2020 Hindsight: An Ecologically Sustainable Australia

Abstract

It is manifestly unfair to comment on the outcome of a national conference when the final report will not be released until May 30th, ten days after I write this editorial. However, the importance of the 2020 Summit held in Canberra the weekend of April 19?20 should not be underestimated. The Summit was an initiative of Australia?s Prime Minister, the Honourable Kevin Rudd, and intended to generate ?ideas and ambitions? to ?help us shape a long term strategy for the nation?s future ? in relation to the economy, . . ., our environment,. . .[etc.] and ensure nobody is left out of Australia?s future.? (www.australia2020.gov.au/index.cfm). The Summit generated an Initial Report, on which this editorial is based, plus numerous press accounts and analyses, and more than 8500 submissions from the public clearly indicating how seriously Australians took the Summit and its potential for actually influencing long term government policy.