The 2007 OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Australia is now available.
"Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the Government will act on the report's findings.
"Our response to this report will be genuinely whole-of-Government," he said.
"We know environment issues don't rest with one or two portfolios and that these issues don't stop at borders either, it's a whole-of-planet challenge and it requires a whole-of-Government response."
As Peter Garrett is new to the ministry only time will tell if he has any ability to live up to his words.
Hopefully before then he will learn that the environmental picture is larger and more complex than the issue of plastic bags.
Some of the main conclusions and recommendations of the OECD review suggest that Australia might be falling behind in effectively addressing:
transport sector emissions, air pollution control monitoring, fine particle pollution, urban growth pressure, use of market-based instruments to advance ecologically sustainable development, exit assistance for business/industry to protect environmental integrity, water scarcity, energy sector net greenhouse gas emissions, agency data collection, monitoring and reporting, integration of traditional owners into whole-of-government policy on natural resource management, equity for all Australian stakeholders, public consultation mechanisms, environmental impact training for business operators, integration of environmental objectives into government procurement and operation policies.
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