Assignment on Energy and Water Sustainability in Australia

Surname Energy and Water Sustainability in Australia and Saudi Arabia 1
Energy and Water Sustainability in Australia and Saudi Arabia
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Surname Energy and Water Sustainability in Australia and Saudi Arabia 2
Energy and Water Sustainability in Australia and Saudi Arabia
Introduction
Sustainability has become an important factor in this age where the climate change is
threatening the environment. Governments and businesses must be sustaining social and
environmental resources. Many countries and businesses have embraced corporate
sustainability to provide solutions and add value to their operations. Norton Rose Fulbright
(2012) affirmed that the largest natural resource is water. The demand for water has increased
following the high global freshwater consumption. This has made the resource to deplete
because the largest aquifers are running out. The problem is likely to deteriorate with the
growing demand. The current climate change is a threat to the environment and ecosystem
thus protecting the water resources is vital. Similarly, the climate change is compelling
countries to review their energy resources and regulations to reduce emissions (McCullough
2014). Many countries, including Australia, have established new regulations to achieve
energy and water sustainability. This has made it critical to compare and contrast how
Australia and Saudi Arabia have addressed the energy and water sustainability.
Step 1: Energy Sustainability and Water Sustainability
Australia
The Australian government has responded to the climate change by investing in
energy and water sustainability. Through the environmental sustainability policy, the
government has intended to minimize the impact of its operations and activities on the
environment. Energy sustainability in Australia has taken the center stage. The government
recently established the renewable energy target scheme. Through this scheme, the
government had set a new target of 33,000 GWh by 2020 thus increasing the renewable
energy (Commonwealth of Australia 2016). Apart from the scheme, the government has also
established Australian renewable energy agency thus make the energy solutions affordable.

Surname Energy and Water Sustainability in Australia and Saudi Arabia 3
This regulation needs to increase the supply of this new form of energy. Through the agency,
the government has invested over $2.5 billion to support new projects and initiatives to
commercialize renewable energy solutions. The agency needs to diversify the country’s
energy mix.
The Australian government also established an energy efficiency program through the
council of Australia governments (Commonwealth of Australia 2016). This involved the
development of the national strategy on energy efficiency. The program has helped the
government to accelerate energy efficiency initiatives and support businesses and households
in transiting to the renewable energy. The energy efficiency program also introduced a
mandatory energy rating level and identified the appliances that need to be displayed on the
energy rating levels like freezers, televisions, refrigerators, clothes washers, air conditioners,
computer monitors, and clothes dryers. The program has also helped the country to install the
energy efficient lights.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia government has made significant efforts to protect the environment and
natural resources thus guarantee the quality of life. It has initiated various policies and
regulations to achieve sustainability principles. For instance, it established the Ministry of
Water and Electricity to manage and sustain water resources and generate power. The Saudi
government has also established the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) that
gives a decree for environment sustainability policies (McCullough 2014). Recently, the
PME gave a decree to companies and business to meet new water, air, and noise pollution
requirements. The government has established an environmental plan to protect the natural
and health resources. In 2008, the Council of Ministers had approved the new regulations.
Saudi Arabia government has initiated programs that embrace the alternative energy
sources. It is investing in renewable energy source including solar because of its vast desert