Workshop One: Factor Five: Transforming the Australian Economy Through 80 Per Cent Improvements in Resource Productivity By 2030

The 21st century will see monumental change. Either the human race will use its knowledge and skills and change the way it interacts with the environment, or the environment will change the way it interacts with its inhabitants.

Workshop Objective

The purpose of this workshop is to provide participants with a deeper understanding of how to innovate to become more "competitive and profitable" by achieving significant improvements in resource productivity.

In a series of interactive facilitated sessions, using case studies and the latest scientific and industry research, participants will explore practical strategies, tools and methods that enable them to take the action needed to reduce their use of carbon intensive resources and raw materials, enables them to achieve significant improvements in cost efficiencies and implement more sustainable business practices in the workplace.
This is a practical workshop based on the lessons contained in the recently released book
‘Factor Five: Transforming the Global Economy through 80% Improvements in Resource Productivity.’ 

All workshop attendees will receive a free copy of Factor Five, the official update of the 1997 International Best Seller, ‘Factor Four: Doubling Your Wealth and Halving Your Resource Usage’ by global sustainability expert, Ernst von Weizsäcker.

Facilitated by one of Factor Five’s co-authors, Dr Michael Smith, this workshop and the book provide in depth resource productivity studies of the following sectors: Buildings, Industry, Agriculture, Food and Hospitality and Transportation.

Given that these sectors are responsible for virtually all energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions globally, this workshop and book provide the most up to date guide available to cost effectively achieving the IPCC recommended target of 80 percent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

These sectors are also responsible for the majority of water usage in the world. Hence this book and workshop will also demonstrate how to achieve 80 per cent savings in freshwater usage across most sectors as well.

Finally, this book and workshop, review best practice in policy and regulation from around the world to underpin efforts to significantly increase resource productivity.

Workshop Programme:

08.30 Registration and welcome coffee

Part One: A Whole System Approach to Factor Five Resource Productivity Improvements

09.00 Session 1: Broadening the Solutions Space - An Introduction to Factor Five and Doing More with Less
How we can do much more with much less energy, water and minerals in the heavy industry, buildings, agriculture, food and hospitality,  and transportation sectors.

Session 2: A Framework for Action - overview of the eight key steps needed to achieve Factor Five results

10.30 Morning tea

11.00 Session 3: Applying the "Factor 5 Framework for Action" - Illustration through examples:
Session 3a: Building and Transport Sectors
Session 3b: Heavy Industry and Light Industry Sectors
Session 3c: Agricultural Sector & Food and Hospitality Sectors

12.30 Lunch

Part Two: Making It Happen - Achieving Factor 5 Resource Productivity in Your Business or Organisation

13.30 Session 4: Identifying the Challenge - Problem definitions

Session 5: Identifying a range of potential solutions - applying the "Factor Five Framework for Action" to the specific challenge/opportunity within your business or organisation

15.00 Afternoon tea

Session 6: Broadening the solutions space - Further exercises to inspire "Out of the Box" thinking 

Session 7: Group discussion of options identified to enable "Step Change" resource productivity Improvements for each sector

Session 8: Overview of new opportunities for Government - policy changes to underpin and incentivise Factor 5 Resource Productivity Improvements
Final Q&A and Conclusion

17.00 Close of workshop

About your Workshop Leader

Dr Michael H. Smith, Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU & Co-Founder, TNEP

A Ph.D graduate of the Australian National University, he is currently, a Research Fellow at the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society, he was co-founder and Research Director of The Natural Edge Project from 2002-2010.

Since 2002 Michael has led TNEP’s research into practical applications of sustainable development with international partners like the Chicago Climate Exchange and World Federation of Engineering Organisations and Australian partners such as the Institution of Engineers Australia, Plastics and Chemicals Industry Association and Australian Paper, Timber Products and Paper Council.

Michael is a co-author and co-editor of The Natural Advantage of Nations (2005), co-author of Whole System Design (2008), Factor Five (2009) and lead author of Cents and Sustainability (2010).