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Australia has established an international reputation for excellence in the environment industry, in particular for research and development, the commercialisation of innovative technologies and skilled environmental services.
Our abundant natural resources, diverse climate, innovative research, highly skilled workforce and proximity to Asia give us a competitive edge and provide the ideal platform for international investment in the environment sector.
In 2006, the industry was valued at $16.7 billion and employed up to 130,000 workers. The Environment Industry Action Agenda has set a target of more than $40 billion in annual sales by 2011.
Climate change is an important issue for Australia and the Australian government supports the development of an internationally competitive environment industry by offering funding, export grants and business development assistance.
Key growth areas in Australia’s environment industry include:
- Land and water remediation technologies
- Solid waste management and recycling
- Environmental sensors and monitoring technologies
- Mine site rehabilitation
- Renewable energy
- Air and noise pollution control
In 2005, exports of environmental goods and services were estimated at $1.9 billion. The Environment Industry Action Agenda has set a target of more than $4.2 billion in annual exports by 2011.
Australia’s biggest export markets include:
- India – water and renewables
- China – air, water and renewables
- Vietnam – water and solid waste
- Thailand – water, solid waste and renewables
- New Zealand – water
- USA – mine site rehabilitation
- Japan – solid waste
Asian markets, in particular China, India and Thailand, are expected to see an increase in demand for environmental goods and services as their governments implement sustainable management plans to combat rapid industrial development and population growth.
Australia’s highly competitive environmental services sector currently boasts at least 1000 consultancies and professional service providers.
Australian environmental consultants offer expertise in water and energy utility infrastructure, recycling, insurance, site rehabilitation, R&D, risk management and legal issues.
International firms are looking to partner with Australian experts to develop innovative products and solutions for the environment industry.
One example is URS Australia, which is a subsidiary of US-based URS Corp. URS Australia works with Australian and Asian industry clients and governments to help encourage environmental sustainability in major projects.
AbiGroup, GHD and Maunsell are further examples of successful international investment in Australian environment industry services.
Australian companies are consistently developing new and innovative technologies for reducing and managing landfill and waste streams.
Leading Australian company Collex-Onyx recently opened a $60 million bioreactor which can handle 400,000 tonnes of municipal waste each year and produce 20MW of electricity from extracted gases (enough to power 20,000 homes).
Australian companies Global Renewables and Lend Lease have been awarded a $5 billion contract in the UK to build and operate a state-of-the-art waste management project to recycle materials and extract energy, methane and soil carbon from the waste stream.
Australian researchers are working together to deliver commercial solutions to a variety of tough environmental challenges.
Australia’s biggest research organisation, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has partnered with the University of Texas to develop desalination and alternative fuels solutions. (CSIRO ranks in the top 1 per cent of world scientific institutions in 12 research fields.)
Meanwhile, the Rheology and Materials Processing Centre and partners at the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for micro-technology are developing a range of air quality and ozone monitoring systems.
Australian firms have established an international reputation for their innovative water management solutions:
- CodyHart Environmental are working with Japanese firms Toshiba and Shimuzu to develop real-time water contamination sensors.
- Australia Water Services (AWS) provides water and waste water treatment expertise throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Australia’s mining and manufacturing industries are major consumers of environmental products and services.
Mine site rehabilitation, water management and waste management are key priorities for the mining industry and international companies are joining forces with Australia’s experts to take advantage of this booming sector.
(Sources: Invest Australia/Australian Environmental Industries, Environment Business Australia, EnviroNET)
For more information please visit:
www.wme.com.au – Australian Environment Industry Directory
www.greenhouse.gov.au – Australian Greenhouse Office
www.awa.asn.au – Australian Water Association
www.industry.gov.au – Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
www.environment.gov.au – Environment Australia
www.environmentbusiness.com.au – Environment Business Australia
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