Comparing Australian Sustainable Development Laws with UN Goals

This essay explores the multifaceted concept of sustainable development, defining it as progress that fulfills current needs without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their own. It emphasizes the importance of resource management, carbon emission reduction, and the utilization of natural products for societal well-being. The essay focuses on Australia's approach to sustainable development, highlighting the Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) process and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It then contrasts these Australian initiatives with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the goals, particularly those related to health, climate action, and environmental conservation. The essay underscores the alignment between Australian sustainability laws and UN goals, while also discussing the challenges of implementing multiple goals simultaneously. It concludes that UN laws have a predominantly positive impact on the Australian sustainability system.

Laws of Sustainable
Development

Table of Contents
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

MAIN BODY
Sustainable development has been defined in many ways and in simple terms it is termed
as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability helps in using resources that meets present
needs and also resources are available for future generation. Stabilising and reducing carbon
emissions is key to living without environmental limits. Sustainability promotes use of natural
products over synthetic once and society as a whole gets benefits. A heather society with
sustainable practices helps in achieving higher level of social well-being in country (Fearnside,
2018).
In the process of introducing sustainable development in Australia the Ecologically
Sustainable Development [ESD] process is launched in 1989. It was the first formal government
initiative aimed at institutionalising sustainable development in decision making. ESD has
become a key guiding principle for development and environmental decision making in
Australia. Environmental Protection And Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 promotes
ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically use of natural
resources. This sustainable development helps in conserving and enhancing the communities
resources so that ecological processes on which life depends are maintained and total quality of
life is maintained for now and for future (Ladan, 2018).
Sustainable development goals of United Nations provides a blueprint to achieve a better
and more certain future for all. In these goals focus is provided on global challenges related to
poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, peace and justice. The goals
are interconnected and it is advisable by United Nation to achieve these goals by 2030. UN's
sustainability goals involves one of its goals as good health and well being of general public,
climate action and clean water and sanitation. Sustainability goals that are set by UN supports
Australian sustainability laws as in Australia main motive towards sustainability is provided for
environment protection. For protecting environment activities such as extraction of natural
resources are limited so that environmental balance can be maintained. Goal number nine of UN
for industry, innovation and infrastructure focus on innovating new was through which old
material is put to reuse. Minimising waste is really important to maintain sustainability as
resources are scare and when they will be utilised in such manner that no wastage is promoted
then it will leads to availability of more resources in future. Environment will be clean and
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protected with using old material in new innovations. One of the Australian Ecologically
Sustainable Development laws will be supported through UN sustainable development goals.
One of the another goal defined in UN sustainable program is to improve quality of life
on land. For this initiative trees are planted which helps to protect the environment. Australian
sustainability goals are complemented through UN goals and this turns as a motivational tool to
protect environment for all the citizens. When an issue is recognised at national and international
level then it attracts concern of all general public. Contribution of Australian public to enhance
life on land will help ultimately achieving objective of environmental protection (Sustainability
Goals UN, 2019). Climate change is another important concern mentioned in UN goals which
initiates that young generation needs to be get educated on climate change so that sustainability
can be implemented at an early age. Educating young generation about how environment is
changing due to over extraction of natural resources and what are its results on future generations
helps in generating some sort of sensibility regarding sustainability. When initiative is taken by
young generation to protect environment then it will be beneficial for Australian sustainability
laws to achieve them as soon as possible.
United Nations sustainability goals complements Australian sustainability laws and
provides a effective guidelines to enhance sustainability. Implementation of UN sustainability
laws in Australia will help in achieving sustainability that is decided in Australian law. Together
with this several other goals are implemented to bring sustainability as per UN law and this
creates hurdle for achieving main sustainability goal in Australia. When several goals are
introduces that focus can not be made on one and other goals are equally important as per UN
laws. When UN laws are implemented with Australian laws achievement of laws on specific
time duration will not be possible (McKay and Zheng, 2017). Together with this it can be said
that UN laws will have more of the positive affect on Australian sustainability system then
negative one.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Fearnside, P. M., 2018. Challenges for sustainable development in Brazilian
Amazonia. Sustainable Development. 26(2). pp.141-149.
Ladan, M. T., 2018. Achieving Sustainable Development Goals Through Effective Domestic
Laws and Policies on Environment and Climate Change. Environmental Policy and
Law. 48(1). pp.42-63.
McKay, J. and Zheng, J., 2017. Water Security, Governance and Sustainable Development Goals
in China Radical Laws, Institutions and Courts. In Resource Security and
Governance (pp. 165-187). Routledge.
Online
Sustainability Goals UN. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html>
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