Tag Archives: optimisation
A way to combine the precautionary principle and risk assessment for the evaluation of project alternatives

Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) is, in its simplest form, meeting the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability to meet those of the future (World Commission on Environment and Development (1987), ‘Our Common Future’, also commonly known as ‘The Brundtland Report’). It requires that actions to protect…
Environmental Assessment of Project Alternatives – how much should be included in an EIA?
Musings on the ethics of artificial reef construction
Yesterday I was listening to discussion on the radio about a planned artificial reef near Geographe Bay in the south west of Western Australia. Information on the artificial reef plan can be found at the Fisheries department web site [http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/media/index.php?0000&mr=846]. The commentators were arguing about the costs and benefits of…
Closing in on the tipping point for solar power
The last couple of blogs have been on policy mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar power is often touted as a fundamental part of the solution to reducing emissions and there has been a lot of angst about the profitability of solar power companies. One concern is that the…
To tax or not to tax; that is the question
Yesterday the Senate passed the 18 Clean Energy Bills for control of greenhouse gas emissions, more commonly known as the carbon tax laws. The Gillard government after initially promising not to introduce a carbon tax was corralled down the road to taxation by minority members of the governing coalition. Is…
A solution to monitoring of small populations
It is common for a company to be required to monitor certain species that may affected by their operations or for governments to introduce management measures for protection of rare or endangered species. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who seriously objects to this; it is a reasonable…