Sustainability Report: Analysis of Australia's Progress and Challenges

This report provides an analysis of Australia's sustainability report, examining the country's progress over the past 30 years. It highlights advancements in areas such as life expectancy, health, and education, along with economic growth and low unemployment. However, the report also addresses increasing inequality and environmental decline, particularly concerning climate change. Key issues discussed include the aging population, rising healthcare costs, urban growth, and the need for innovation. The analysis emphasizes the importance of long-term planning, including investments in human capital and intangible assets to boost productivity and foster innovation. The report also assesses the effectiveness of sustainability indicators and suggests measures for improvement, highlighting the need for reducing car dependency and addressing greenhouse gas emissions. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices and the need for proactive measures to ensure a positive future for Australia, including the development of sustainability plans to address challenges and promote well-being.

Westpac Sustainability report or Brisbane
City Council Sustainability indicators
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TASK 1
The sustainability assessment report provides a picture of Australia. It reflects the
changes that have taken place in the nation over the last 30 years. It has been assessed from the
sustainability report that there is greater progress in several areas. It has been determined that
Australians are living longer, their health and level of education has also enhanced to a greater
extent (Farneti and Guthrie, 2009). This has been determined by the means of sustainability
report. The country has attained advantages as a reason of stronger economy that has low
unemployment and increasing incomes. However the report reflects that there is increase in
inequality and health of natural environment has also declined in various areas.
From the assessment of sustainability report it has been determined that plan has to be
made in relation with ageing population, increasing in health costs, growing cities and alterations
in the traditional work and role of families (National sustainability council,2013). The
sustainability report presents that the decision that are being made today would make
determination that whether or children and grandchildren are able to live lives that are good as
one which is today. This has been gained that Australia's comparative performance is lower on
the basis of some measures that is comprised of stronger emphasis on the values of natural
capital. It has been assessed that Australia has transformed from the dominantly Anglo-Celtic
society at the end of the World war II to one of the world's nation that has attribute of
multicultural (Borga, Citterio, Noci and Pizzurno, 2009). By assessing the sustainability report
this has been gained that Australia is regarded as country of permanent settlement immigration
but there is presence of significant emigration. The one who are emigrating from Australia half
of the immigrants are returning to their nation of origin or moving to the third country and also
half are Australian born residents departing. There is among 750000 and one million Australians
who are residing in the foreign countries.
Since the mid of 1990s temporary migration has enhanced in significance with temporary
business skilled migration, working holiday makers as well as students being the major groups of
temporary migrants. The sustainability report presents that as there is changes in the Australia's
demographics there is greater budgetary pressure that occurs on the age pension, health costs as
well as aged care facilities. It is significant to develop plan regarding the ageing population so
that they are able to live happily (Ballou, Heitger, Landes and Adams, 2006.). The health costs of
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the government is expected to rise that effect the ageing population in terms of increasing the
demand as well as expectations of the health services. There is enhancement in the chronic
diseases which requires development of the sustainability plan so that well being can be ensured
to a significant level.
The growth in sustainability can be bought by the means of innovation as well as
engagement. Higher terms related with trade are becoming significant as productivity of labor is
making greater contribution to the income growth, that offers windfall gain for Australia. The
growth in the productivity can be attained by the means of enhancement in the human capital as
well as innovation. The country possess stronger education as well as research and development
systems that offers sound foundation for growth in productivity. However it has been assessed
that research is much likely to come from the government in comparison with the business. Also
Australia is not good in making translation of the research inputs in the business innovation
business (Levin and Clark, 2010.). It is significant that higher investments are required in
intangible asserts in order to boost the sophistication of Australian economy as well as promote
innovation. The country has ensured sustainability in increasing the liveliness among the cities.
But with this there is presence of certain issues as well. This is related with energy consumption,
car dependency as well as equity. The population of Australia is still relatively lower population
densities and are higher dependent on car. Reduction in the vehicle kilometers traveled in the
cities would enhance population as well as environmental health to a greater extent.
Climate change is considered as the long range intergenerational concern with the
consequences which are extending around the economy. The green house emission in Australia
is higher in comparison with any other developed nation (Mock, Strohm and Swartz, 2007). It
has been assessed that the indicators that are being used in the report are effective in making
assessment of the country. Along with this measures can be taken in relation with the areas that
require improvement. It has been assessed that through sustainability plan improvement can be
made.
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REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Ballou, B., Heitger, D. L., Landes, C. E. and Adams, M., 2006. The future of corporate
sustainability reporting. Journal of Accountancy. 202(6). pp.65.
Borga, F., Citterio, A., Noci, G. and Pizzurno, E., 2009. Sustainability report in small enterprises:
case studies in Italian furniture companies. Business Strategy and the Environment. 18(3).
pp.162-176.
Farneti, F. and Guthrie, J., 2009. Sustainability reporting by Australian public sector
organisations: Why they report. In Accounting forum (Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 89-98). Elsevier.
Levin, S. A. and Clark, W. C., 2010. Toward a Science of Sustainability: Report from Toward a
Science of Sustainability Conference; Airlie Center~ Warrenton, Virginia (No. 196). Center
for International Development at Harvard University.
Mock, T. J., Strohm, C. and Swartz, K.M., 2007. An examination of worldwide assured
sustainability reporting. Australian Accounting Review. 17(41). pp.67-77.
Online
National sustainability council. 2013. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/e55f5f00-b5ed-4a77-b977-
da3764da72e3/files/sustainable-australia-report-2013-summary.pdf>. [Accessed on 30th
March 2017].
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