The Conservation Council of South Australia is a strong supporter of South Australia's Strategic Plan and welcomes its new sustainability targets. However SA's peak environment group has concerns with some big gaps in the Plan, and its ability to resolve conflicting targets.
"It is pleasing to see new targets for regional climate change adaptation plans, growing South Australia's food industry, increasing participation in nature conservation, increased use of open spaces and doubling the number of people cycling," said Chief Executive Tim Kelly.
"But some big questions remain. For example, whilst the state must plan to cope with population increases, this Plan actively seeks to increase South Australia's population to 2 million by 2027, thereby advancing this target from its previous timeframe of 2050. What has not been described is how such an increase will be achieved without adverse effects on prime agricultural land, resource consumption and our environment.
"The Plan reinforces a view that well-being is dependent on endless and accelerating population and economic growth. The opportunity to develop an alternative, sustainable vision for the future of SA has once again been missed.
"There is still no target to reduce South Australia's greenhouse emissions by 2020, nor an emissions reduction pathway toward significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions by mid century. Not even the 60% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target in South Australia's climate change legislation has made it into this Plan.
"While it is commendable that the Plan places targets on increasing visitor expenditure for the tourism industry, there are no targets for increasing expenditure on nature conservation to assist communities working to protect and restore their environment. We must not forget that South Australia's beautiful natural environment underpins much of our tourism industry."
The Conservation Council of South Australia was hoping to see an increase in the renewable energy generation target to between 40% and 50%, given the number of State Government-commissioned reports suggesting this is achievable. Instead, the 33% renewable energy generation target established in 2009 will continue.
Mr Kelly said: "The renewable energy use target has been quietly dropped. This is very disappointing. The Conservation Council advocated throughout the consultation process for a statewide GreenPower target, which given the Federal Government's commitment for GreenPower to be recognised as voluntary action, would work well in tandem with a carbon price."
"It is also not clear whether the new target to limit the carbon intensity of power generation in SA is based on life cycle emissions.
"Counting carbon emissions only at the point of combustion rather than over the whole life cycle can give a false impression of electricity generation emissions. Coal seam gas and underground coal gasification should not power our future unless they can demonstrate they are truly low-carbon, with full accounting of their carbon dioxide and fugitive methane emissions."
"The big test of how South Australia's Strategic Plan will drive success across areas of the Plan will come within the next two months when we see the Assessment Report of environmental impacts on the proposed Olympic Dam mine expansion," Mr Kelly said.
"Will this mine be approved if it means increasing the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 12-14% by 2020? Will upper Spencer Gulf giant Australian cuttlefish be placed at risk of extinction from the proposed desalination plant at adding to other cumulative impacts?"
On the matter of community consultation Mr Kelly commented that: "Early consultation sessions sought input very much at the 'big picture' level and this was undertaken in a far-reaching and inclusive way. However, consultation to translate these big ideas into targets provided little opportunity for the community and non-government stakeholders to influence the final outcomes."
"The Conservation Council of South Australia will continue to work with the state government for the Plan to deliver protection of the environment, a state greenhouse reduction pathway and ways for the mining boom to include commitments to GreenPower and support South Australia's long term renewable energy infrastructure."
Release Ends
For further information on the Blueprint for a Sustainable Future go to:
http://www.conservationsa.org.au/blueprint.html
For additional media information or to arrange an interview please contact
Noriko Wynn, Policy and Communications Officer on 0411 028 930
