I acknowledge that we meet on the traditional land of the Kaurna people, and that we recognise their deep spiritual relationship with their country.
Good morning.
I’m pleased to be with you to formally launch this important Conference.
Despite what some continue to maintain, the issue of climate change has moved beyond a philosophical debate.
And rather than government versus business, it’s increasingly innovative businesses that are making a difference.
That’s what was discussed at Copenhagen, at the meeting of the Climate Group.
That’s because smart businesses and smart governments know that sustainable industries are the industries of the future, and they are delivering sustainable jobs for the future.
It’s about knowing who your customers are and what they want.
We’ve recently had Professor Andrew Fearne, a world expert on mapping value chains - from grower to consumer - here as one of our Adelaide Thinkers in Residence to work closely with our food and beverage producers.
Consumers are increasingly demanding products and services that use less energy, consume fewer natural resources, and emit reduced levels of greenhouse gas.
Climate change remains our greatest global challenge.
It’s become such a cliché.
Everyone was saying that before that before the global financial crisis.
Sacrifice was needed, but as long as it suits us.
But climate change also provides us with significant opportunities.
What it doesn’t offer us is a choice.
We must act now, and be prepared to show leadership and courage.
This CleverGreen Conference and Showcase will help to identify how we can meet the challenges and best position ourselves to maximise those opportunities.
It gives our green businesses, services and products a chance to showcase the measures they are taking.
Consumers are increasingly demanding products and services that use less energy, consume fewer natural resources, and emit reduced levels of greenhouse gas.
It gives our green businesses, services and products a chance to showcase the measures they are taking.
It also enables us to promote South Australia’s willingness and readiness to act as a test bed for the development of green technologies.
This is not new for us.
We’ve introduced the container deposit scheme (more than 30 years ago) our plastic bag ban, we remain GM free, and we have our Zero Waste Strategy.
This conference also allows us to outline the policy settings we are putting in place to help the uptake and sustainability of innovative, clean-tech industries and initiatives.
As US President Barack Obama told a joint sitting of Congress last year, “it begins with energy”.
“We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st Century”.
Today, I’m going to talk about what our State can do.
Through the vision and the commitment of our private sector, and in collaboration with all levels of government, our State has successfully positioned itself as a leader in the development of green technologies.
We know we can make a difference by anticipating rather than responding; by leading rather than following.
Our clean-tech companies are achieving terrific results and gaining widespread acclaim in areas of waste management and water innovation.
For example, South Australia has the highest level of stormwater capture in the nation.
Through existing schemes for aquifer storage recovery and through our commitment to further expansion we will lift our capacity for non-drinking water to 20 gigalitres by 2013.
We also currently treat and re-use around 30 per cent of our waste water, and that level will rise to 45 per cent by 2013.
Our Building Innovation Fund not only helps to improve the energy efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions from existing commercial office buildings, it also encourages building owners to experiment with innovative technologies.
The grant you might be aware of was the one that helped with the installation of the ‘living wall’ at the former telephone exchange in Franklin Street.
The Fund was one of the initiatives to arise from a voluntary sector agreement reached with the Property Council of Australia’s South Australian Division.
These sector agreements, introduced as part of our 2007 Climate Change Legislation – the first of its kind in Australia - provide a vital tool in reducing emissions and increasing the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
In addition to the Property Council, we have reached agreements with a number of other significant industries and enterprises, including our university sector, the Local Government Association, Adelaide Brighton Cement, and our wine and grape growing industry.
It’s all about a commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
The wine industry is of crucial importance to our State, and it recognises that it must be serious about adapting to climate change in order to remain globally competitive among retailers and consumers who increasingly favour products manufactured with a reduced carbon footprint.
That’s because global markets are changing, along with attitudes.
Our producers have to remain competitive to consumers who are now making purchase choices on the basis of new criteria such as “carbon miles”.
And our wine has to travel much further to reach Britain’s supermarket shelves than vintages from France and Italy.
Now in its second year, the agreement with the wine industry has led to the development of a carbon accounting tool, and more than 100 businesses have signed up to track and report their greenhouse emissions.
This represents about 30 per cent of the grapes grown in South Australia.
So I’m delighted to announce today that shortly I will be signing four new sector agreements with SA Water, the Technology Industry Association, the Adelaide City Council, and the Jeffries Group.
As you can see, our existing industries are showing a great willingness to become even more environmentally sustainable.
And new and developing enterprises are taking up the challenge to ensure South Australia remains a laboratory for change.
