A Shared Environmental Analytics Facility (SEAF) – Proposed
The leading advances in environmental information streamlining, sharing and curation we have achieved in Western Australia are already serving as a model for other jurisdictions, and are internationally recognised. Now – we need to put information to its full use and get the greatest value possible for proponents, regulators, traditional owners and the wider community.
Our next challenge – the crucial analytics that describe, at any point in time, the state of our environment, the pressures and cumulative impacts upon it, the predicted risks associated with future development, and how to assure protections.
Leveraging successful initiatives in data sharing and curation, and existing services and capabilities across corporate, government and science sectors through a shared framework could deliver more efficient, complete, robust, transparent and assured environmental accounting, risk assessment and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting for regulators, private industry, traditional owners and the wider public.
Ongoing stakeholder engagement to help inform the design of a proposed facility
WABSI continues to engage widely to ensure all relevant stakeholders have a voice in shaping and endorsing a value proposition to inform the design of a proposed shared analytics facility. WABSI, together with the Western Australian Marine Science Institution and other partners and stakeholders, has been working with PwC and Microsoft to develop a feasibility study for SEAF, which will help position Western Australia as a leader in digital environmental assessments. A high-level roadmap has been developed, with a proposal to establish SEAF as an independent legal entity.
SEAF presents an opportunity to create a shared, robust, repeatable and sustainable environmental information value chain to transform environmental assessment, reporting and assurance for regional development.
SEAF will support the development of State of the Environment and reporting on Country, whilst implementing the recommendations from Independent Review of the EPBC Act – Final Report which called for the adoption of National Environmental Standards, digitisation of environmental impact assessments and the creation of an efficient environmental information value chain.
WABSI continues to progress a regional approach to shared environmental analytics to accelerate benefits for end users.
WANT TO ENGAGE WITH US?
Email us data@wabsi.org.au