Par´ametros espectrales

The origins of the ecologically sustainable development (ESD) concept can be traced back as far as the release of the 1980 World Conservation Strategy and the 1983 National Conservation Strategy for Australia.28 _{Despite these initiatives, it was the}

report Our Common Future developed by the World Commission on Environment and Development29 _{in 1987 that clearly defined the concept of ‘sustainable}

development’ and promoted its use as a parameter for international and domestic policy.30 _{The report also focused on integrated resource management and this}

became the central theme to Agenda 21, a major outcome of the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development held in 1992 (see Chapter Four for further details).

In response to Our Common Future, Australia’s initiation of sustainable development practices was launched through the Prime Ministerial statement in July 1989.31

Following this, the Commonwealth released a discussion paper, Ecologically Sustainable Development, in June 1990 after consultation with industry, union and environmental organisations.32 _{This report defined ESD as}

using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are

28 _{Commonwealth of Australia, “Part 1, Introduction”, National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable}

Development, http://www.environment.gov.au/portfolio/esd/nsesd/intro.html, Last modified: 31 July 1996.

29 _{Also known as the Bruntland Commission.}

30 _{See Chapter Four for further discussions on sustainable development in the international areana.} 31 _{Commonwealth of Australia, Our Country Our Future, Prime Ministerial Statement, July 1989,}

(Canberra: AGPS), 1989.

32 _{Commonwealth of Australia, Ecologically Sustainable Development: A Commonwealth Discussion}

maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.33

The Prime Minister proposed that nine sectoral Working Groups, under the guidance of three chairmen, be established to guide government on future decisions and policy implementation. The sectors covered by the working groups were Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Transport, Mining, Manufacturing, Energy Production, Energy Use and Tourism.34 _{The working groups consisted of members from Commonwealth}

and state agencies, business, industry, union and environmental organisations.35 _The

Prime Minister identified four goals to guide these Working Groups:

• The improvement of individual and community well- being and welfare by following a path of economic progress that does not impair the welfare of future generations.

• The provision of equity within and between generations.

• Recognition of the global dimension.

• The protection of biological diversity and the maintenance of ecological processes and systems.36

The key environmental organisations in the working groups included the ACF, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Wilderness Society and Greenpeace. Nevertheless, Greenpeace and the Wilderness Society withdrew from negotiations

33 _Ibid.

34 _{Kenchington, R. and Crawford, D. “On the meaning of integration in Coastal Zone Management”,}

Ocean and Coastal Management 21, 1993:119.

when they did not come to an amicable agreement with the Commonwealth over forest management issues. The WWF and ACF decided to continue with the process for a number of reasons. First, they believed that the public wanted environmental groups to be involved in the ESD process. Second, they argued that by remaining involved they would have a better position of input in decision making and in policy development. Third, they had a direct method of lobbying against Commonwealth control over environmental policies.37 _{The Commonwealth funding that was made}

available to the ACF and WWF at the time also influenced their decision.38

Following the release of a Discussion Paper, the Government received over 200 responses from groups and individuals. Many identified cross sectoral and intergovernmental problems as their greatest concerns in the ESD process.39 _The

Working Groups released draft reports on 7 August 1991 and the final reports were originally planned to be presented to the Special Premiers’ Conference meeting in November 1991. Despite these intentions, the meeting was never held as difficulties arose over aspects of the Commonwealth and state financial relations.40 _{The ACF}

and the WWF lobbied desperately for the process to continue. The National

Ecologically Sustainable Development Strategy41_{was completed in December 1992,}

36 _{Ecologically Sustainable Development Working Group - Secretariat, ESD Newsbrief, (Canberra:}

AGPS), May 1991, 1.

37 _{ACF and WWF, Dancing with Wolves: An Information Bulletin on the Ecologically Sustainable}

Development Process, no.1, April 1991: 1.

38 _{Haward, M. “Institutional design and policy making ‘down under’: developments in Australian and}

New Zealand coastal management”, Ocean and Coastal Management 26, no.2, 1995: 98.

39 _{Ecologically Sustainable Development Working Group - Secretariat, ESD Newsbrief, 7.} 40 _{Haward, M. “Institutional framework for Australian ocean and coastal management”, 28.}

41 _{Commonwealth of Australia, National Ecologically Sustainable Development Strategy, (Canberra:}

despite the difficult political environment at the time concerned with financial

struggles, the change of leadership in the Australian Labor Party and the appointment of a new Prime Minister.

Numerous responses outlining the limitations of the sectoral structure of the working groups and the ESD process followed the release of the Discussion Paper. These responses were tackled by the preparation of an Intersectoral Issues Report from the chairs of the ESD Working Groups.42 _{The Report recommended that ESD principles}

and practices should be applied to the ‘intersectoral issues’ in coastal zone management. Additionally, the Report recommended specific changes to the institutional arrangements that included altering processes to improve integrated decision making. The recommendations from the Intersectoral Issues Report were then included in the National Ecologically Sustainable Development Strategy.43 _The

ESD Strategy recognises the difficulties with integrated approaches to policy making and “jurisdictions will need to recognise the regional and local dimensions of their policy formulation and ensure appropriate community consultation mechanisms are established.”44

42 _{Haward, M. “Institutional framework for Australian ocean and coastal management”, 28; ESD}

Chairs, Intersectoral Issues Report, (Canberra: AGPS), 1992.

43 _{Haward, M. “Institutional framework for Australian ocean and coastal management”, 28.} 44 _{Commonwealth of Australia, National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, 66.}

The Strategy establishes a number of key objectives and principles, and aims to provide

development that improves the total quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends.45

Guiding principles are also embedded in the Strategy and that states “decision making processes should effectively integrate both long and short term economic, environmental, social and equity considerations.”46 _{Chapter 16 of the Strategy is}

devoted to changes within government institutions while Chapter 17 specifically concentrates on coastal zone management and the development of policies that coincide with ESD principles.47 _{In essence, the Strategy encourages a holistic}

approach to environmental management. The application of ESD principles in Australia has been integral to the OR 2000 Program and the Resource Assessment Commission’s Coastal Zone Inquiry in 1992-3.

The ESD principles have been applied to ocean and coastal management approaches since the release of the Strategy. One example of this is the work of the ESD Sub- Group 21, a group of Commonwealth and state officials with interests in coastal management. This group worked closely with the Resource Assessment

Commission and its Coastal Zone Inquiry in 1992-3 (see following discussions).

45 _{Kenchington, R. and Crawford, D. “On the meaning of integration in Coastal Zone Management”,}

119.

46 _{Commonwealth of Australia, National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, 8.} 47 _{Ibid.; Kenchington, R. and Crawford, D. “On the meaning of integration in Coastal Zone}