a changing climate: indigenous engagement with … 1 of 27 a changing climate: indigenous engagement...

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A Changing Climate: Indigenous Engagement with Climate Change – Impacts, Related Regulations and the Green Economy

A Briefing Paper

Prepared by Indigenous Environmental Services Sam Jeffries

Ram Devagiri

on behalf of the

Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning

University of Technology Sydney

January 2008

Contents

Introduction ..............................................................................................................4ThedebatesofarGroundhogDay ....................................................................6THEANCHORAGEDECLARATION ..........................................................................................8

Climatechange–somefacts ................................................................................9THEGREENHOUSEEFFECT........................................................................................................9HUMANINDUCEDCLIMATECHANGE .......................................................................................9THEALTERNATIVEVIEW ...................................................................................................... 10SOWHATISTOBEDONE?WHODOWEBELIEVE?.............................................................. 10

ClimateChangeImpacts ..................................................................................... 11HEALTH.................................................................................................................................... 12WATERMANAGEMENT........................................................................................................... 13FOODSECURITY ...................................................................................................................... 15EXTREMEEVENTS ................................................................................................................... 18DISLOCATION ........................................................................................................................... 20

TheGreenEconomyandOpportunities........................................................ 22GREENJOBS ............................................................................................................................. 23GREENBUSINESSES ................................................................................................................ 25

INTRODUCTION

TheveryexistenceandenduranceofIndigenouspeoplesforthousandsofyearsononeofthedriestcontinentsonearthisafittingstartingpointforthisdiscussiononthechallengesposedbyclimatechange.Fromasituation200yearsago,wherethehumanpopulation lived inastateofecologicalharmony with and within its environment what we are now confronted by in the government’swords1is:“..the greatest social, economic and environmental challenge of our time. Scientific evidenceconfirmsthathumanactivities,suchasburningfossilfuels(coal,oilandnaturalgas),agricultureandlandclearing,haveincreasedtheconcentrationofgreenhousegasesintheatmosphere.Asaconsequence,theearth’saveragetemperatureisrisingandweatherpatternsarechanging.This is affecting rainfall patterns, water availability, sea levels, storm activity, droughts andbushfirefrequency,puttingatriskAustraliancoastalcommunities,healthoutcomes,agriculture,tourism,heritageandbiodiversityforcurrentandfuturegenerations.”When theAustralianBroadcastingCorporation (ABC)2 runs aheadlinequoting theprestigious‘Lancet’3thatreads,“Climatechangebiggestglobalhealththreat”andcontinuesinthebodytoclaimthatthehealthofbillionswillbeaffectedbytheadverseimpactsofclimatechange,it isfairtoassumethattheissueofclimatechangeanditsimpacthastrulyarrived.ThereportbytheWWF,publishedonlythedaybeforetheABCreportdealswith4‐thethreatofthecoraltrianglestretchingfromIndonesiatothePhilippinesbeing“wipedout”andsetting100millionpeopleonthemarchinsearchoffood.In the second reading speech of the Australian Government’s Carbon Pollution ReductionSchemeCPRS, theHon.GregCombetMP says, “The science tells us thatunmitigated climatechangeisverylikelytoresultinenvironmentalandsocialdisruption,includingsignificantspeciesextinctions around the globe, threats to food production and severe health impacts, withdramaticincreasesinmorbidityandmortalityoccurringfromheatwaves,floodsanddroughts.Australia is highly exposed to the impacts of climate change. The effects on Australia'senvironment–andeconomy–willbeserious.Thehealthofourpopulation,thesecurityofourwater and energy supplies, and impacts on coastal communities and infrastructure all faceunprecedentedtests.” Thisishowseriousitis.

1 Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009, Commentary, Page 5 2 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/14/2569991.htm (14/05/09) 3 http://www.thelancet.com/ (Managing the health effects of climate change – UCL Lancet commission report) 4 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8047138.stm

Thecurrentclimatechangedebatewithitsdemandsforurgentandimmediateactionissurprisingonlyinthe lengthoftimethequestionshavebeenraisedinAustralianow.AreportentitledAustralia:Stateofthe Environment 19965, to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment, is the first everindependentnation‐wideassessmentofthestatusofAustralia'senvironment.Theintroductionreads:“Theissuesaddressedinthereportwillassistintheintegratedmanagementofournaturalresourcesina

manner which is ecologically sustainable. All sections ofthecommunity‐thegeneralpublic,governmentdecisionmakers and policy analysts, industry groups, naturalresource planners and managers, academics andscientists, community groups and environmentalists,students and educational institutions, internationalagencies, and the media ‐ will find the report anindispensable source of environmental information. Thechallengeistoputthisinformationtogooduse.”The report goes on to say: “Global warming and otherclimaticchangeswhichresultfromincreasedemissionsofgreenhouse gasespose a seriousproblem,both in termsofthedirectimpactsandthepotentialtoaggravateotherenvironmentalproblems suchasbiodiversity loss.Wedonotappear tobemakingmuchprogress instabilising, letalonereducing,theseemissions.”

Theironyofthelastthirteenyearsisthatthedebatehashardlyprogressedinthattime.SowhatofIndigenouspeople?ThecurrentdebateonclimatechangeandrelatedregulationsinAustralia,theexpectedimpactonIndigenouscommunitiesandwhatopportunitiestheremaybeforAboriginalandTorres Strait Islander people is fragmented and does not have long term government and communityengagement.Thedebatehasbeenhijackedbymedia,governmentandbusinessintoanargumentontheeconomicoutcomesonly.Thescienceas laidoutbyall themajorscientificorganisations inAustraliaandabroad isunanimous instatingthatclimatechangeisoccurringandishumaninduced.Wedonotintendtodebatethis.TheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange6 in itsFourthassessmentreport:ClimateChange2007hasstatedthat“Mostoftheobservedincreaseinglobalaveragetemperaturessincethemid‐20thcenturyisverylikelyduetotheobservedincreaseinanthropogenicGHGconcentrations.”Inplaintermsthismeansthatthereisamorethan90%chancethatglobalwarmingishappeningduetohuman action. And this is the consensus finding of “experts from more than 130 countries [who]contributed to this assessment,which represents six years ofwork.More than 450 lead authors have

5 http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/1996/publications/report/index.html 6 http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/assessments-reports.htm

Thecurrentdebateonclimatechangeandrelatedregulations..isfragmentedanddoesnothavegovernmentandcommunityengagement.

received input frommore than800contributingauthors,andanadditional2,500experts reviewedthedraftdocuments.“7Thesalientquestionsnoware:howcanIndigenousAustraliansbegintoengagewithclimatechangeandclimatechangeregulations.Howcantheyminimiserisksandgrabtheopportunities.

THEDEBATESOFAR‐GROUNDHOGDAY

TwodocumentsbringthecurrentstateofthedebateonclimatechangeanditsimpactsinAustraliaintoperspective. One is the statement by the former Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard,SAFEGUARDINGTHEFUTURE:AUSTRALIA’SRESPONSETOCLIMATECHANGE20NOVEMBER19978. Thestatement is remarkable for the muscular articulation of a policy direction that has become the onlyframeofreferencefordiscussionsonclimatechange.“We have also made it plain that we are not prepared to see Australian jobs sacrificed and efficientAustralian industries, particularly in the resources sector, robbed of their hard‐earned, competitiveadvantage.Moreover,we have persistently stressed the need to involve developing countries as theirparticipationiscrucialtoanylastingsolutiontotheglobalwarmingproblem.Theseprincipleshaveguidedourapproach.”Thebogeymanof“Australianjobs”and“Australianindustries”,thespecteroftheresourcessector“robbed”ofitshardearnedadvantage,isnowoffandrunning.Justasimportantly,wearenowasking“developingcountries”(codeforChinaandIndia)tobepartofthelastingsolution.Thisisthepolicypositionthatweseetoday.AsSujathaSingh,India’sHighCommissionertoAustraliasaidinaspeechtotheMineralsCouncil9,”"Youcannothaveanagreementwherebycountriesthatreachacertainstandardofliving,acertainlevelofdevelopment,turnaroundandtelltherestoftheworldthatwhatwehavewegettokeep;whatwehave,youcan'tevenaspireto.""Wearetellingyouthatweneedtogrowifwearegoingtogiveour600millionpeoplewholiveunder$2USdollarsadayadecentstandardofliving.""Ourpercapitaemissionswillincrease,there'snodoubtaboutit.""ButIamassuringyouthattheywillneverincreasetowhatyouyourselvesareemitting.Soyouhaveanincentivetobringitdown.Bringitdown,we'llmatchit,wewon'texceedit."AnotherdocumentthatisinstructiveinthisdebateistheAustralianChamberofCommerceandIndustry(ACCI)paperon“GreenhouseandClimateChange”releasedinDecember1999.ItunderscoresthepointsmadebyMr.Howardinhisstatementabove,addsthereluctanceoftheUSAtojoininanyscheme,andconcludes:“TheaboveanalysisofAustralia’s commitments indicate that therearesubstantial risks forAustralia inmovingtoimplementtheProtocol intheabsenceof internationalactionandagreement.Infocusingonour international obligations, we risk underestimating the impacts on the domesticmarket, which are

7 http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/science/ipcc-backgrounder.html 8 http://www.ecobusiness.com.au/grn/green.html 9 http://petermartin.blogspot.com/2009/05/stand-by-for-lots-more-smoke.html

shapinguptobeverysignificantbutnotproperlyunderstood.There issignificantdownside inacting intheabsenceofinternationalagreementandwithoutafullcost‐benefitassessmentofactions.”10WhatisinstructiveistolookatthesubmissionmadebyACCItotheSenatestandingcommitteeinMarch2009onthedraftCarbonPollutionReductionScheme(CPRS).ItisnotsurprisingtoseeACCIargueforadelay–thereasonsgivenareinstructive.“Thereforegivencurrentglobaleconomicslowdown,thelackoffirmglobalcommitmentsonclimatechangetodateandthecoststhatmayunfairlyimposeonAustraliansmallandmediumsizedbusinesses,theresolutionoftheDecember2008ACCIGeneralCouncilmeetingcalled for a delay in the implementation of the operational elements of a CPRS in Australia. ACCI alsoconsiderstheGovernmentneedstoconsiderthecommencementoftheCPRSinthecontextofactionsbyindustrialised nations,most importantly theUS. The recentUS draft budget paper for fiscal year 2010unveiled the Obama administration’s intention to implement a cap and trade system to reducegreenhousegasemissionsfrom2012.”

So in this Groundhog Day rerun, we are back where westarted. The Labor government has seemingly acceptedthese arguments and changed its position to be exactly inlinewithindustry.The market wins but who loses? How can the debate beturned around from a purely corporate economic one tooneabouttheimpactofclimatechangeandclimatechangeregulations on society in general, and include thedisadvantaged and disenfranchised Australians inparticular?The CSIRO in its report11 states, “Australia is one of themanyglobalregionsexperiencingsignificantclimatechangeasaresultofglobalemissionsofgreenhousegases(GHGs)fromhumanactivities.Theaveragesurfaceairtemperatureof Australia increased by 0.7°C over the past century –warmingthathasbeenaccompaniedbymarkeddeclinesinregional precipitation, particularly along theeast andwestcoasts of the continent. These seemingly small changeshavealreadyhadwidespreadconsequencesforAustralia.”TheNativeTitleReport2008releasedinMay2009byTomCalma states12, “It (climate change) also poses a majorthreattothephysicalhealthofIndigenouscommunitiesandourabilitytosustainourtraditionallife,languages,culturesand knowledge. Further, efforts to tackle climate changehave the potential to entrench our economicmarginalisation by exploiting Indigenous traditional lands,watersandnaturalresources‘inthenationalinterest’.”“Thereisalotatstake–andyetIndigenousAustraliansareoften sidelined when it comes to the important work ofdevelopingpoliciesandplans to respond to thesepressingchallenges.Thishastochange.”

10 http://www.acci.asn.au/IssuesPapersArchiveMain.htm#1999 11 Climate Change Impacts on Australia and the Benefits of Early Action to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Preston, B.L. and Jones, R.N. February, 2006 12 http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/nt_report/ntreport08/Climate_Change_Community_Guide.html

Wearedeeplyalarmedbytheacceleratingclimatedevastationbroughtaboutbyunsustainabledevelopment.Weareexperiencingprofoundanddisproportionateadverseimpactsonourcultures,humanandenvironmentalhealth,humanrights,well‐being,traditionallivelihoods,foodsystemsandfoodsovereignty,localinfrastructure,economicviability,andourverysurvivalasIndigenousPeoples.

THEANCHORAGEDECLARATION

The IndigenousPeople’sGlobalSummitonClimateChangeformulatedtheAnchorageDeclaration in itsgatheringinAlaska.InparttheDeclarationstates:“WeexpressoursolidarityasIndigenousPeopleslivinginareasthatarethemostvulnerabletotheimpactsandrootcausesofclimatechange.Wereaffirmtheunbreakableandsacredconnectionbetweenland,air,water,oceans,forests,seaice,plants,animalsandourhumancommunitiesasthematerialandspiritualbasisforourexistence.We are deeply alarmed by the accelerating climate devastation brought about by unsustainabledevelopment. We are experiencing profound and disproportionate adverse impacts on our cultures,human and environmental health, human rights, well‐being, traditional livelihoods, food systems andfoodsovereignty,localinfrastructure,economicviability,andourverysurvivalasIndigenousPeoples.MotherEarth isno longer inaperiodofclimatechange,but inclimatecrisis.Wetherefore insistonanimmediateendtothedestructionanddesecrationoftheelementsoflife.”“We offer to share with humanity our Traditional Knowledge, innovations, and practices relevant toclimate change, provided our fundamental rights as intergenerational guardians of this knowledge arefullyrecognizedandrespected.Wereiteratetheurgentneedforcollectiveaction.”Thereisavastamountofresearchandopinionavailableonthetopicofclimatechangeanditsimpacts.Inwhat follows a synopsis of the facts on climate change, the greenhouse effect and the predictions onglobalwarmingarepresentedwithaviewtolookingatthesubjectfromabroadIndigenousperspective.

CLIMATECHANGE–SOMEFACTS

THEGREENHOUSEEFFECT

The temperature insideagreenhouse is greater than the temperatureoutside itbecause it isdesignedtoallowlightenergyinandtraptheheatenergythatwouldhavereflectedback.Ouratmosphere13,unlikethatofsomeotherplanets,naturallyactsasonesuchgreenhouse.Aboutathird of the incoming solar light (short‐wave radiation) is reflected back into space. Theremainder is absorbed by the earthwhich then radiates the acquiredwarmth as heat (long‐wave radiation). Gases in the atmosphere such as water vapour, CO2, ozone, methane, andnitrous oxide absorb some of this heat just as the greenhouse does and are thus known asgreenhousegases(GHG).Withouttheabilityoftheatmospheretoretainsomeoftheenergyintheformofheatenergy,theEarthwouldsooncooltotemperatureswherehumanlifewouldbeuntenableandunsustainable.Anaturalcarboncycle14hasregulatedthecarbonbudgetbymovingitinmanyformsbetweenthebiosphere,atmosphere,oceans,andgeosphere.Anexampleofthiscycle istheprocessofphotosynthesisinplants,absorbingcarbonfromatmosphericCO2andthusconvertingitfromagasintoasolid.Similarlyvastquantitiesofcarbonarestoredasverydilutecarbonicacidintheocean and are used bymarine biota for photosynthesis. If the quantity of greenhouse gasesincreasesintheatmosphereasawhole–eitherthroughthecarboncycleincreasingtheamountof carbon released into theatmosphere fromoneof theother states, (gas, solidor liquid)orthroughanexternalactivity–suchasthehumanburningoffossilfuelsreleasingGHGsthecyclecould itself drive further changes. Such a feedback loop can be seen in the melting of thepermafrostduetowarmerweatherreleasingmethanetrappedintheice.

HUMANINDUCEDCLIMATECHANGE

Ever since the industrial revolution, man has used carbon based energy to fuel economic expansion.Human activity through industry has released vast quantities of greenhouse gases, about 900 billiontonnesofCO2,ofwhichabout450billiontonneshasstayedintheatmosphere.AbouttwothirdsofCO2iscausedbyindustrialisationandtherestbylandusesuchasdeforestation.IcecoredatatellsusthatthelongtermconcentrationofCO2intheatmosphereisaround280partspermillion(ppm).CharlesKeelingbegantakingmeasurementsofatmosphericCO2atthetopofMaunaLoainHawaiifrom1958. He found that the concentration of CO2 was at 318 ppm. The recording in 2008 shows thisconcentration is now at 387 ppm15. Ice core samples tell us that over the last 650,000 years, theconcentrationhasrangedbetween180ppmand300ppmdependingonwheretheearthwas in its iceagecycles.

13 http://www.cmar.csiro.au/e-print/open/holper_2001b.html 14 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle/ 15 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=5620

At the same time the temperature has been increasing. Average global temperatures have risen 0.76degreeCandinthesametimethesealevelhasrisenover4cm.Thetwelvewarmestyearsonrecordinthe last 150 years have been in the past thirteen. 1998was thewarmest then 2005, 2002, 2003 and2004.Giventheevidence,mostscientificorganisationsareofthebeliefthatglobalwarmingisoccurringandthatthecauseofthisishumaninduced.

THEALTERNATIVEVIEW

Thereisofcourseanalternateview.TheargumentsputforwardbythosewhodonotagreewiththeIPCCconsensusonclimatechangearemanyandvaried.Theyrangefromdoubtsabouttheveryexistenceofglobalwarmingtoquestionsnotaboutthewarmingbutaboutitscauses.Alotofdataisavailableontheinternet16andbooks17arereleasedeveryweekwithfacts,figuresandgraphsrefutingtheoccurrenceofclimatechangeorthecausesofclimatechange.Muchofthedatapresentedasproofisindeedcorrect.However,subsequentreviewoftenrevealsunwarrantedassumptionsandfaultyconclusions.Thereareprobablylesscertaintiesthanwewouldlike,andwemaintaingreaterscientificuncertaintyshouldleadtomoreconcernratherthanless.Asanexampleofthedebate,oneofarangeofoutcomespredictedattheextremerangeofpossibilitiesistheclathrategunhypothesis18.Thefactsofthecasearethatclathrateisatypeoficethattrapsenormousquantitiesofmethanewithinitscrystals.Itisknownthattherearedepositsofclathrateunderseaonthecontinentalshelf.Duetotheenormousdepthsthatthemethaneisheldin,itisinaverycompressedformandoneliteroftheclathratecancontainaround168litersofmethanegas.Thehypothesisclaimsthatanexternalevent–suchaswarmingwouldcausethemethanetobereleasedorshotintotheatmosphereasfromagun,thuscausingahugewarmingeventthroughthegreenhouseeffect.Whilethishypothesisisdiscussedaspartoftheongoingdebate,itisnotsupportedasacredibletheory.Itisonepossibilityattheextremesthatmayoccur.Theargumentsforandagainstclimatechangecanbecomeentangledindebateoversuchminutiaeandleavethelaypersonnonethewiser.Theburdenofproofiscertainlyonthescientificcommunitythatclaimsitishappening.Anyglobalemergencyaskingformassivegovernmentintervention,radicalchangestotheeconomyandafundamentalrethinkofthedevelopmentalmodelofthelasttwohundredyearsshouldbetreatedsceptically.

SOWHATISTOBEDONE?WHODOWEBELIEVE?

TheconsensusamongtheoverwhelmingmajorityofclimatescientistsisthattheconcentrationsofGHGsintheatmospherearenowdangerouslyhigh.TheOECD,whosedataoneconomicsisaccepted,widelyreportedandusedasareliablesourceofinformationpublishedareport19“ClimateChangeMitigation–Whatdowedo?”in2008.To quote, “Climate change is a fact of life. We need to act urgently if we are to avoid an irreversible build-up of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and global warming at a potentially huge cost to the economy and society worldwide.” “OECDanalysissuggeststhatifweactnow,wehave10to15years’“breathingspace”duringwhichactionispossibleatarelativelymodestcost.Buteveryyearofdelayreducesthisbreathingspace,while

16 http://www.climate-skeptic.com/2007/09/table-of-conten.html 17 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25372986-30417,00.html 18 http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2009/2577170.htm 19 http://www.oecd.org/findDocument/0,3354,en_2649_34361_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

requiringevermorestringentmeasurestomakeadifference.Currentfinancialturmoilisnotareasontodelay.Indeed,itsmacroeconomicconsequenceswillberesolvedinarelativelyshorttime,afterwhichgrowthwillresume,whiletheconsequencesofinactiononglobalwarmingwillcontinuetogrowmoreandmorecostlyovertime.”OECDpronouncementsoneconomicmattershavelongbenacepted,itisprudenttodosointhisinstanceaswell.

CLIMATECHANGEIMPACTS

There is an enormous amount of information available on the current and future impacts of climatechangeontheenvironment.Thedataontheimpactsrelatestotemperaturechanges,risesinsealevels,changesintheacidityofoceans,icethickness,meltingratesatthePolesandotherphenomena.Chapter4of“CLIMATECHANGE‐ANAUSTRALIANGUIDETOTHESCIENCEANDPOTENTIALIMPACTS”saysthisofthecapacityforIndigenouscommunitiestocopewiththeseimpacts:“Thepresentsocialcircumstancesofindigenouspeoplesprovideapoorbasisonwhichtobuildadaptationresponsestoclimatechangethreats.Thus,policiesthataimtoimproveresiliencetoclimatechangeimpactscouldencompasseffortstoreducerelevantsocialliabilitiessuchaspoverty,pooreducation,unemployment,andincarceration,andsupportmechanismsthatmaintainculturalintegrity.Adaptivestrategiescouldpursueeconomicdevelopmentofthesecommunitieswhilesustainingtheenvironmentsonwhichthesepopulationsaredependent(Howitt,1993).Strengtheningcommunicationbetweenindigenouscommunities,scientists,healthworkersanddecision‐makersisessential(Bakeretal.,2001).”

InpassingitisinterestingtonotethatthiswasapublicationreleasedundertheformerLiberal–

National’sgovernmentin2003.Theissueshavebeensetoutbylookingatsixkeyareasthat

haveadirectimpactonthelivesofIndigenousAustralians.

1. Health2. Watermanagement

3. Foodsecurity

4. Extremeevents

5. Populationsanddislocation

6. GreenjobsandopportunitiesForanyoneunfamiliarwiththereferencethecurrentcircumstancesasfarasAustralia’sIndigenouspopulationisconcernedtheProductivityCommissions’ongoingresearchpaper20“OvercomingIndigenousDisadvantage”isrecommended.Thelatesteditionofthereport,OvercomingIndigenousDisadvantage:KeyIndicators2007wasreleasedon1June2007.Previouseditionswerepublishedin2003and2005.

20 http://www.pc.gov.au/gsp/reports/indigenous

HEALTH

“Climatechangeisthebiggestglobalhealththreatofthe21stcentury”saysresearchconductedfortheGlobalHealthCommissionbytheLancetandUniversityCollegeLondon21.“Effectsofclimatechangeonhealthwillaffectmostpopulationsinthenextdecadesandputthelivesandwellbeingofbillionsofpeopleatincreasedrisk.Duringthiscentury,earth’saveragesurfacetemperaturerisesarelikelytoexceedthesafethresholdof2°Cabovepreindustrialaveragetemperature.Managementofthehealtheffectsofclimatechangewillrequireinputsfromallsectorsofgovernmentandcivilsociety,collaborationbetweenmanyacademicdisciplines,andnewwaysofinternationalcooperationthathavehithertoeludedus.Involvementoflocalcommunitiesinmonitoring,discussing,advocating,andassistingwiththeprocessofadaptationwillbecrucial.”TheGarnautreview22outlinestheimpactonhealthasfollows:•Severeweatherevents(floods,storms,cyclones,bushfires)•Temperatureextremes,includingheatwaves•Infectiousdiseases(vectorbornedenguevirusandRossRivervirus)•Food‐borneinfectiousdiseases•Water‐borneinfectiousdiseasesandhealthrisksfrompoorwaterquality•Diminishedfoodproductionandhigherprices,withnutritionalconsequences•Increasesinairpollution(forexample,frombushfiresmoke)•Changesinproductionofaeroallergens(spores,pollens),potentiallyexacerbatingasthmaandotherallergicrespiratorydiseases•Mentalhealthconsequencesandtheemotionalcostofsocial,economicanddemographicdislocation(forexample,inpartsofruralAustralia,andthroughdisruptionstotraditionalwaysoflivinginremoteIndigenouscommunities).TheCSIROreport,“ClimateChangeImpactsonAustraliaandtheBenefitsofEarlyActiontoReduceGlobalGreenhouseGasEmissions”23,however,suggeststhatAustralia’spublichealthsystemwillbeabletocopewellwiththeimpact:“Duetoitsrelativelyhighadaptivecapacity,thevulnerabilityofAustralia’spublichealthsectorisrelativelylow,althoughonecanidentifydemographicgroups,suchasAustralia’saboriginalpopulation,withelevatedvulnerabilitytohealthchallengesduetolimitedaccesstofinancialandpublichealthresources.Theeffectsofclimatechangeonheatrelatedmortalitysuggestthatincreasesintemperaturecombinedwithpopulationgrowthmayresultinanincreaseinheat‐relateddeathsoverthenextcenturyafter adjustingfordecreasesincold‐andozone‐related mortality.Climatechangecouldcauselargeincreasesinfloodingdeathsandinjuries,dependinguponfuturechangesinprecipitationextremes.Climatechangecouldcausetherangeofmosquitovectorsfordengueandmalariatoexpandsouthward.

21 http://www.thelancet.com/climate-change 22 http://www.garnautreview.org.au/chp6.htm#6_3 23 Preston, B.L. and Jones, R.N. February, 2006 – CSIRO

However,publichealthinterventionstargetingmalariaduringthe1960shavelargelyeliminatedtheriskoftransmissionandreintroductionofthediseaseisunlikely.Incontrast,thetransmissionofdenguecontinuesinAustralia,althoughcasesarelargelyconfinedtonorthernQueensland.Properpublichealthinterventionsmaypreventsubstantiveincreasesindenguetransmission.SomestudieshavealsosuggestedthatclimatechangecouldincreasetransmissionofRossRivervirusinregionsofAustralia,butlessisknownabouttheepidemiologyofthisdisease.”SoingeneralAustraliashouldbeabletocope.However,thepeoplewhowillbemostaffected,accordingtoboththeGarnautreviewandtheCSIROreport,istheIndigenouspopulation,principallythroughimpactsonhealth,disproportionatetothegeneralpopulationofAustralians. Alreadywehaveseenadenguefeveroutbreakofover100024casesinAustralia.Ofthe1001cases,73havebeenconfirmedinTownsvillewhiletheremaining928caseshavebeenfoundinCairnsandatInnisfail,Mareeba,PortDouglas,YarrabahandInjinoo.In2005,theMedicalJournalofAustralia25reportedontwodeathsin2004andsaidthesewere,“tomyknowledge,thefirstfatalitiesrelatedtodenguefeverinAustraliainoveracentury.PreviousfatalitiesweredescribedduringalargeepidemicofdenguefeverinChartersTowers(northQueensland)in1897”.

South‐westWesternAustraliareportedover200casesofRossRiverVirusinfectionsearlyin2009.ThecauseofRossRivervirus(RRV)diseasewasconfirmedin1971byitsisolationfromthebloodofanAboriginalboywiththedisease.Itisinterestingtospeculateonthereactioniftheonethousandcasesofdenguefever,knownalsoas“breakbonefever”occurredinmetropolitanareas.Inadditiontothoseimpactsearlierlisted,IndigenousAustralianshavesufferedtheeffectsofotherphenomena:severeweather,foodandwaterborneinfectiousdiseases,nutritionalconsequencesofstressonfoodproduction,andthelike,especiallyinthoseclimaticzonesinAustraliathatarepronetotheseconditions.

WATERMANAGEMENT

AsthedriestinhabitedcontinentonearthAustraliaanditsIndigenousinhabitantshaveparticularchallengestoface.TheGarnautreview(figure6.2)talksofa92%dropbymid

24 http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/05/09/41711_local-news.html 25 http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_01_040705/mcb10834_fm.html

“..onecanidentifydemographicgroups,suchasAustralia’saboriginalpopulation,withelevatedvulnerabilitytohealthchallengesduetolimitedaccesstofinancialandpublichealthresources.”

centuryintheirrigatedagriculturalproductionofthenation’sbreadbasket–theMurray‐Darlingbasin.ThewheatharvestsofVictoriaaresettofallby25%anditispredictedthatinWA“About34percentadditionalcapitalexpenditurewillbeneededtoprovidealternativewatersupplies.Overthecourseofthecentury,continuedreductionsinwateravailabilitywillleadtoincreasesinthecostofminingactivityandtemporarycutbacksinproduction.”Theprimeministerswebsite26statesthisaboutthechallenge:“Astheimpactofclimatechangeintensifies,Australiafacesincreasinglyacutelong‐termwatershortagesbothinourcitiesandregionalareas–withlowerrainfall,riversdryingupanddamwaterlevelsfalling.TacklingthewatercrisisisamajorlongtermpriorityfortheAustralianGovernment.TacklingthewatercrisisandsecuringourfuturewatersupplyrequiresallAustralianstoworktogethertousewatermoreefficiently,cutwaterwastage,moreeffectivelycapturerainandstormwater,andadapttotheimpactofclimatechange.”AlthoughtherehavebeenforecastsofdecreasedrainfallinmanyareasofAustralia.ResearchbytheCSIRO27predictsthatby2040,climatepatternsfortheeasterncoastofAustraliaarelikelytobringaboutmoreintenseandmorefrequentextremerainfallevents.ThemostvulnerableregionsforextremerainfallincludeCoffsHarbour,Coolangatta,northofBrisbane,andovermountainousterrain(CSIRO2004).AlltheissuesrelatingtowaterinAustraliaapplyparticularlytotheIndigenouscommunitiesespeciallyinregionalandremoteareas.ResearchconductedbyFlindersUniversity28isinstructiveinlookingatthewatermanagementchallengeasitintensifiestheissuesmentionedabove.TheresearchpointsoutthattwelvecommunitieswereincludedintheresearchfromGerardinthesouth‐easttoPukatjainthesouth‐west.WatersupplyinSAistheresponsibilityofSAWaterforallregionsexcepttheAboriginalcommunities.HerehistoricallytheresponsibilityhassatwiththeStateDepartmentofAboriginalAffairs(DOSAA,DAARE).Therehasonlybeenverylimitedinvolvementofthecommunitiesthemselvesinthemanagementofwaterandnowincreasinglytheservicehasbeen‘outsourced’(researcher’squotes)toWaterSA.Thepresentationgoesontosaythatwhilesupplyisgenerallyadequate,bothinrelationtoinfrastructureandsupplyfromsource,therewereperiodswheneitherduetohotweatherorchangeinlevelsofpopulation.Italsoaddsthatthelifeofthewatersourceiseitherlimitedorunknown.Highlevelsofsalinity,chloride,fluoride,turbidityandtotalhardnessarecommonfactorsofwatersourcedandthewateristreatedtomakeitpotable.Sohowwillthisprecariousscenariobeimpactedbyclimatechange?Ifdroughtsaretoworseninthearidandsemi‐aridzones,theprognosiscannotbepositive.RobinBanks,CEOofthePublicInterestAdvocacyCentresaidinMarch200729,“In1994theHumanRightsandEqualOpportunityCommissionreportedon'third‐world'standardsofwaterandsanitationservicesinAboriginalcommunitiesacrossAustralia.ThesecommunitieshavebeenwaitingforovertenyearsforGovernmenttotakeurgentlyneededaction.”TheUNCommitteeonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRightsstates,“Thehumanrighttowaterentitleseveryonetosufficient,safe,acceptable,physicallyaccessibleandaffordablewaterforpersonaland

26 http://www.pm.gov.au/topics/climate.cfm 27 More Floods, population: more on the coasts – CSIRO 2003 Dr Debbie Abbs 28 Tom Jenkin, School of Geography, Population and Environmental Management, Flinders University 2004 29 http://www.piac.asn.au/news/media/20070321_watersewra.html

domesticuses.Anadequateamountofsafewaterisnecessarytopreventdeathfromdehydration,toreducetheriskofwater‐relateddiseaseandtoprovideforconsumption,cooking,personalanddomestichygienicrequirements.”Withoutspecificregionalandcommunitylevelresearch,communitiesarenotinapositiontoplanandparticipateinwatermanagement.ResearchoverwhelminglypointstomoredrynessinthedroughtproneareasandmorefloodsforthewetareasofAustralia.ForIndigenouscommunitiestoparticipate,contributeandmanageissuesrelatingtowater,longrangestudiesneedtobeconductedwitheducationandtrainingbeingafirststeptowardscommunityengagementandmanagementofthisvitalissue.

FOODSECURITY

Naturallyclimatechangewillimpactonagriculture.Therearesomewinnersinthis.HigherlatitudesincludingpartsofEuropeandthewesternUSAwillbecomewarmerandwetterwithanextendedgrowingseason.Thisprovidesthepotentialforanincreasedlevelofproduction,thoughproducersmayneedtoadaptandchangetheiragriculturaltechniquesandthetypesofcropsgrown.However,anumberofaridandsemi‐aridareasmaysimplyfalloutofagriculturalproduction.ThepositionoffoodsecurityforIndigenousAustraliaisinstarkcontrasttotherestofAustralia.Neitherclimatechangenorclimatevariabilityarenewfactorswithinagriculture.Howeverthenatureoftheexpectedchangesaregraphicallyhighlightedinthereport,“THECORALTRIANGLEANDCLIMATECHANGE:ECOSYSTEMS,PEOPLEANDSOCIETIESATRISK”releasedbyWWFandtheUniversityofQueensland.Accordingtothisresearch,coralreefscoulddisappearentirelyfromtheCoralTriangleregionofthePacificOceanbytheendofthecentury,threateningthefoodsupplyandlivelihoodsofabout100millionpeople.Thuswehaveawholenewlevelofuncertainty.TheFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO)30definesfoodsecurityasa‘‘situationthatexistswhenallpeople,atalltimes,havephysical,social,andeconomicaccesstosufficient,safe,andnutritiousfoodthatmeetstheirdietaryneedsandfoodpreferencesforanactiveandhealthylife’’.Thisdefinitioncomprisesfourkeydimensionsoffoodsupplies:availability,stability,access,andutilisation.ThereisavastamountofresearchavailableontheapplicabilityofthesecriteriatothesituationonfoodsecurityforIndigenouscommunities.TheDieticiansAssociationofAustralia(DAA)31states:EventhoughAustraliahasanabundantfoodsupplyandawell‐establishedsocialsecuritysafetynet,thereareseveralgroupsinourcommunitieswhosefoodsecurityisvulnerable.Theyinclude:

• peoplewholiveinremoteareas;• allIndigenousAustralians;• homelesspeople;• peopleonlowincomes;• disabledandagedpeople;and• asylumseekersandmigrants.

AllIndigenousAustralians.

30 http://www.fao.org/ 31 http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145834445

TheimpactsarestatedbytheDAAas:Foodinsecurityhasshortandlongtermimpactsonthehealthofindividuals,familiesandsociety.Peoplewhoworryaboutfoodreportimpairedthinkingandphysicalabilityandmoreillness.Foodinsecuritydisruptsfamilylifecausingchangestoeatingpatternsandfamilyritualsandnegativelyimpactsemotionsandfamilyrelationships.Foodinsecurityalsocausessocialdisruptionwithincreasedabsenteeismandreducedparticipationinsocietybeingreportedbypeoplewhodonothavefoodsecurity.Sothatisthescenarioagainstwhichtheimpactofclimatechangeonfoodsecuritycanbeviewed.Pricesandavailabilityproblemsmeanthataccesstosuitableandaffordablestaplesisstillanoverwhelmingissueinmostregionalandremotecommunities.Inhisreport,“Drought,ClimateChangeandFoodPricesinAustralia”,JohnQuiggin32theAustralianResearchCouncilFederationFellowattheSchoolofEconomicsandSchoolofPoliticalScienceandInternationalStudies,UniversityofQueenslandsays,“Over coming decades, the global frequency and severity of drought is likely to increase as a result of climate change. Regional projections suggest that south-eastern Australia will be adversely affected by changes in rainfall patterns, as well as by rising temperatures, which increase the severity of drought. By 2070 there may be 40% more months of drought in eastern Australia, and conditions will be worse in a high-emissions scenario. The current drought may represent the beginning of this process. Higher average temperatures, due in part to human-caused climate change, have certainly exacerbated its impact. Other changes, such as increases in the severity of storms, will also have adverse effects. The result for Australian consumers will be rises in average food prices and in the frequency and severity of price spikes. For foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables

that are supplied mainly by local producers, price shocks similar to those being experienced by Australian consumers during the current severe drought may start to occur every two to four years, rather than once a decade, unless strong action is taken to reduce global emissions.”

Atableheincludesinhisreportisparticularlyillustrativeofwhatcommunitiesmightexpectfromaclimateprice

Price effect of drought or other severe weather events*

Effect of severe climate change (more than 2ºC global warming)

32 http://www.uq.edu.au/economics/johnquiggin/

“The result for Australian consumers will be rises in average food prices and in the frequency and severity of price spikes.”

shock.Food category

Vegetables 2005–07: +33%

Fruit 2005–07: +43% Bananas 2005-06: +300%

Honey 2002-03: +100%

Locally produced products such as these are vulnerable to price spikes during local droughts. Price shocks similar to those experienced in the current drought may occur every two to four years, instead of once per decade as has been the historical norm. If some producers are unable to adjust to severe changes, permanently elevated price levels could result.

Bread 2005–07: +17%

Bread prices depend in part on global wheat prices. Global wheat yields are likely to decline for temperature increases of more than 3ºC (IPCC 2007). This would increase global prices and is likely to cause permanently elevated prices for bread.

Eggs 2005–07: +17%

Milk and dairy products 2005–07: +11%

Meat and seafood 2005–07: +4% Lamb 2000–03: +59% Beef 2000–03: +31%

For eggs, dairy and many meat products, water and grain for feed are important inputs. As with bread, increases of more than 3ºC would continue to drive up global grain prices, while climate change is likely to decrease water supplies. Dairy that is dependent on irrigated pasture is vulnerable to water scarcity, while native pasture capacity will decline by up to 40% for temperature increases greater than 2ºC (Preston & Jones 2006). Severe climate change is likely to cause permanently elevated prices, with further shocks during periods of drought.

All food products 2005-07: +12% 2002-03: +4.4%

CPI 2005-07: +6% 2002-03: +2.7%

Quigginconcludes,“ClimatechangewillaffectAustraliansinmanydifferentways.Recentincreasesingrocerypricesareadirectillustrationofthechangesthatwillaffecttheentireplanetifglobalwarmingisallowedtocontinueunchecked.ImmediateactiontoputAustralia,andtheworld,onasustainablepathtothefutureisessential.”WritingintheMedicalJournalofAustralia33,MichaelSGraceysaid,“Thirtyyearsago,Iwroteashortarticleentitled“Undernutritioninthemidstofplenty:nutritionalproblemsofyoungAustralian

33 http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/186_01_010107/gra10660_fm.html

Aborigines.”Appropriatelyforthetime,emphasiswasonchildhoodundernutrition,therelatedhighinfectiousdiseaseburdenandthemuchhighermortalityratesinIndigenousinfantsandyoungchildrenthanintheirnon‐Indigenouscounterparts.Awarenessoftheseproblemsamonghealthprofessionalsandthewidercommunitybegantoemergeonlyinthelate1960sandearly1970.”“CallsforIndigenouscommunityfreshfoodscheme”readstheheadlineinanABCreport34datedMay2009.“AstudypublishedintheMedicalJournalofAustraliahasfoundIndigenouspeopleinremotecommunitiestendtohavedietshighinenergy‐dense,nutrient‐poorfoods.Itsayspeoplechoosetofilluponthesefoodsbecausetheyarecheaperthanbuyingfreshfruit,vegetablesandmeat.”WithpricesexpectedtocontinuetorisewellaboveCPI,thechallengeoffoodsecurityinanageofclimatechangetakesonanewurgency.

EXTREMEEVENTS

TheIPCC35intalkingofobservedchangestotheclimatesays,“Atcontinental,regional,andoceanbasinscales,numerouslong‐termchangesinclimatehavebeenobserved.TheseincludechangesinArctictemperaturesandice,widespreadchangesinprecipitationamounts,oceansalinity,windpatternsandaspectsofextremeweatherincludingdroughts,heavyprecipitation,heatwavesandtheintensityoftropicalcyclones."TheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration36undertookresearchinrelationtoextremeweathereventsduetoclimatechangeexpectedinNorthAmerica.Amongthefindingsreportedarethat“droughts,heavydownpours,excessiveheat,andintensehurricanesarelikelytobecomemorecommonplaceashumanscontinuetoincreasetheatmosphericconcentrationsofheat‐trappinggreenhousegases.Thereportisbasedonscientificevidencethatawarmingworldwillbeaccompaniedbychangesintheintensity,duration,frequency,andgeographicextentofweatherandclimateextremes.”ThereisnodoubtastotheimpactofclimatechangeonextremeweathereventsinAustralia.Whileclimatechangedoesnotcreatebushfiresorfloodswhatisobservedisanintensificationoftheclimateevents.Droughtsarelonger,summersarehotterandstormsaremorepowerful.Indigenouscommunitieswillbeparticularlyimpacted,aswehavealreadystated.However,littleifanyresearchhasbeenconductedastothespecificimpactsonparticularcommunities.TomCalmainhisrecentlyreleasedNativeTitleReport2008hasincludedachapteronclimatechange:“Thisyear’sreportincludestwocasestudies–onefromtheTorresStraitIslandsandtheotherfromtheMurray‐DarlingBasin–whichhighlighttheparticularchallengesandopportunitiesforAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunities.Indifferentways,theybothpointtotheneedforAustralia’sclimatechangeresponsetoprotectfundamentalhumanrights,especiallytherightsofthosewhoarethemostvulnerable.”

34 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/17/2572647.htm?section=australia 35 http://ipccinfo.com/extreme.php 36 http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080619_climatereport.html

InBrewarrinaisinfarwesternNSWthetemperature37forFebruary,asseenontheBureauofMeteorologywebsite,showsameantemperatureof35degrees.Withitsmeantemperaturepredictedtoincreasebytwodegreesoverthenexttwodecades,whataretheimplicationsoftheriseintemperaturefortheschoolandthestudentsattendingschoolinBrewarrina?“Weseethebigtreesnearthebeachfallingdown.Theseagrassthatthedugongseat–youusedtofind

longpatchesofit–butnotanymore.Thecoralsaredyingandthesandisgettingsweptawayandexposingrock.”RonMay,aMurrayIslandelderisquotedinTomCalma’sreport.Theabilityforcommunitiestocopewiththechangesislimitedbythelackofcommunityandregionspecificinformation.Alongrangeresearchprogrammethatbeginstooutlinetheimpactsofsevereweathereventsandtheriseintemperatureoncommunitiesisurgentlyrequired.

Thecombinedimpactofincreasingsealevelriseandextremeweathereventsislikelytoresultinanincreasingoccurrenceandseverityoffloodsurges.Researchshowsthatwitha20cmsealevelrise,waterlevelswouldlikelydoublewitha40cmrise,anddamagecostsassociatedwithfloodingwouldincreasebyupto50%.Overall,itisnowwidelyagreedthatsealevelrisewillriseby10‐40cmby2040.

37 http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_048015_All.shtml

“Weseethebigtreesnearthebeachfallingdown.Theseagrassthatthedugongseat–youusedtofindlongpatchesofit–butnotanymore.Thecoralsaredyingandthesandisgettingsweptawayandexposingrock.”

DISLOCATION

TheNortherTerritorygovernment’splanstoscalebackservicescurrentlyprovidedtooverfivehundredcommunitiesbycreatingtwentyeconomichubsisapointertothedebatethathasnotyetbegun.Remoteandregionalcommunitieshavetocometotermswiththefactthatachangingclimatemaycreate

dislocationandthelossofhardwonprivileges.Communitiesleadingtraditionallifestylesmaybeforcedtoaggregateasinternalclimaterefugeesintotownscreatedforthepurpose.DiscussiononthetopicofclimaterefugeesfocusesontheplightoftheCarterets38,theMaldives39orthefearofahundred

millionhungrycoraltriangledwellers40turninguponAustralia’sdoorstep.Theseareofcourselegitimatefears.ThestoryabouttheCarteretsisparticularlytopical.Asof2015,theislandsandatollsthatmakeupthegroupareexpectedtohavesunkbelowtherisingsea.Theirpeoplearethefirstofwhatisexpectedtobeaverylargenumberofclimaterefugees.TheCarteretsIslandersreceivedpermissionfromPNGin2005tostartplanningtheirrelocationandthisbeganin2007.ProfessorSirMuirGray,writinginTheTimes41,saysthat,“millions of climate refugees will disrupt the borders of even an island nation.” The Institute for Environment and Human Security, a UN body, states that climate change has already created around 20 million displaced persons globally. This number is set to go up to 50 million over the next few years and reach a staggering 150 million by 205042.

CommissionerCalmainhisreportsays,“AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplehadmuchtocontributetomitigationeffortsandindevelopingculturebasedeconomiesinareassuchasbiodiversityconservation,landandwatermanagement.”"ItisclearthatIndigenousAustraliansaremajorstakeholdersindevelopingandadvancinganationalclimatechangepolicy,"hesaid.“Thiswillbecrucialtorespondingtoclimatechange,maintainingbiologicaldiversityandpreservingimportantecosystems."

38 http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=3964 39 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3930765.stm 40 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3930765.stm 41 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6355257.ece 42 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/1118_051118_disaster_refugee.html

GiventhelongexperienceofdispossessionanddisplacementthatistherealityforIndigenousAustraliansclimatechangeinduceddislocationmaybeachapterwaitingtobewritten.Thecycleofdispossessionandresistancecouldeasilyberepeatedifthethreattoregionalandremotecommunitiesfromclimatechangeisnottakenintoaccountandlongtermplanningforadaptationandmitigationadopted.

ThisengagementshouldbedrivenfromwithinIndigenousAustralia.Theprospectofclimatechangerelateddislocationfromcountry,extremeweatherevents,evenpoorerhealthoutcomesandfurthereconomicmarginalisationcannotbepassivelytolerated.EngagementhastobeactiveandtheagendaforthedebatemustbesetbyIndigenousAustraliansalongwithgovernments.Thedebateonclimatechangeimpactshouldtakeintoaccountthefollowingkeytopics:

• Awholeofgovernmentplantotackleimpactsonwellbeing,healthandeconomy• InclusionofindigenouspeopleintheNorthAustraliaTaskforceasequaleconomicparticipants• Provisionofinformationonimpacts,risksandopportunities• Regionaldatacollectionandimpactanalysis

• Longtermplanningforthefutureofcommunities:planningfordisastermitigationandemergencyresponse–storms,floodsetc

• Discussiononthelongtermavailabilityandaffordabilityofenergy

• Regionalwatermanagementplans• Assessmentofgreenprojectscapacity

(includingregionspecificassessments) Onlybytakingagenerationalviewoftheissuesthatclimatechangeraisescantheimpactsbeplannedforwithmitigationandadaptationstrategiesbeingadoptedfortheverylongterm.

"Todate,however,therehasbeenlittleattempttofostergenuine,coordinatedandsustainedparticipationbyAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoples.IfwemovenowtoensurethatAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplesareactivelyengagedinalllevelsofmanagementanddecision‐makingthataffecttheirlivelihoodsandcommunities,wecanbenefitfromIndigenoustraditionalknowledge,landmanagementandconservationpractices."

THEGREENECONOMYANDOPPORTUNITIES

Havinglookedatthesomeoftherisksthatclimatechangeispredictedtocreate,wenowlookattheopportunitiesthatmayariseoutoftheregulationsthatwillgovernnationalandinternationalefforts.Inthelastfewyearsthegreeneconomyhasbeenmuchheraldedandthegreencollarjobisverymuchpartofthenews.Opportunitieswithregardreforestationandrenewableenergyaredailytoutedasthefast‐approachingtomorrowthatwillnotonlytakeusawayfromthepollutingcarbonbasedeconomy,butalsointheprocesscreatejobs.Tounderstandthescopeandsizeofthepredictedchangesarisingoutofagreeneconomyitisinstructivetolookatwhatismeantbygreenjobsandwheretheseexisttoday.TheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgrammeinits2008report,GreenJobs:TowardsSustainableWorkinaLowCarbonWorld43,definesgreenjobsas,“Wedefinegreenjobsasworkinagricultural,manufacturing,researchanddevelopment(R&D),administrative,andserviceactivitiesthatcontributesubstantiallytopreservingorrestoringenvironmentalquality.Specifically,butnotexclusively,thisincludesjobsthathelptoprotectecosystemsandbiodiversity;reduceenergy,materials,andwaterconsumptionthroughhighefficiencystrategies;de‐carbonizetheeconomy;andminimizeoraltogetheravoidgenerationofallformsofwasteandpollution.”Thecreationofthesejobstakesmanyforms.

• Themostsimpleoftheseisthetransformationofexistingandcurrentjobsastechnologychangesandenvironmentallybeneficialpracticesaretakenupbyexistingoccupationsandbusinesses.Plumbers,electricians,constructionworkersareexampleswherewecanseethishappeningalready.Greenplumbersandgreenelectriciansarealreadyverymuchpartofthetrade.TheGreenBuildingCouncilofAustralia44saysitisitsmissiontodevelopasustainablepropertyindustryforAustraliaanddrivetheadoptionofgreenbuildingpracticesthroughmarket‐basedsolutions.ItskeyobjectivesaretodrivethetransitionoftheAustralianpropertyindustrytowardssustainabilitybypromotinggreenbuildingprograms,technologies,designpracticesandoperationsaswellastheintegrationofgreenbuildinginitiativesintomainstreamdesign,constructionandoperationofbuildings.

• Renewableenergy–wind,solar,bio‐mass,geothermal,wave,etc,willleadtonewenergyjobsreplacingold,highly‐pollutingjobs.TheClimateInstituteresearchsays$31billionworthofcleanenergyprojectsalreadyinthepipeline,manyinregionalareas,willgenerate2500permanentjobs,15,000constructionjobsand8600associatedpositions.Thesedonotincludejobsinhouseholdsolarhotwatersystemsorinsulationandbasetheirnumbersonsurveyinginvestorsratherthanmodeling.

• Astechnologyshifts,newjobsarecreated,suchaselectriccarenergygridmaintenance,manufacture,useofenergyefficiencyandlowemissionstechnologies.Energyaudits,buildingdesign,landscaping,useofsolarpassivearchitectureetc,arealreadystartingtocreatejobsinthisarea.Theneedtoretro‐fitlowemissionstechnologytoentireeconomiesisasignificantareaforemployment.

43 http://www.unep.org/publications/search/pub_details_s.asp?ID=4002 44 http://www.gbca.org.au/

• Naturalresourcemanagement,reforestationandafforestation,controlofvegetation,landmanagement,agriculturalpractice,areallundergoingafundamentalshiftandwillrequiresignificantinputsfromskilledworkers.Itispredictedthatmanymillionsofhectaresoflandwillgetconvertedtoforestryinordertocreatecarbonsinks.Notonlythejobsrelatedtothisactivitybutalltheancillaryjobsinnurseries,seedcollectionetc,willneedtobedevelopedandstaffed.

• Watermanagement,recycling,stormwaterreuse,cleaningupofthewaterwaysandriversystemsiswellonitswaytobeingestablishedasanimportantregionalemployer.Currentlythewatersectoremploysmorethan80,000peopleinurbanandregionaljobs.Thiscomparestotheentirecoalindustryemploying130,000peopleofwhichonly30,000aredirectlyemployed.

GREENJOBS

Thetechnologicalpaceofjobsinthegreensectorisrapidand,withsignificantinvestmentsaroundtheworld,isdevelopingveryquicklytobeamajorsourceofemployment.TheObamaadministrationhasmadeitthecentrepieceofitsrecoveryplanincombatingthefinancialcrisis.TheAmericanReinvestmentandRecoveryAct(ARRA)45report,“MiddleClassTaskforce:GreenJobsUpdate”releasedinMay2009states:“Thekeyfactorsincludeapublicmandatetoachieveanenergyconservationgoal;leadershipinvestedinmeetingthegoal;privatesectorinvestmentsinnewtechnologyandenergyefficiency;andpartnershipsbetweenlabour,communitycollegesandothertrainingprogramstoensureemployershaveaccesstoskilledworkers.Thesearealsothekeyfactorstocreatingcleanenergyopportunityeconomy‐wide.

TheRecoveryActincludes:(1)$11billionforinvestmentsinanewsmartgrid,investmentsthatwillcreatethousandsofmilesofnewormodernizedhigh‐techtransmissionlines,whiletrainingandemployinghighly‐skilledandwell‐paidlineworkers;(2)$6billioninloanguaranteestoenablegreenindustriestocontinuetheirrapidgrowth;(3)$4.5billiontotheGeneralServicesAdministrationtoconvertfederalbuildingsintohigh‐performancegreenbuildings,whichgenerallycombineenergyefficiencyandrenewableenergyproductiontominimizetheenergyuseofthebuildings;(4)$5billiontotheWeatherizationAssistanceProgram,$250milliontoHUDassistedhousingretrofits,and$600milliontopublichousingweatherizationthatwillcreatetensofthousandsofnewjobsweatherizingandretrofittinghomes;(5)$6billiontostateandlocalgovernmentsforcleanenergyprograms;(6)over$2billionintaxcreditstocover30percentofthecostofhomeenergyefficiencyimprovementslikeinstallationofenergyefficiencywindows;and(7)$19billiononpublictransportationandhighspeedrail.

SimilardevelopmentsareseeninEuropewiththeEUcommittingtoa20:20:20outcome.TheEUhasagreedtoreducecombinedemissionsby20%by2020againsta1990benchmark,toensure20%ofallstationaryenergyfromrenewablesources,andtocreatea20%energyefficiency

45 http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/White-House-Enviro-Council-Accepts-Biden-Challenge-Help-Retrofit-America/

saving.Thiswillcomeonlyasaresultofsignificantinvestmentintraining,R&Dandsupportfornewtechnologiescreatingnewgreenjobs. InAustralia,researchsuchasthereport46GreenGoldRush:HowambitiousenvironmentalpolicycanmakeAustraliaaleaderintheraceforgreenjobs,arguesthatAustraliacouldbecomealeaderincertaingreenindustries.Thereportidentifiessix‘greencollar’industrieswithgreatpotentialforgrowthanddevelopment:• Renewableenergy• Energyefficiency• Sustainablewatersystems• Biomaterials• Greenbuildings• WasteandrecyclingAustraliacouldgenerateupto850,000greencollarjobsby2030andmulti‐billiondollarexportopportunities,accordingtothereportbytheAustralianCouncilofTradeUnions(ACTU)andAustralianConservationFoundation(ACF). TheNSWGreenSkillsStrategy47wasdevelopedsothattheworkforceinNewSouthWaleswillhavetheskillstosupportthetransitiontoacarbonconstrainedandmoresustainableeconomy.Asbusinessesarebeginningtoexperiencepressuresforchangeasaresultofglobalwarmingandotherenvironmentalchallengesandcalamities,thisstrategywillassistbusinesstobecomemoresustainableandtotakeupnewbusinessopportunitiescreatedbyglobalenvironmentalchallenges.

TheAustraliantreasurerclaimed,“TheBudgetalsoinvestsinAustralia'stransitiontoalowpollutioneconomy.TheGovernmentwillinvest$2billiontosupportindustrialscaleCarbonCaptureandStorageprojectsinAustralia,andafurther$1.5billiontodemonstratelargescalesolargenerationprojects.Theseinvestmentswillimmediatelydrivebillionsofdollarsofprivateinvestmentincleanenergysolutions,createthousandsofgreencollarjobs,andmakesureAustraliaisreadytocompeteinthecarbon‐constrainedworldoftomorrow.Itisjustanotherexampleofhowwearedrivingourstimulusdollarfurther–toprotectjobsnow,andsecurethecountry'slong‐termeconomicinterests.”TheCSIROinitsresearchpaper,‘GrowingtheGreenCollarEconomy:Skillsandlabourchallengesinreducingourgreenhouseemissionsandnationalenvironmentalfootprint48’statesthatwiththerightmixofincentivesandsubsidy,“Achievingarapidtransitiontosustainabilitywouldhavelittleornoimpactonnationalemployment,withprojectedincreasesinemploymentof2.5to3.3millionjobsoverthenexttwodecades.Employmentinsectorswithhighpotentialenvironmentalimpactswillalsogrowstrongly,withprojectedincreasesofmorethan10%overtenyears.Thiswilladd230,000to340,000newjobs–inadditiontonormalemploymentturnover–inthetransport,construction,andagriculture,manufacturingandminingsectors.Employmentinconstructionandtransportsectorsisprojectedtogrowsignificantlyfasterthanthenationalaverage.”

46 http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=2047 47 https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/industryprograms/green_skills/greenskills.htm 48 http://www.csiro.au/resources/GreenCollarReport.html

ThekeychallengesoutlinedbythereportapplytoallsegmentsofAustralianindustryandpopulations.“Butachievingthetransitiontoalowcarbonsustainableeconomywillrequireamassivemobilisationofskillsandtraining–bothtoequipnewworkersandtoenableappropriatechangesinpracticesbythethreemillionworkersalreadyemployedinthesekeysectorsinfluencingourenvironmentalfootprint.”Currentapproachesdonotappearsufficienttomeetthesechallenges.Thereareatleastfivekeyelementsforacoherentandsystematicresponsetotheskillschallengesassociatedwiththistransition,andthislistformsthekeycriteriatobeaddressedbyIndigenousAustraliainitsquesttobenefitfromagreenjobsboom:

1. Arobustsignalandcertaintyonthewayforwardthroughlegislationandpolicy;2. Engagementatcommunitylevel;3. Provisionofgreenskillsandvocationaltraining;4. AppropriatesupporttoestablishSMEs;and5. Longtermtimehorizons.

GREENBUSINESSES

TheopportunityforIndigenousAustraliaisofcoursenotlimitedtothejobsthatbusinesseswillbecreatingbutalsoincreatingthebusinessesthemselves.Thefollowingbroadareasofjobdevelopmentwillalsosupportentrepreneurs.• Renewableenergy• Energyefficiency• Sustainablewatersystems• Biomaterials• Greenbuildings• Wasteandrecycling15%to20%oftheAustralianlandmassisownedunderonetitleoranotherbyIndigenousAustralians.TheopportunitytobecomecreatorsofcarbonpermitsunderanyCPRStypeemissionstradingscheme(ETS)isagenerationalopportunityforlandowningcommunitiesthatmeetthenecessaryrequirements(typeoftitle,qualityofland,Kyotocomplianceetc)toparticipateinthecarbonconstrainedeconomy.ThecomplexityinvolvedinestablishingCarbonSequestrationRights(CSR)onlandshouldnotbeunderestimated.Specifically,itisunclearwhetherthevarioustitlesunderwhichlandisheldbyamajorityofIndigenousAustralianswillallowforcertaintyintheregistrationprocessineachstateandterritory.AlreadythereareopportunitieswellbeforethestartofanETSforsuchplantationstobedeveloped.Feasibilitystudiesarebeingcarriedoutandthereissignificantdemandforprojectsinthisarea.Asmentionedearlier,businessesthatprovidetheseservicesaremuchindemand.Nurseries,seedcollectionetc,areexcellentbusinessopportunitiesforthosethatdonothaveaccesstolargelandholdings.

Similarly,renewableenergyprojectswillrequirelandandthisagainenablesland‐owningcommunitiestoparticipateinsuchprojectsasbecomecommerciallyviableunderaMandatoryRenewableEnergyTarget2020.Businessesintheareaofserviceprovision,fromtrainingtooperationaldeliveryoverthewholerangeofactivitiesdescribed,arecurrentlybeingestablishednationallyandinternationally.Theopportunityhereistobepartofthecomingboom.Theeconomicexplosionsofpastindustries,haslargelypastIndigenousAustraliansby.Asanation,Australiacannotletthathappen,yetagain.IftherewaseverthewilltoensureAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleachieveequity,theopportunitypresentsitselfnowthroughclimatechangeadversity.ToenhancetheIndigenousqualityoflife,comparabletothatofotherAustralians,byconnectingthemtotherealeconomy,iscertainlywithinreach.Nolongercantheybeleftsittingontheperipheryofsociety’svision;economic,socialandculturalinclusionmusthappen,ifnot,thecontinuingmanyconsequencesforthenationasawhole,willbeasdisastrousastheimpendingissueofclimatechangeitself.

William(Sam)JeffriesSamJeffries,CEOofIndigenousEnvironmentalServices(IES),hasathoroughunderstandingoflandmanagementandotherissuesrelatedtoIndigenousparticipationinthebroadereconomy.SamisaproudMooraworriman,bornandraisedinBrewarrina,theyoungestofsevenchildren.HehasbeeninvolvedinAboriginalAffairssinceleavingschool.Samspent20yearsinLightningRidgeinfarnorthwesternNSWestablishingtheCommunityDevelopmentEmploymentProgramCDEPproject,andpurchasedbusinessestogivethecommunityaneconomicplatform.Currentappointmentsinclude:DeputyChairoftheIndigenousLandCorporation,ChairpersonoftheMurdiPaakiRegionalAssembly,BoardMemberoftheWesternCatchmentAuthority,PanelMemberoftheNSWAboriginalTrustFundRepaymentScheme,andChairpersonoftheNationalAboriginalSportsCorporationAustralia.SamisAdjunctProfessorJumbunnaIndigenousHouseofLearning,UniversityofTechnology,Sydney.SamwasawardedtheCentenaryMedalin2001forservicestoAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunitieswithapriorityongovernance,andalsohasheldarangeofseniorpositionsincluding:WalgettShireCouncilorfrom1999to2003,ATSICCouncilorfrom1990to2005,ChairpersonoftheMurdiPaakiRegionalCouncilfrom1996to2005,BoardMemberoftheAboriginalHousingOfficefrom1998to2005,andChairpersonoftheNSWATSICStateCouncilfrom2002to2005.RamDevagiri,DirectorandGeneralManager,hashadmanyyearsofexperienceindeliveringcomplexoutcomesinthecorporateworldinEurope,AsiaandinAustralia.Hehasworkedinseniorexecutivepositionsinarangeofindustries.RamwasNSWgeneralmanagerforaglobalassetmanagementandsoftservicescompanyandhad1250staffreportingtohim,deliveringinexcessof$60Minannualturnover.HewasalsoNationalKeyAccountsDirectorwithcarriageofaportfolioofwelloverahalfabilliondollarsinannualrevenue.Hehasdevelopedanddeliveredcomplextrainingtoseniorexecutivesinthecorporateworld.Hehasalsodeliveredtrainingonpersonalityprofiling,relationshipmanagementandcomplexB2Bsalesenvironments.RamhasmanagedlargehotelpropertiesinEuropeandIndiainvariouscapacitiesincludingGeneralManager.HavingworkedwithSteigenbergerhotelsinGermany,RamhasalsospentnineyearswithOberoiHotelsinvariousseniorcapacities.RamhasbeendeeplyinvolvedintheareaofIndigenousengagementwithclimatechangeforovertwoyears.HehastravelledwidelytomeetandconsultcommunitiesandtocarrytheinformationonclimatechangetoIndigenousorganisationsandbusinessgroups.HehasdeliveredworkshopsonclimatechangeandmorerecentlyontheCPRStocorporategroupsandIndigenouscommunities.RamhasbeeninvolvedinthediscussionsonthedevelopmentoftheCPRSasmemberoftheStakeholdergrouponLandbasedsectorestablishedbytheDepartmentofClimateChange.

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