17 May 2012:
Australia is a world leader in developing clean, more
sustainable resources and technologies to prevent pollution, the
managing director of CRC CARE, professor Ravi Naidu said today.
Prof. Naidu was commenting on yesterday’s release of the
‘Living Planet Index’ by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
which ranked Australia as the world’s seventh largest
polluter based on its overall resource use.
“The report is based on natural resource use per head of
population – whereas most of Australia’s resources in
fact go overseas to support other countries. Also it overlooks the
cutting edge work being done here to improve resource use
efficiency and minimise impact on the environment,” he
said.
“However we agree with the WWF’s general point that
the world needs to be more sparing and efficient in its use of
resources, and to limit humanity’s impact on water, soil,
health and the environment generally – that’s what our
research is all about,” he said.
“For example we are currently helping Australian resource
companies and governments to remediate contaminated soils, to
prevent future contamination and to re-use water and other
wastes.
“We are working with Chinese scientists to develop new ways
to incorporate organic wastes from agriculture back into soils, to
increase carbon sequestration, improve fertility and enhance food
and energy production. This will benefit both countries.”
CRC CARE had formed alliances with companies and researchers in
China, India, South Korea, the US, UK and Bangladesh in recent
years to develop novel ways to use resources more efficiently and
prevent pollution, he said. This was a result of global recognition
of Australia’s leading-edge capacity in the assessment and
prevention of contamination.
“Furthermore we are doing this in a way that brings
together the interests of industry, government and the community
– something that doesn’t often happen around the
world.”
“So, while Australia is one of the world’s major
resource producers, we are also a leader in finding ways to
minimise the impact of resource use, recycle things and prevent
adverse effects on the environment and human health. And we are a
leader in exporting the skills, knowhow and technology to do this
to the rest of the world.
“Australia has the track record to show for it,” he
said. “But we need to continue to grow our skills and
capacity in this area, so we can become truly efficient users of
resources that are likely to become increasingly scarce in this
century.”
More information:
Prof. Ravi Naidu, Managing Director, CRC CARE, 08 8302 5041 or 0407
720 257
Adam Barclay, Communications Manager, CRC CARE, +61 (0) 405 357
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