Victorian business calls for smarter energy as fundamental to sustainability

Written by CIN member: Bridget Ryan of VECCI

Victorian business calls for smarter energy as fundamental to sustainability
VECCI – Victoria's oldest business organisation – released a Sustainability Report on 17 November as part of the 2009 Victoria Summit.

Focussing on the most pressing issues in sustainability, the Report emphasises energy and energy investment as the major underlying themes to sustainability, and most vital component of a comprehensive response to climate change.

Victoria is at a cross-road on energy and responding to the climate change challenge. For Victoria to grow and sustain business and community prosperity into the future, we must take up this major opportunity to support a sustainable, low carbon energy industry and a low carbon, competitive economy.

The Summit Sustainability Report outlines a 2025 vision for sustainable prosperity for Victoria and strategic agenda to deliver the vision.

To deliver energy for a sustainable 'carbon competitive' economy will require investment and innovation beyond market forces and changes to some regulatory arrangements.

The scale of investment required - both globally and locally - amounts to nothing short of a revolution in our energy systems. That revolution will require major innovation, capital investment, research linkages and regulatory change on both the energy supply and demand side.

A resurgence and revitalisation of investment in energy and energy provision will also strongly support and enhance sustainable business opportunities and investment.

With global and local developments in procurement and supply chains having a growing affect on Victorian business, it is clear that stronger local capacity on carbon and energy management is already necessary and will grow in future.

Victoria is well placed given our resources, skilled workforce and links to research and development; however the latter needs stronger links and better coordination to ensure that our R&D goals match our education capacity and industry needs are met by both.

The Report's recommendations include:

• A Strategic Energy Futures Plan fully mapping directions for Victoria and outlining funding, support, and regulatory changes required to get us there.
• Development of nationally consistent, internationally credible certification and accreditation for carbon and energy efficiency advisors;
• A focus on sustainable procurement by Government; and
• Strong policy and planning attention to energy demand side opportunities in the commercial and industrial sector.

Moving our state towards an integrated, smarter future energy system (as a whole) is vital to ensure we foster sustainability in a carbon competitive, prosperous economy that drives jobs growth.

• Report Link

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