range of experts from a variety of disciplines to consider the big question of how vegetation can contribute to, or against, global warming. Australia is a vast continent, with a varied vegetation covering the different parts of it. The challenges for our scientists studying NEE are to understand the different processes, incorporate them into computer models and be able to run those models at the large scale of the continent. The workshop rose to that challenge and tried to scale up
from the processes operating at the small scale of patches to the scale of the continent. A new book has been released by the CRC comprising scientific papers arising from the NEE Workshop. [Request your copy of "Net Ecosystem Exchange" from rowena.mueller@greenhouse.crc.org.au or Tel: 02 6125 4020 -
limited numbers in hard copy, also on CD ROM]

Editor's Note: Perhaps the climate was trying to highlight the importance of the topic to participants as each day of the 2001 Workshop set new high-temperature records for for those dates in Canberra.

CRC Slides

The CRC presented a free series of Forest Carbon talks last week at Macquarie University, NSW last Wednesday, 21.11.01. Slides from speakers are now available on our website at http://www.greenhouse.crc.org.au/crc/ecarbon/news.htm The CRC would like to thank the audience of approximately one hundred people who braved the appropriately inclement weather to listen to presentations on climate change and carbon sinks.

CRC NEWS

SUMMARY OF THE 7th CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION
ON CLIMATE CHANGE (29 OCT - 10 NOV 2001, Morocco): Info: IISD at info@iisd.ca or http://www.iisd.ca

The Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP-7) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 29 October - 10 November 2001. Over 4400 participants from 172 governments, 234 intergovernmental, non-governmental and other observer organizations and 166 media outlets were in attendance.

The meeting sought to finalise agreement on the operational details for commitments on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. It also sought agreement on actions to strengthen implementation of the UNFCCC. In attempting to achieve these goals, which were set out in
the 1998 Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA), COP-7 intended to bring to a close three years of negotiations, and complete tasks left unfinished at COP-6 Parts I and II held in The Hague and Bonn, respectively. The Bonn Agreements - a political declaration on outstanding issues that was adopted
at COP-6 Part II in July 2001 - served as the basis for delegates striving to finish their work.

From 30 October to 6 November delegates met in negotiating groups, closed drafting groups and informal consultations in their attempt to resolve outstanding issues. These included the mechanisms under the Protocol, a compliance system, accounting, reporting and review under Protocol Articles 5 (methodological issues), 7 (communication of information) and 8 (review of information), and land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF). Ongoing negotiations were also held on draft COP decisions relating to the least developed countries (LDCs), the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), and input to the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

On Wednesday, 7 November, COP-7's High-Level Segment began, with ministers and senior officials seeking to bring negotiations to a successful conclusion. nformal consultations were facilitated by Minister Valli Moosa (South Africa) and Secretary of State Philippe Roch (Switzerland). After protracted bilateral and multilateral talks, a package deal on LULUCF, mechanisms, Protocol Articles 5, 7 and 8, and the input to the WSSD was proposed on Thursday evening, 8 November. Although the deal was accepted by most regional groups, including the G-77/China and the EU, the Umbrella Group (a loose alliance of Annex I Parties that includes Canada, Australia, Japan, the Russian Federation, and New Zealand) did not join the consensus, with key issues of dispute including eligibility requirements and
bankability under the mechanisms. However, after further extensive negotiations throughout Friday and into Saturday morning, a package deal was agreed, with key features including a compliance eligibility
requirement, consideration of LULUCF Principles in reporting of such data and limited banking of units generated by sinks under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry: Notes on negotiations
Regarding Protocol Article 3.3 (afforestation, deforestation, reforestation) and 3.4 (additional activities), the G-77/China introduced draft paragraphs in the Article 7 guidelines requiring Parties to submit information on how reporting on these activities takes into account the LULUCF Principles contained in the Bonn Agreements. Australia cautioned that the draft guideline text had become more detailed than the Agreements and stressed that details should be left to be defined in the IPCC good practice guidance.

After extensive discussion, including compromise proposals from several Parties and Chair Dovland, the LULUCF package relating to the Articles 5, 7 and 8 guidelines was forwarded to ministers for resolution. During their negotiations, it was agreed as part of the overall package, that for the purposes of reporting greenhouse gas inventory information, each Party shall include information on anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks from LULUCF under Article 3.3 and, if elected, under Article 3.4, as elaborated by any good practice guidance in accordance with relevant COP/MOP decisions on LULUCF. Estimates for sinks shall include, inter alia, information on how inventory methodologies have been applied, taking into account any IPCC good practice guidance on LULUCF
agreed by the COP and the Principles on LULUCF, as well as information to ensure that units of land and areas of land are identifiable. Information should also be provided to indicate whether indirect human-induced effects are factored out, and, for Article 3.3 and 3.4 activities, respectively, how their determining features from the Protocol, including the "since 1990" clause, are demonstrated.

European Commentary
The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) has produced a short commentary on the implications of the Marrakesh Accords. They argue that the international climate regime will be a regionalised one, in which the European Union will play the defining role.See commentary at: http://www.ceps.be/Commentary/Nov01/Marrakech.htm. (more info - Thomas Legge Email: thomas.legge@ceps.be Web: http://www.ceps.be)


co2.com update
As reported in the most recent Greenhouse News Update, the recent events on September 11, 2001 greatly affected Cantor Fitzgerald and as a result, their initative - CO2.com (e-mail info@CO2e.com). Cantor Fitzgerald are pleased to announce that all sections of their website (www.CO2e.com) are
now fully restored following the attack that struck their HQ inside the World Trade Center, New York. Three colleagues were tragically lost. Carlton Bartels, CEO and founder; Adam White, head of technology division, and John Willett of The Global Hub for Carbon Commerce. CO2e.com would like to thank the climate change community for the hundreds of enquiries, offers of support and tributes. To visit a memorial page go to http://www.co2e.com/friends/default.asp


ON THE WEB

The CO2fix V.2.0 model for estimating carbon sequestration in forestry, afforestation, and agroforestry has been launched. The model can be downloaded from http://www.efi.fi/projects/casfor It may be downloaded
from the World Wide Web free of charge for the purpose of research, education or real-life application to carbon sequestration projects. The earlier version of CO2FIX was released in June 1999. CO2FIX V 2.0 is a forest carbon book-keeping model that simulates stocks and fluxes of carbon in the vegetation, the soil, and (in case of a managed forest), the wood products. It simulates these stocks and fluxes at the hectare scale with time steps of one year. This new version 2.0 is a stand level model, which was improved with respect to:

  • the ability to simulate multi-species and uneven aged stands;
  • the ability to regulate growth also by varying stand density;
  • the ability to deal with inter-species competition;
  • allocation to different product classes, processing methods and end-of-life disposal of harvested wood;
  • soil carbon dynamics;
  • the ability to deal with a wider variety of forest management types including agro-forestry systems, selective logging systems, and post harvesting mortality;
  • output viewing charts.


(http://eelink.net/~asilwildlife/bib.shtml) American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group
Impacts of climate change on flora and fauna species, ecosystems and agricultural resources (searchable bibliography) has been posted to: . 340 citations have been added to the bibliography since the release of the last incarnation in July and the bibliography now has more than 3300 citations, encompassing peer reviewed and gray literature, including hundreds of online resources. More info: William C.G. Burns, Co-Chair Ph: 650.281.9126 jiwlp@pacbell.net


UNEP's Climate Change Portal: (http://climatechange.unep.net)
Recent reports on greenhouse gas emissions show that despite a small reduction in emissions from the countries that are party to the Kyoto Protocol since 1990, emissions are on the rise again and will continue to increase for the foreseeable future, placing us all well above the Kyoto targets by 2010. The reduction from 1990-1995 is mostly due to economic collapse in several of the eastern European countries. Since 1995 the emissions have increased again.This other information has been collected by
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its new Climate Change Portal (http://climatechange.unep.net). The Climate Portal is UNEP's principal gateway to the most up-to-date information on climate change. Resources include:


International Energy Agency (http://www.iea.org/stats/files/co2.htm)
The IEA recently made its 1999 Co2 emissions data available for purchase. These are the most exhaustive data available by country, sector, and fuel. Final works there on Co2 indicators can also be found at http://www.iea.org/stats/files/co2.htm More info from Lee Schipper, C/O PXG, Shell International Limited Shell Centre, London SE1 7NA TEL 44 (0) 20 7934 5671 FAX 44 (0) 20 7934 7406 ljsocd@dante.lbl.gov


(www.climatepolicy.com)
The Elsevier journal 'Climate Policy' will make Issue 4 available in Dec 2001. Some papers included:

  • Integrated Assessment of Abrupt Climatic Changes by Michael Mastrandrea and Stephen H. Schneider
  • A case study on Norwegian CO2-taxes and technological innovation in the petroleum sector by Atle Christer Christiansen
  • Options for differentiation of future commitments in climate policy by Marcel Berk and Michel G.J. den Elzen
  • Technology Transfer under the CDM ?Materializing the Myth in the Japanese context? by Malik Amin Aslam
  • Influence of National Governments for or against the entry into force of Kyoto by Fabian Wagner and Niklas Hohne


More interesting eArticles

(www.thecarbontrader.com/services.htm)
The Carbon Trader is a global provider of commercial services within environmental commerce markets and carbon credit markets. For a free assessment or details on the products and services available through the group contact Mr Alistair R G Paton via argp@thecarbontrader.com or visit www.thecarbontrader.com/services.htm The Carbon Trader is looking to increase its supply pool of carbon credits to trade - if you are a supplier or a buyer of credits and would like assistance please contact
info@thecarbontrader.com or mailto:argp@thecarbontrader.com Recent items include: - Chicago and Mexico City to begin carbon trading; Japanese Ministry to push business on gases; US stance on global warming criticised


PUBLICATIONS OF INTERESTS

Climate Change and Commonwealth Nations: In preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia next March, The Australia Institute has released a paper on the implications of climate change for the Commonwealth. Copies on request from exec@tai.org.au or read the Executive Summary on The Australia Institute website www.tai.org.au

US Pew Center on Global Climate Change announces its 1st book: Climate Change: Science, Strategies, and Solutions, ed by Eileen Claussen, Vicki Arroyo Cochran, and Debra P. Davis, published by Brill Academic Publishers. Available in both hard cover and paperback. For more information or to
order copies, visit the websites of the Pew Center on Global Change at http://www.pewclimate.org/book/index.cfm where you will find the table of
contents, the 'Facts & Figures' chapter and more Or visit Brill Academic Publishers at http://www.brill.nl


THE KYOTO PROTOCOL. INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE POLICY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY by
SEBASTIAN OBERTHUER / HERMANN E. OTT: Springer Verlag 1999 http://www.kyotoprotocol.de More info: Dr. Hermann E. Ott, Director, Climate Policy Division, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Wuppertal Germany via e-mail: hermann.ott@wupperinst.org. ALSO AVAILABLE IN JAPANESE.


"The future of oceanography" by CSIRO climate scientist Dr John Church is considered a milestone publication on the future of global oceanic science. The past, present and future of oceanography are explored in a groundbreaking new book on global oceanic science launched in Hobart today. Read more at: http://www.csiro.au/page.asp?type=mediaRelease&id=OceanChurch


C'th Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage's Report, "Public good conservation: Our challenge for the 21st century". The report can be found via: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/environ/pubgood/report/contents.htm
Recommendations at :
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/environ/pubgood/report/recs.doc


"The climate convention and evolution of the market for forest-based carbon offsets" by P. Moura-Costa, Unasylva 206, Vol. 52, 2001, FAO Request electronic copy from suzuko.tanaka@fao.org The article will be on-line early Dec via : http://www.fao.org/forestry/FODA/UNASYLVA/unasyl-e.stm


This article reviews the evolution of the negotiation process and how it has affected the market for carbon offsets and greenhouse gas reductions, based on the situation at the time before the second part of COP-6 in Bonn. Starting with an explanation of the policy background of the UNFCCC and Joint Implementation, the article gives a good overview of the historical developments of the Activities Implemented Jointly Pilot Phase, the Kyoto Protocol, the project-based mechanisms, and land-use activities under the CDM. Then, the author explains the development of forestry-based carbon offsets from a theoretical idea to a market mechanism for accomplishing global environmental objectives. Forestry projects aimed at sequestering carbon started appearing after the United Nations Conference on environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992. These projects were voluntary in nature in anticipation of expected changes in environmental legislation that would require polluters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Their public relations value was also a factor. The amount paid for carbon corresponded to marginal costs. After the establishment of the Activities Implemented Jointly Pilot Phase in 1994, the level of interest in carbon offset projects declined because carbon crediting between developed and developing
countries was still not allowed. After the Kyoto Protocol was conceived in December 1997, the establishment of binding commitments led to more demand for offsets and a variety of initiatives, including investments by private companies and NGOs in forestry projects, the Costa Rican national programme, the Prototype Carbon Fund launched by the World Bank, etc. After reviewing some uncertainties existing at the time of writing, the article indicates some ways forward, such as the need for market development,
suppliers' needs to learn about a new production possibility involving the new environmental value of carbon sequestration, and investors' needs to identify the full extent of their environmental liabilities and to utilize market mechanisms to lower them through the purchase of credits or options. This paper is part
of the most recent issue of Unasylva, an international journal of forestry and forest industries of FAO, which focuses on global conventions related to forests.


"Forestry projects: permanence, credit accounting and lifetime" OECD-IEA Information Paper, by Jane Ellis, October 2001
If the carbon stored in an afforestation or reforestation project is re-released, e.g. as a result of fire, the climate benefits of that project risk being reversed. This paper identifies the different physical risks to
carbon stock reduction in forestry projects and options by which these physical risks, and associated economic risks, could be managed by project participants. This paper also examines eight different regimes that could be established to allocate credits generated by forestry CDM and JI projects. How these different crediting regimes are designed can determine whether credits generated by forestry projects represent real, measurable and long-term benefits and can also influence the economic impacts of premature carbon release from a project. http://www.oecd.org/pdf/M00020000/M00020137.pdf


SEMINARS/CONFERENCES


(28 Nov, Adelaide)
LAND CLEARING: WHAT IS THE CONTRIBUTION OF SOIL CARBON TO ATMOSPHERIC CO2?

Jan Skjemstad, Group Leader, Organic Matter in Soil & Water Group, CSIRO Land & Water, South Australia
Member, Belowground Carbon Dynamics Project, CRC for Greenhouse Accounting,
[More info: jan.skemstad@greenhouse.crc.org.au]

ABSTRACT:
Australia's greenhouse emissions are unique among developed countries in that emissions from land-based activities such as land use, land use change and forestry account for about 30% of net CO2 emissions and 24% of all emissions expressed on a CO2 equivalence basis. Compared to other sources
of greenhouse gases, those associated with land use change are difficult to quantify and current estimates are highly uncertain. In response to the Kyoto Protocol, the Australian government through the Australian Greenhouse Office launched the National Carbon Accounting System to provide robust
estimates of greenhouse emissions associated with land use, land use change and forestry. Over the past 18 months, CSIRO Land and Water has received funding through the Australian Greenhouse Office to develop and implement a methodology to estimate changes in soil carbon resulting from changes in
land use.

This seminar will report the development and verification of the modeling based methodology and how the methodology will be applied within the National Carbon Accounting System framework to more accurately set Australia's 1990 baseline emissions levels and to monitor progress towards the first compliance period. Jan Skjemstad is the Research Group Leader of the Organic Matter in Soil and Water group at CSIRO in Adelaide. He completed a M. App. Sci. (Chemistry) at QUT in 1984 and has 37 years
experience in soil chemistry. He is also a Member of the CRC for Greenhouse Accounting Project "Belowground Carbon Dynamics". His current interests are in the areas of chemistry and dynamics of soil organic carbon using a range of fractionation and spectroscopic techniques. The development of methods
to measure soil carbon fractions for modeling purposes made a large contribution to the development of the methodology used in the project to be reported at this seminar.


(30 Nov, Canberra)
Markets for Ecosystem Services - Rhetoric or Reality - Dr Carl Binning, Chief Executive of Greening Australia Ltd
This seminar explores the role of market-based approaches to meeting natural resource management challenges facing Australia.

  • Is it possible to define and sell biodiversity, salinity and carbon credits?
  • How can we account for benefits of tree planting to address dryland salinity?
  • Is it possible to effectively target environmental works through market based structures?
  • If markets created the problem, how can they help they fix it?

A simple framework for identifying the necessary steps to successfully create markets for environmental and ecosystem services will be put forward. Issues of product/commodity definition, securing property rights, using regulatory caps and facilitating trade will be discussed. These issues are not new. Environmental economists have been promoting greater use of market based approaches to environmental management for over 30years. However, the use of markets has been slowed by the need for government and institutional backing of any new approach. Governments have been reluctant to commit to putting in place new and risky approaches. They have also struggled to develop successful pilot programs. Recent experience with carbon trading is a good example. An alternative approach is put forward where researchers work with regional communities, philanthropists and business leaders to identify and market opportunities for investment in environmental services at a catchment scale. Early investors will be sought
who are willing to share the risks associated with creating and marketing a new product - a biodiversity credit for example. By getting living case study examples on the ground the effectiveness of market based approaches can tested and demonstrated to governments. Through this process it may be possible to secure government and institutional backing progressively rather than up-front. This approach is to be tested by a new research project being funded by the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program and CSIRO
Sustainable Ecosystems.


(30 Nov, Melbourne)
OzClim presented by Cher Page & Roger Jones
11:00am, CSIRO Atmospheric Research. RSVP: Wenju.Cai@csiro.au
OzClim is a PC-based climate scenario generator developed by CSIRO Atmospheric Research in collaboration with the International Global Change Institute in New Zealand. It simplifies the process of calculating scenarios from climate change model output, applies scenarios to impact models and manages uncertainty. OzClim features a graphical user interface and point-and-click technology for ease of use, fast calculations and visualisation capabilities. A range of global climate models, emission
scenarios and climate sensitivities can be harnessed using this system. The ability to 'plug in' impact models into the system and run the impact model with different scenarios using batching routines within OzClim are further advantages of the software. This paper focuses on: the benefits of using the software to create scenarios of future climate and conduct climate impact assessments; the additional observed and global climate model data; the various export functions available; coupling impact models based on
different programming languages and batching impact model analysis. Outcomes include the release of OzClim 2.0.1 Beta in March 2001 and the inclusion of results from this version in the CSIRO scenario documents.


(Brisbane, 29 Nov - 2 Dec)
2001 Asia Pacific Earth Charter Conference - For more information contact the website of the International Secretariat: www.earthcharter.org Sustainable Futures: The purpose of the conference is to promote the Earth Charter and the National Councils of Sustainable Development (NCSDs) in the Asia Pacific Region. The Earth Charter is an integrated ethical framework for promoting a more sustainable way of living. National Councils of Sustainable Development are national based multi-stakeholder forums,
established in over 70 countries, linked to the Earth Charter and promoting the principles of sustainable development.


(Venice, 3-4 Dec, 2001)
Trading Scales: Linking Industry, Local/Regional, National and International Emissions Trading Schemes CATEP - Concerted Action on Tradable Emission Permits - Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Venice, Italy.
Register at http://www.feem.it/web/activ/_activ.html. Information: E-mail: buchner.barbara@feem.it
The Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change established binding emissions reduction targets for industrialised countries for the first time. As one means of complying with these limits, the agreement allows the trading of greenhouse gas emissions across national borders. This development gave rise both to research regarding emission trading and its effects as well as to the emergence of various emission trading schemes implemented at different economic and geographic
levels. As a consequence, the question whether and under which conditions differing trading systems could be linked and possibly harmonised arises. This question holds even independently of the Kyoto Protocol's ratification prospects because trading schemes have already been implemented at the
company, industry and domestic level in different regions of the world in order to achieve cost-effective emission abatements. The core objective of the workshop will thus consist in providing insights as to the likely economic and environmental effectiveness of various trading systems and to the challenge of widening (or narrowing) both the geographic scope and the activities of these trading schemes.


(10-14 Feb, 2002)
3rd Science Centre World Congress hosted at Questacon (ACT) - http://www.questacon.edu.au/html/iiiscwc.html
Bringing together the latest thinking on issues facing science centres around the world. The congress will celebrate the diversity of approaches amongst science centres and the impact on developing the public
understanding of science and technology. The program caters for the needs of those working in science communication looking at management, education and research, exhibition development, marketing and business operations. Some highlights incl. opening address from Peter Doherty, Australian Nobel
Prize winner; How will existing and emerging technologies impact on science centres in the future? How can science centres capitalise on these technologies; Leadership in a creative environment. What leadership trends are occuring in leading edge organisation? What can science centres learn from this; and Visions of new paradigms for the science center field.

PRESS RELEASES OF INTEREST

(CSIRO Forecasting better odds for farmers - 20/11/01)
The development of Australia's first long-term climate forecasting system will bring benefits for primary producers and land and water managers. The ambitious system using Indian and Pacific Ocean observations and developed by CSIRO, will become a management tool to improve the odds in favour of
primary producers, beginning with Queensland grain growers and Tasmanian fish farmers. Read more at:
http://www.csiro.au/page.asp?type=mediaRelease&id=OceanMcIntosh


(VICGOV - 2001 Victoria Prize 23/11/01)
On Tuesday the Victorian Government announced the winners of the 2001 Victoria Prize and Victoria Fellowships. Their press release follows, details are at http://www.innovation.vic.gov.au/news/article.asp?id=217 Victorian scientists Dr Roger Francey and Dr Paul Steele were named as the joint recipients of the prestigious $50,000 2001 Victoria Prize for their
internationally acclaimed work on greenhouse gases.


(FEDGOV - 3rd Howard Ministry 23/11/01)
The Prime Minister announced a new front bench and appointments relevant to science and industry include: The Hon David Kemp - appointed Minister for the Environment and Heritage and remain as Vice President of the Executive Council. He will be assisted by the Honourable Dr Sharman Stone MP who will
remain as Parliamentary Secretary in the portfolio. The Honourable Peter McGauran MP - appointed Minister for Science. The Honourable Warren Truss MP - reappointed as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and assisted by Senator the Honourable Ian Macdonald who will be Minister for
Forestry and Conservation. Senator the Honourable Judith Troeth will remain as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.


FASTS WELCOMES NEW SCIENCE MINISTERIAL TEAM (Media release - FASTS 23/11/01)
Scientists and technologists welcome the appointment of Brendan Nelson and Peter McGauran as Ministers responsible for Science. Professor Chris Fell, President of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), said their record of achievement was a good portent for
the science sector. "Science is all about jobs and a future for Australians," he said. "We need Ministers with vision, people who see the possibilities of the portfolio and represent them strongly to their
colleagues. "Brendan Nelson and Peter McGauran have all the hallmarks of being champions for science." Professor Fell said he was pleased the portfolio would continue to be represented in Cabinet. "History has shown that the national interest is best served when Science is represented by a Cabinet Minister," he said.


"We'd like a constant presence at the big table, where the major decisions are made. There is a strong component of science in most portfolios." He gave a cautious endorsement of the new departmental arrangements, which place science with education and training. "The big issue is the level of the national investment in science and research," he said. "Australia needs to lift its investment by Commonwealth and State governments and by industry. "If the new arrangements will help, I am all in favour of them." He said that there was much unfinished science business to complete, and he hoped the Government would continue its strong commitment in this area. "In launching 'Backing Australia's Ability', the Prime Minister said he was determined 'to back innovative Australians, build on known strengths, explore new opportunities, and compete successfully with the best the world has to offer'," Professor Fell said.


"That is a great statement of principle. We'd like the Government to remember these words when they come to setting the new triennium budget for CSIRO this year. "Government could also consider bringing forward some of the new money announced in 'Backing Australia's Ability'. Professor Fell
paid tribute to Senator Nick Minchin for his achievements as Minister for Industry, Science and Resources. "Nick Minchin's period as Minister will be remembered for the major funding
announcement 'Backing Australia's Ability', and for a strengthening of the Prime Minister's Science Council," he said.


Information: Toss Gascoigne (02) 6257 2891, 0408 704 442 Exec Dir, Fed of Aust. Scientific & Technological Societies, Email: fasts@anu.edu.au Web address: http://www.FASTS.org

 

 

(c) 2002 CRC for Greenhouse Accounting

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2002 - The International Year of EcoTourism