MSI Publications & Policy

MSI Annual Activity Reports
MSI Research Reports
Proceedings and Workshop Reports
Sustainable Campus Group Sector Reports
Policy Commentary and Opinion Articles
Policy Submissions

MSI Annual Activity Reports

Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI) Annual Activity Report 2011 (pdf, 6.4 MB)

Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI) Annual Activity Report 2010 (pdf, 2.2 MB)
Also available in high-res (pdf, 11.6 MB)

MSI Research Reports

	Conceptual and methodological opportunities for the Victorian DPI with systems thinking and practice By Ray Ison, Andrea Grant, Ben Iaquinto, Josh Floyd, Victor Sposito and Rob Faggian MSI Report 10/05, Nov 2010 (pdf, 3.8 MB) This report documents the main activities and findings of a research collaboration between the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and members of the Systemic & Adaptive Governance Research Program. A Synthesis Report (pdf, 1.2 MB) is also available. Contact: Professor Ray Ison
	Our demand: Reducing electricity use in Victoria through demand management (pdf, 1.2 MB) By Akaash Sachdeva and Philip Wallis MSI Report 10/04, Aug 2010 This report presents a review of electricity demand management measures that have been implemented internationally and assesses how these measures could be implemented in the Victorian context, with recommendations for systemic change to reduce energy use. Contact: Dr Phil Wallis
	Advancing busfire arson prevention in Australia (pdf, 3.2 MB) Edited by Janet Stanley and Tahl Kestin MSI Report 10/03, June 2010 A report on the issues and recommendations arising from a symposium held in March 2010, including symposium papers covering mental health, criminal justice, community, and risk assessment approaches to prevention. Contact: Dr Tahl Kestin
	Promoting social inclusion in adaptation to climate change: Discussion paper (pdf, 1.49 MB) By Janet Stanley with Robert Birrell and Ernest Healy MSI Report 10/2, Jan 2010 The Department of Sustainability and Environment is scoping a project which aims to understand, facilitate and review the process of adaptation to climate change in the Westernport Region of Victoria. This project may form a model for approaches that could be applied to other regions in Victoria, and possibly Australia. Contact: Dr Janet Stanley
	The igreen and Y Green projects: Potential benefits from project expansion (pdf, 87 kB) By Megan Argyriou and Janet Stanley MSI Report 10/01, Jan 2010 This report examines the benefits of several possible scenarios for the expansion of the Y Green and igreen programs, which offer skills development for young people to conduct home sustainability assessment. Contact: Dr Janet Stanley
	Adaptive water governance and systemic thinking for future NRM: Action research to build MDBA capability (pdf, 1.64 MB) By Ray Ison, David Russell and Philip Wallis MSI Report 09/4, Nov 2009 Behind every high performance organisation there is a culture that informs the way individuals think and work collectively. This scoping project was designed to introduce Murray-Darling Basin Authority staff to strategies of human inquiry aimed at maximising professional outcomes and minimising systemic failures. Contact: Dr Philip Wallis
	Energy and water taskforce: Social research 2009 (pdf, 569 kB) By Janet Stanley and Victoria Johnson MSI Report 09/3, Nov 2009 A review commissioned by Sustainability Victoria of the The Energy and Water Taskforce (EWTF), a program which has assisted over 5000 low income households to save energy and water. Contact: Dr Janet Stanley
	Melbourne's water situation: The opportunity for diverse solutions (pdf, 961 kB) By Philip Wallis, Bob Birrell, Dave Griggs, Ernest Healy, John Langford, and Janet Stanley MSI Report 09/2, Nov 2009 We present scenarios of Melbourne's water storage levels based on supply (inflows) and demand (population and per capita use) to give a broad-brush account of long-term water supply. While in reality, many factors will influence the actual outcome; this analysis looks only at broad likely trends. Contact: Dr Philip Wallis
	Prediction of the impact of increasing frequency of bushfire on the water resources of the forested upland catchments of the Murray basin (pdf, 1.97 MB) By Terence Chan, John Langford, Ralph Mac Nally, and Philip Wallis MSI Report 09/1, Aug 2009 A scoping study of model options and linkages for a whole ecosystem model. The report examine how a single virtual model can be assembled from existing component models, including vegetation dynamics, hydrology and biogeochemistry process models. Contact: Dr Philip Wallis

Proceedings and Workshop Reports

>	Managing community impacts of climate change (pdf, 538 kB) Proceedings of a workshop held on 12-13 Mar 2012 in Kolkata, India. Contact: Dr Paul McShane
>	Extending successful community-based forest management in response to climate change (pdf, 672 kB) Proceedings of a workshop held on 22-23 Feb 2012 in Palangka Raya, Indonesia. Contact: Dr Paul McShane
>	Community development in the Ganga Basin in response to climate change (pdf, 116 kB) Proceedings of a workshop held on 22-23 Sep 2010 in Kolkata, India. Contact: Dr Paul McShane
>	Extending successful community-based forest management in response to climate change (pdf, 112 kB) Proceedings of a workshop held on 20-21 September 2010 in Kolkata, India. Contact: Dr Paul McShane
>	Developing proactive policy and practice for land and water management responsive to climate change (pdf, 130 kB) Proceedings of a symposium held on 5-9 July 2010 in Melbourne as part of AusAID's Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Fellowships program. Contact: Dr Paul McShane
>	Climate and water management: India (pdf, 105 kB) Report from a workshop held 3-4 May 2010 at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) in Mumbai, India. Contact: Dr Paul McShane
>	Advancing busfire arson prevention in Australia (pdf, 3.2 MB) Report from "Collaborating for change: Sympsium advancing bushfire arson prevention in Australia", held 25-26 March 2010. Contact: Dr Tahl Kestin
>	Proceedings of the International symposium on integrated catchment management in response to climate change (pdf, 946 kB) Summarised proceedings of a two-day symposium, held on 1-2 Sep 2009 in Melbourne, to develop an integrated approach to managing catchments, given likely climate change scenarios (sea level rise, increased frequency and severity of floods, storms, increased wild fire risk) in Indonesia, Viet Nam and India. Contact: Dr Paul McShane

Sustainable Campus Group Sector Reports

>	Australian Tertiary Education Sector Sustainability Report 2011 Summary Report (pdf, 2.51 MB, Oct 2011) Full Report (pdf, 1.3 MB, Sep 2011)
>	Australian Campuses Sustainability Assessment: Sustainable Campus Group National Reporting Project 2010 Summary Report (pdf, 1.5 MB, updated and amended, Apr 2011) Full Report (pdf, 1.3 MB)
>	2008 SCG Sector Report (pdf, 608 kB)
>	2006 SCG Sector Environment Report (pdf, 571 kB)

Policy Commentary and Opinion Articles

>	Knowledge sector development for sustainable resource management in response to climate change in Indonesia Audio presentation of seminar by Dr Paul McShane to the School of Geography and Environmental Science, May 2012
>	Reframing climate change could deliver health benefits by Dr Marion Carey, May 2012
>	The drought strikes back: How decentralised water supplies will beat the next dry season by Dr Philip Wallis, May 2012
>	Forestry, economic development & climate change in Asia: Resolving the tension by Dr Paul McShane, May 2012
>	Simple steps to save the environment may not make much difference by John Thøgersen, Jim Curtis and Liam Smith, April 2012
>	Communicating health and climate change Recording of a Australian Science Communicators panel discussion including Dr Marion Carey, March 2012
>	Coal Seam Gas: Future bonanza or toxic legacy? by Dr Marion Carey in Viewpoint Magazine, February 2012
>	The psychology behind smaller power bills by Dr Liam Smith, November 2011
>	Biodiversity and human health Interview with Dr Marion Carey, October 2011
>	The unfinished business of water reform by Dr Philip Wallis, September 2011
>	Why climate scientists think climate change is real by Prof Dave Griggs, September 2011
>	Climate change and health Interview with Dr Marion Carey, August 2011
>	Hidden costs of the coal seam gas mining rush by Marion Carey and David Shearman, July 2011
>	One small thing you can do for the environment: Think critically by Dr Philip Wallis, July 2011
>	Roundtable discussion on the science of sustainability Video featuring Prof Dave Griggs and academics at Warwick University, UK, July 2011
>	A price on carbon proposed - at last - but it comes with positives and negatives by Dr Janet Stanley, July 2011
>	Inquiry slams ‘Swiss cheese effect' in the Murray-Darling Basin by Dr Philip Wallis, June 2011
>	Poverty in South Asia a fluid problem by Dr Paul McShane, Apr 2011
>	Failing to act on climate change costs us billions by Anna Skarbek, Apr 2011
>	Economists want water conservation to dry up by Dr Philip Wallis, Apr 2011
>	The impact of a price on carbon on households by Dr Janet Stanley, Apr 2011
>	Not a carbon tax, an emissions trading scheme by Anna Skarbek, Mar 2011
>	Summary & Commentary: The Victorian climate change White Paper (pdf, 118 kB) by Akaash Sachdeva, Aug 2010
>	Climate change and the economic recession need to be seen as the one issue (pdf, 142 kB) by Dr Janet Stanley, May 2009
>	Commentary: The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) White Paper (pdf, 142 kB) by Dr Janet Stanley, Dec 2008

Policy Submissions

>	Submission to the Inquiry into Australia's biodiversity in a changing climate (pdf, 182 kB) by Dr Marion Carey, Aug 2011, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Environment and the Arts, Parliament of Australia
>	Submission to the Inquiry into the impact of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Regional Australia (pdf, 1.1 MB) by the NCCARF Water Governance Research Initiative (Prof. Ray Ison, Prof. Lee Godden, Dr Philip Wallis & Ms Naomi Rubenstein), Dec 2010, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia, Parliament of Australia
>	Submission to the Smart Meters regulatory review (pdf 403 kB) by Dr Phil Blythe, May 2010, Essential Services Commission, Victoria
>	Submission to the Inquiry into Soil Carbon Sequestration in Victoria (pdf, 234 kB) by A/Prof. Jason Beringer, Prof. Roy Jackson, Dr Tim Cavagnaro, A/Prof. Tony Patti, Prof. Dave Griggs & Dr Philip Wallis, Feb 2010, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Parliament of Victoria
>	Submission to the Reform of Australian Government Administration Consulation by Prof. Ray Ison & Dr Philip Wallis, Nov 2009, Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet, Australian Government Cover letter (pdf, 110 kB) Sup. 1: Paper delivered by Ray Ison to The IPAA National Conference, Tuesday 18 September 2007 (pdf, 175 kB) Sup. 2: Report on Adaptive water governance and systemic thinking for future NRM (pdf, 1.64 MB)
>	Submission to the Inquiry into Environmental Regulation in Victoria (pdf, 65 kB) by MSI, Oct 2008, Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission