Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia

🚗🌍 The automotive industry is at a critical juncture. This past week alone has seen seismic shifts that could signal the beginning of the end for the car as the central feature of modern life. From Jaguar's bold rebranding to the unexpected resignation of Stellantis' CEO and striking workers at Volkswagen, the narrative of automotive evolution is being rewritten. This article delves into the transformative forces reshaping the industry and society's relationship with cars. It explores whether we're witnessing a reversal of the motor vehicle's century-long dominance, akin to how the car once replaced the horse-drawn carriage. With a convergence of electrification, automation, and shifting societal values, the role of the car is being questioned at its core. Is this an evolution or the end of an era for the traditional automobile? Read below. #AutomotiveIndustry #Innovation #ElectricVehicles #Mobility

🌏 Steering Australia's Economic Future: A Call for Private Sector Leadership 🌱 Australia finds itself at a pivotal economic moment. As recent Australian Bureau of Statistics GDP figures reveal an annual growth slump to 0.8%—the weakest since the 1990s recession, barring the pandemic—Treasurer Jim Chalmers has underscored a stark reality: the private sector must lead Australia out of this stagnation. Key Challenges: - Public Spending Dependency: Public expenditure now accounts for record levels of GDP, yet critics argue this strategy crowds out private investment. - Productivity Crisis: Labour productivity continues to decline, compounding inflationary pressures and delaying rate cuts. - Structural Economic Risks: Long-term vulnerabilities, such as diminishing demand for fossil fuel exports and inadequate development of alternative industries like critical minerals, threaten GDP sustainability. Opportunities for a Private-Sector Renaissance: - Chalmers' rhetoric indicates a shift toward empowering business-driven growth. Business leaders have echoed this, advocating for: - Tax Reforms: Reducing corporate taxes to encourage domestic and foreign investments. - Streamlined Regulation: Cutting red tape to accelerate project approvals. Strategic Workforce Development: Addressing labour shortages through targeted training and immigration policies. Sustainability as the New Economic Driver BCSD Australia urges policymakers and business leaders to see this moment as an opportunity to prioritise sustainable growth. By investing in clean energy, green infrastructure, and innovative technologies, the private sector can create resilient, future-ready industries. Thoughts to Ponder: - How can businesses overcome regulatory and fiscal barriers to assume a leading role in economic recovery? - What actionable steps can the government take to align with private sector ambitions for sustainable growth? What policies or investments are essential for empowering Australia's private sector to lead us into a sustainable economic future? 🔗 Read more about the economic outlook and policy implications here: https://lnkd.in/gfn78gRr Tim Buckley Mary Stewart

📢 Have Your Say on Gender Equality in the Workplace The Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024 is a vital step forward in ensuring fairer, more inclusive workplaces across Australia. This bill aims to drive cultural change, foster innovation in gender equity practices, and align business operations with societal expectations of fairness and inclusivity. The proposed targets scheme requires large employers to set measurable gender equality goals every three years - helping accelerate progress toward a more equitable future. This initiative aligns with global frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. The Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee is now inviting submissions to inform its inquiry into this bill. Submissions close on 16 December 2024, and the report is due by 30 January 2025. At the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia, we believe that workplace gender equality is a critical driver of innovation, productivity, and resilience. BCSDA will be making a submission to share our insights and recommendations and we encourage others to join us in shaping this important legislation. 🔗 Learn more about the bill and how to make a submission here: https://buff.ly/4eUxTeZ #GenderEquality #Sustainability #Leadership #WorkplaceEquity

🌍 Kicking Off COP 16: A Global Commitment to Combat Desertification and Drought 🌱 On 2 December 2024, the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) opened with a vibrant cultural performance and a clear call to action. 🔑 Highlights from Day 1: ✅ Leadership Transition: COP 15 President Alain-Richard Donwahi reflected on strides in innovation, financing, and community involvement, before passing the gavel to Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. ✅ Saudi Arabia’s Vision: President AlFadley underscored the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to combat land degradation and drought. ✅ Global Cooperation: UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw urged prioritization of international partnerships, financial investment, and robust action on land restoration and drought resilience. 💡 Innovation and Investments Announced: The Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, supported by USD 150 million, will promote drought-resistant crops, knowledge sharing, and smallholder support. Mongolia’s Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai welcomed delegates to COP 17 in 2026, marking the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. 🛠️ Work Underway: The Committee of the Whole (COW) established contact groups to discuss budgets and drought policy. The Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought presented seven policy options, sparking debates over legally binding protocols versus voluntary measures. 🌟 Australia’s Role 🌟 As a leader in drought resilience, Australia is uniquely positioned to contribute expertise in advanced water conservation technologies, drought-resistant agriculture, and integrated land management strategies, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. 💬 A Call to Action The High-Level Ministerial Dialogue reinforced the need for proactive and inclusive approaches to drought, with innovative policies and partnerships leading the charge. Together, let’s make COP 16 a turning point in our shared journey to safeguard our planet’s land and resources. 🌏 #UNCCD #COP16 #DroughtResilience #LandRestoration #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateAction #GlobalCooperation #SaudiGreenInitiative

🌍 Are pension funds truly prepared for the financial risks of a warming climate? Join Carbon Tracker’s "Loading the Dice" webinar on December 4 to uncover how #climate scenarios impact pension fund decision-making and learn practical strategies to integrate climate risk into governance and investments. 🗣️ Speakers include: David Russell, Chair, Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) Wilhelmina Verdegaal, Chief Product Officer, Trex Analysis Mark Campanale, Founder & Director, Carbon Tracker Don’t miss this essential conversation for anyone governing or advising pension/savings plans. 📅 Date: December 4 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gGkCg4pi #ClimateRisk #PensionFunds #Sustainability

To welcome Greenhouse to the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia, we asked Ed Schmidt, Chief Operating Officer, to share some insights: Greenhouse operates the largest climate tech and innovation hub in Australia from Salesforce Tower in Sydney, 3,800 sqm of co-working space bringing together climate tech innovators, investors, corporate partners, academic experts, government agencies, associations, and civil society to drive impactful climate action. We also run Greenhouse Challenge, an open innovation and crowdsourcing platform that helps organisations identify and adopt climate tech solutions globally, in addition to Greenhouse Programs, including Climate Action Week, designed collaboration experiences to accelerate climate collaboration and scale climate action solutions. Greenhouse works across all sectors of industry and eight identified ecosystem actors with a focus on climate action, nature positivity, sustainability and circularity. Both Greenhouse and BCSDA believe innovative thinking and collaborative action is required to achieve impact and scale the system transformation needed to deliver to the Sustainable Development Goals and meet the Paris Agreement targets.

🌍 Progress Amidst Challenges: INC-5 Takes a Step Forward on Global Plastics Treaty The fifth session of the #IntergovernmentalNegotiatingCommittee (INC-5) in Busan has concluded, and while no treaty was finalised, the commitment to tackling plastic pollution globally remains unwavering. Key developments from the week-long negotiations: ➡️ Reviewed draft treaty texts, with discussions highlighting critical divides on plastic production limits, financial mechanisms, and scope. ➡️ Delegations emphasized the need for inclusivity and sustainable solutions, balancing environmental goals with economic realities. ➡️ Agreement to resume discussions in 2025, laying a foundation for stronger convergence. UN Environment Programme INC Chair Luis Vayas reminded us that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed." This sentiment encapsulates both the progress made and the work ahead as we strive for a binding treaty to combat one of the most pressing environmental crises of our time. #PlasticPollution #Sustainability #GlobalPlasticsTreaty #EnvironmentalLeadership Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia

🌡 Australia, Climate Models, and the Escalating Reality of Heatwaves 🌏 A new study published in PNAS highlights an alarming trend: extreme heatwaves are intensifying faster than predicted by current climate models. This includes key regions globally, such as Eastern Australia, where temperature extremes are climbing at rates that outpace the projections of even state-of-the-art simulations. 🔍 Key Findings: - "Tail-Widening" Phenomenon: The hottest days of the year are heating up much faster than moderate temperatures. For instance, daily maximum temperatures in Eastern Australia show a sharp increase at the extreme ends of the spectrum, significantly impacting our ecosystem and infrastructure resilience. - Model Gaps: Global climate models underestimate these extreme trends by up to four times. This discrepancy raises urgent questions about the tools we rely on to predict and mitigate climate impacts. Implications for Australia: As heatwaves grow in frequency and severity, the risks to Australian agriculture, urban infrastructure, and public health intensify. Models need urgent refinement to ensure policies are based on accurate projections. 🚨 Why It Matters: Australia's position as a climate change frontline makes these findings particularly urgent. The unpredictability of extreme weather events poses risks to business continuity, infrastructure investment, and long-term planning for sustainability. 🌱 Actionable Steps for Australian Businesses and Policy Leaders: - Reassess Climate Risk Models: Incorporate the latest findings into corporate risk and disaster management frameworks. - Accelerate Decarbonisation Efforts: Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions remains the most effective way to curb long-term risks. - Invest in Adaptive Infrastructure: From urban cooling projects to resilient agricultural systems, adaptation is critical. - Collaborate Across Sectors: Universities, policymakers, and businesses must co-create solutions that integrate advanced climate science. What Can We Learn? Climate change impacts are arriving faster and fiercer than predicted. This underscores the importance of ambitious, science-based action on climate adaptation and mitigation. As the study reveals, ignoring these trends risks catastrophic consequences for Australia and beyond. 📢 Join the Conversation: How is your organisation preparing for climate risks that exceed model predictions? What innovative strategies or partnerships have proven effective for you? Kai Kornhuber Samuel Bartusek Richard Seager Hans Joachim Schellnhuber Mingfang Ting Mark Howden Anna Skarbek Mary Stewart Ilona Millar Elisa de Wit 🔗 Read the full study: PNAS – Global emergence of regional heatwave hotspots: https://lnkd.in/g6SfgX56

We welcome Greenhouse as a new member of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia. Greenhouse is a climate action ecosystem dedicated to accelerating the collaboration, adoption and impact of climate technologies on a global scale to achieve rapid reduction in GHG emissions to hit our 2050 net zero goals and beyond. Learn more about Greenhouse here: https://lnkd.in/gfEpUh-i Andrew Petersen Ed Schmidt