With climate change touching all corners of society and occupying international agendas, the publishing industry has an obligation to examine and minimise its environmental impact – and likewise, an interest in thinking about future markets and consumer expectations.
As the industry body for Australian publishers, the APA iscommitted through our constitution to ‘encouraging best practice throughout the publishing supply chain incorporating environmental sustainability frameworks.’
Over the past twenty years, climate change policy has become something of a political football in Australia. Successive governments have by turns approved and reversed a variety of measures including a carbon tax and emissions trading schemes. The failure to achieve consensus has led to great stagnation on climate change action. Research has indicated that if all countries were to follow Australia’s approach, global warming could reach over 3°C and up to 4°C by the year 2100.
The Australian Government, like many other western nations, has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 26–28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
In order to match national and global net zero goals, the publishing industry must act collectively to develop sustainable models of publishing, and globally has shown increasing levels of collaboration.
In November 2020, several key players signed onto a compact made between the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the United Nations affirming the sector’s commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
In September 2021, representatives of the book sector issued a joint statement ahead of COP26 reiterating its commitment to climate action.
Multilateral agreements such as the Green Book Alliance and the Book Chain Project have also brought publishers (and key partners) together to share knowledge and tactics for sustainable best practices. There is every opportunity for the sector to share knowledge and ideas to become a global leader in sustainability.