Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T16:43:24.365Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Local Environmental Risk Assessment as a Sustainability Education Tool

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

Garry Smith  and
Ingo Koernicke
Garry Smith*
Affiliation:
Sutherland Shire Council
Ingo Koernicke
Affiliation:
Sutherland Shire Council
*
†Director, Institute of Environmental Studies, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Experience in Australia has demonstrated that problems arise when sustainability requirements appear to conflict with individual development rights or local lifestyles. Community partnering between government and the public is therefore of fundamental importance in working towards sustainable development. Unfortunately genuine partnering is only rarely achieved today, and consultation is a poor working alternative.

Research at Sutherland Shire Council has concluded that citizens are prepared to undertake genuine partnering, including personal involvement in understanding and initiating lifestyle changes. However such willingness is subject to being provided with adequate information and with a genuine government commitment to take action.

The paper describes a local environmental risk assessment procedure which successfully informs citizens about local risks and which demonstrates government commitment to openness and facts-based sustainability planning.

Keywords

Local GovernmentEnvironmentRiskPartnershipsSustainability.
Type
Research Article
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , 2004 , pp. 129 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

References

Cotter, B., & Hanan, K. (1999). Our community - our future. Commonwealth of Australia.Google Scholar
EMA (2002). Planning safer communities. Canberra: Emergency Management Australia, Commonwealth of Australia,Google Scholar
Hajer, M., & Kesselring, S. (1999). Democracy in the risk society? Learning from the new politics of mobility in Munich. Environmental Politics, 8(3), 1–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harding, R. (1998). Environmental decision-making. Sydney: The Federation Press.Google Scholar
Harding, R. (2000, 04). The next environmental challenge: Moving from risk management to the precautionary principle. Paper presented at the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Conference, Sydney.Google Scholar
Norton, T. W., Beer, T., & Dovers, S. R. (Eds.). (1995). Risk and uncertainty in environmental management. Proceedings of the 1995 Australian Academy of Science Fermer Conference on the Environment. Canberra: Australian Academy of Science.Google Scholar
Smith, G.J. (2002). Development and application of environmental risk assessment methods for planningand delivery ofcity and suburban development: The PULSAR effect in urban planning. In Beriatos, E. & Colman, J (Eds.), Proceedings of the 38th International ISoCaRP Congress (pp. 1.6:110–123). Athens, Greece: University of Thessaly Press.Google Scholar
Smith, G.J., & Drinnan, I. (2004). Environmental risk assessment in local area planning for sustainability. Australian Planner, 41(1), 56–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UNCED (1992). United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Local Agenda 21: Chapter 28 of Agenda 21. New York: Commission for Sustainable DevelopmentGoogle Scholar
USEPA (1986). United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Risk Assessment Guidelines. Washington, D.C.: Office of Health and Environmental Assessment,Google Scholar
USEPA (1987). United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnfinished Business: Comparative Assessment Problems. Washington, D.C.: Office of Analysis, Policy and Evaluation.Google Scholar