Environmental Policy Comparison: US vs. Australia

This assignment presents a comparative analysis of environmental policies regarding energy and water sustainability between the United States and Australia. It evaluates the effectiveness of government actions and explores differences in policy approaches. The report highlights Australia's superior performance based on the Environmental Performance Index rankings and emphasizes the country's commitment to sustainable practices like wastewater conservation. Finally, it advocates for stronger environmental action globally, drawing inspiration from Australia's model.

RUNNING HEAD: PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY
Principles of Sustainability

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY 1
Contents
Introduction..............................................................................................................................................2
Australia and United States of America environmental action regard to energy and water sustainability
.................................................................................................................................................................2
Energy sustainability and water sustainability in Australia.................................................................2
Government regulations...................................................................................................................2
Scientific Research and Technological Innovation.........................................................................3
Action of non-governmental organisations and the private sectors.................................................3
Exemplar projects............................................................................................................................4
Energy sustainability and water sustainability in United States of America.......................................4
Government regulations...................................................................................................................4
Scientific research and technological innovation............................................................................5
Action of non-governmental organisations and the private sectors.................................................5
Exemplar projects............................................................................................................................5
An Environmental Actions between Australia and United States of America: A Comparative Study...6
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................6
References................................................................................................................................................8

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY 2
Introduction
Sustainability is simply a concept of wellness, fair treatment and ultimately a justice to an
environment. It is a continuous process of development of healthy and wealthy environment.
Sustainability deals with a prosperous relationship between human being and environment
(Baird, 2012). An ecological phenomenon towards present and future needs (Fisher, 2016).
Thereby sustainability targets a constant expansion or growth of environment.
This project focuses on a report of comparison or contradicting study between two countries
in regard to energy and water sustainability. Also deals with several environmental actions
where a betterment value can be check or monitor among two countries i.e. Australia and
Unites State of America.
Australia and United States of America environmental action regard to
energy and water sustainability
Environmental action includes every minute or basic activity which helps to make assistance
for a healthy environment. It acts as an essential agency which works for environmental
necessities (Anton and Shelton 2011).
Energy sustainability and water sustainability in Australia
According to Australian environmental department, energy and water sustainability provides
in a various forms that are classified in following sub heads-
Government regulations
Australian government is committed towards its environmental values. Some of these
programmes are as following-
 Australian Energy Regulator (AER)-a renowned energy market which regulates,
monitors, set up and operates energy system. It provides an overall nationalised
energy market at one place and provides a classic illustration for energy sustainability
(Goldie, Douglas and Furnass 2005).
 The Reef Trust- A most trusted program established with a view to achieve
comprehensive goal for water sustainability. Where targeting investment to protect
Great Barrier Reef Region by way testing or monitor first-hand approaches to
eradicate core threats to the reef (Prosser 2011 and Lazarova Choo and Cornel 2012)

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY 3
Scientific Research and Technological Innovation
According to Australian energy and environment department, government conducts several
program and strategies where an Australian drawn a welcome picture of following
mechanisms over environment in regard to research and technological innovation such as
 National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) a lengthy binder given by
Australian government in forming a most innovative programme to protect
environment and conduct climate research.
 Clean energy regulator- an Australian leading portfolio where government
constantly on conserving energy and makes a best use of clean energy. It includes an
emission of carbon intoxication level and to enhance efficiently Greenhouse System.
 Water trigger projects- a project developed through the most unique way that is by
way of coal and coal seam gas expansions. Listings of recent projects are Tarrawonga
coal mine extension project, Wallarah 2 coal project, Vickery coal mine extension,
Watermark coal project etc (Pittock, Hussey and Dovers 2015).
Action of non-governmental organisations and the private sectors
A most audible way to create environmental awareness marked by aid of non-governmental
organisations and renounced public spirited sectors or groups of individuals who plays
remarkable acts to protect environment by its focal point. These are as listed in following way
 350. org- the most widespread Australian NGO who shape a global drive in innocent
climate and well upcoming of generations by the rule of common people. Such
organisation holds a leadership quality to protect a very fair treatment of
environmental events.
 International water centre- an organisation to safeguard every drop of water and to
spread awareness among the people of Australia. It offers training and education for
research and knowledge services to device of an entire of water cycle.
Exemplar projects
An Australian government provides a framework of several exemplar projects to facilitate
needs of environmental action regard to energy and water sustainability. Illustrations is
 ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency) - one of the most esteemed
exemplar project known for expansion of local renewable energy (Daly, 1990)

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY 4
 WGV Water wise Development exemplar- a movement to incorporate urban water
management industry and to expedite water optimisation scheme throughout the local
precincts of Australian regions.
Energy sustainability and water sustainability in United States of America
United States of America (USA) government evokes a different angle of sustainability in
respect of energy and water. It includes a various dimensions on an expansion of
environmental actions in affording an equal percentage of focus over all development of
environmental issues (Marion, 2011).
Government regulations
The goals of energy and water sustainability encourage among American government by
implementing a new approaches and methods. The government creates an equal balance
between environment needs and its effective policies (Weinberg and Reilly2013). Such
regulations are
 U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
(EERE) -a regulation to control effectively a global clean energy environment and to
promote a widely an awareness over energy efficient values in every family, erections
and businesses of American region.
 Clean water act, 1972- this act establish the general structure to regulate or monitor
the standards of water quality. It also includes a punitive measure that if any reckless
polluter discharge any contamination in water then such polluter is liable for a
punishment under an act (Fowler, 1984 and Leadbeter, 1999).
Scientific research and technological innovation
The USA government afford numerous policies and strategies where an Americans drawn a
blessed vision of following mechanisms over environment in regard to research and
technological innovation such as
 Clean energy revolution- an industry generates ample projects of solar, wind,
nuclear, geothermal, bioenergy. All such various energy sources produce millions of
economic opportunity of clean and healthy energy.
 Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) - a most lucrative
technologies that allow advanced energy room keys and enable effectiveness of
energy resources in a righteous manner.

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY 5
 Various techniques for water conservation- an effective tools and equipment are
introduced by USA in recent trends that is
o Nanotechnology in filtration- an effective way to purify standards of water
quality and to eradicate a contaminated state of water.
o Smart monitoring of water distribution networks.
o Approach of Intelligent irrigation to improve water system.
o Introduction of wastewater processing in urban areas.
Action of non-governmental organisations and the private sectors
Some of the illustrative listing of renowned non-governmental organisations and the private
sectors provides a classic example of environmental actions in regard to energy and water
sustainability is
 Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC)- A group of lawyers, scientist and
other expert professionals who work to curb global environmental issues and to target
a goal to curtail especially with a clean energy, water sustainability inbuilt in it.
 Sierra club- one of the most eminent and leading organisation in U.S. It has even
now authorized much environmental legislation such as Clean Air Act, the clean
water Act and the Endangered Species Act and also promote abundant of activities in
reference of energy and water substantiality.
Exemplar projects
The US government has implemented various exemplar projects to ensure output of actual
energy and water sustainability in its practical aspect. An illustration is
 Energy 101- an academic project to spread an adequate awareness among colleges
and universities. This project is conducted by US department of energy (DOE). It
promotes the energy literacy work. A primary goal behind introducing such energy
course is to widespread a message of energy conservation at a large scale.
 Orange county in water and wastewater facilities- an initiatives taken by united
states environmental protection agency (EPA) which addresses an unique way in
conserving water efficiency. Such project emphasise to conserve even a waste water
of ground and to serve such water for drinking purposes. It mainly deals with a
recycling of water.

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY 6
An Environmental Actions between Australia and United States of
America: A Comparative Study
Both the countries have different approaches towards environmental issues. As Australia
government put its own way of styled policies, schemes, or techniques in which the most
noticeable environmental action in respect of water sustainability is to safeguard great reef
trust where every Australian citizen is concern to save a biodiversity at a large scale. On the
other hand, US government has its most impressive movement of conserving waste water of
ground; provide a unique position of its own concept in water sustainability.
In respect of energy sustainability, an efforts of both countries are not equally impressive as it
both countries put almost unequal weightage of policies or schemes in energy sustainability.
But Australian government seems to be more concern about energy sustainability as it
projects finds a distinctive position where concept of conserving energy at its finest way. For
example AER (Australian Energy Regulator) every Australian put enormous effort in energy
sustainability by assessing an energy market at regular basis.
Thus in comparative study of both countries, Australian efforts are more appreciable but at a
same time, it is considerable note to found an idea of conserving even waste water as most
unique way of water sustainability.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly this report favours an Australian government in environmental actions in regard
to energy and water sustainability. The reason behind it, the performance checks by EPI
(Environmental Performance Index) annually every year where ranking of Australian
government efforts is 13th and whereas US government efforts given ranking of 26th which
clearly emphasise that efforts are not well appreciable globally (Stephen Walker 2014).
Another aspect is that principles of sustainability in respect of energy and water sustainability
marked more coercive factor in an Australian government as paralleled to US government.
Therefore, it is significant to promote every environmental actions became so loud and clear
that every individual raise his hand to put initiate towards shaping a clean and healthy
environment entirely like Australian government.

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY 7
References
Anton D.K. and Shelton D.L. 2011. Environmental Protection and Human Rights,
Cambridge University Press, pp.459.
Australian Government, department of energy and environment, [Online] Available at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/ [Accessed: 3 October 2017].
Rachel J. B. 2012. Environmental Law, Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Limited,
pp.254.
Daly, H.E. 1990 ‘Toward some operational Principles of Sustainable Development’.
Ecological Economic. Vol. (2), pp.1-6.
Energy.gov, sustainability performance office, [Online] Available at:
https://energy.gov/management/spo/sustainability-performance-office [Accessed: 3 October
2017].
Fisher D. 2016. Research Handbook on Fundamental Concepts of Environmental Law,
Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 435-438.
Fowler R.J. 1984. Environmental Law and Its Administration in Australia, AGPS, Canberra
Goldie J, Douglas B, Furnass B 2005. In Search of Sustainability, Csiro Publishing, pp131.
Lazarova V, Choo H and Cornel P. 2012 Water - Energy Interactions in Water Reuse, IWA
Publishing, pp.48.
Leadbeter P. 1999. Environmental Outlook: Law and Policy, Federation Press, pp.156.
Marion N. 2011. Making Environmental Law: The Politics of Protecting the Earth, ABC-
CLIO, pp.234-239.
Pittock J, Hussey K. and Dovers S. 2015. Climate, Energy and Water, Cambridge University
Press, pp 121-124.
Prosser P.I., 2011. Water: Science and Solutions, CSIRO, pp.178
Stephen Walker 2014., ‘Top eco-friendly countries of the world’. [Online] GBTimes.
Available at: https://gbtimes.com/top-eco-friendly-countries-world [Accessed: 5 October
2017].
Weinberg P. and Reilly K. A. 2013. Understanding Environmental Law, LexisNexis
Publishing, pp.174.