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Environment industries
The nature and structure of the Australian environment industry is unlike most other industry sectors. One distinguishing feature of the industry is its role in delivering improved environmental outcomes, which are shared by the whole community, often without direct cost to those who benefit. The industry also enables other businesses and industries to meet the community's expectations for improved environmental outcomes in a way that can improve the competitiveness of the business.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts works with the Australian environment business sector, by:
The Environment Industry Action Agenda (EIAA) is a strategic 10-year plan to strengthen Australia's environment industry capabilities that, in turn, will improve overall business sustainability in Australia. Read more about the EIAA on the Department of Industry,Tourism and Resources website.
The Action Agenda, a partnership between Environment Australia, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, and environment industry management leaders, was and launched in September 2001.
It sets out a list of 18 recommendations for government and industry in realising business opportunities and industry sector growth.
The Barton Group is the alliance of environment industry leaders charged with the implementation of the EIAA. Many of the specific recommendations of the Action Agenda require industry to take the lead and the Barton Group is championing a range of projects to achieve the industry's agreed vision "to build an environment industry with annual sales exceeding $40 billion by 2011".
The Barton Group's EIAA First Year Implementation Report was released by Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian MacFarlane, and Chair of the Barton Group, Paul Perkins on 5 February 2003.