Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of water pollution as a critical environmental issue, focusing on Australia and global contexts. Part 1 identifies key environmental issues, with a deep dive into water pollution, supported by a literature review and historical data. The report examines the causes, impacts, and the need for attention regarding water pollution. It explores environmental planning and management in Australia, including policies and initiatives like the National Water Initiative and the W.R. Act. The report then broadens its scope to compare environmental planning in other countries, such as Switzerland, China, and the U.S., highlighting their respective policies and strategies for combating water pollution. Part 2 includes an executive summary and introduction, providing an overview of the environmental management and planning approaches in Australia and globally, emphasizing urban forms, community attitudes, resource management, and policy development. The report concludes with a discussion on future strategies for sustainable development of water resources, aiming to offer insights and solutions for addressing water pollution challenges.

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Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
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Contents
Part 1.........................................................................................................................................2
Environmental Issues...............................................................................................................2
Water Pollution as an Environmental Issue............................................................................3
Water and Planning in Australia.............................................................................................4
Water Pollution and Policies in Other Countries...................................................................6
Part 2.........................................................................................................................................8
Executive Summary.................................................................................................................8
Introduction..............................................................................................................................9
Comparison of Environmental Management and Planning in Australia and Globally....9
Urban Form, Community Attitudes to Natural Processes, Resource Management, and
Policy Development in Australia: Water Pollution.............................................................10
Urban Form, Community Attitudes to Natural Processes, Resource Management, and
Policy Development in A Global Environment: Water Pollution......................................11
Business Case..........................................................................................................................11
Strategies for Future Sustainable Development of Water Resources...............................12
Summary.................................................................................................................................13
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................13
References...............................................................................................................................15

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Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
Part 1
Environmental Issues
The environment is integral for the survival and support of life on Earth. It is ranked
among the top priorities of the world, and it is because the Earth’s environment fulfils the
basic necessities of living beings. However, the threats to environmental sustainability are
ever-increasing, and thus, it necessitates the need for appropriate environmental management
and sustainable development. There are certain issues that are causing damage to the
ecosystem and life on Earth. It highlights the significance of identifying damaging
environmental issues and make necessary arrangements for environmental protection. Some
major sources of environmental pollution include pollution, greenhouse gases, climate
changes, and global warming. The analysis of previous literature highlights the pollution of
water, air, and land and their underlying causes. The reasons for pollution include an
increased number of industries, the use of machinery, mismanagement of solid waste
disposal, and the release of toxic material in water. Greenhouse gases are responsible for
drastically increasing temperature that proves to be detrimental for life (Sarkodie et al.,
2019). In recent years, the issue of climate change and global warming has created havoc
across the world, and it is becoming the root cause of other evils such as acid rains, smog,
floods, drought, famine, earthquakes, and landslides.
The environmental issue of land degradation and consequent land desertification is
people all around the world. The issue of land degradation is more important for poor people
as it destructs the biological potential inherently existing in the land that leads towards
conditions similar to a desert. As pointed out by literature, the main reasons for this
phenomenon are overgrazing, climate change, agricultural land expansions, and
deforestation, which disturbs the equilibrium of the natural ecosystem. The atmosphere and
waters of the world are loaded with carbon, which gives rise to excessive air pollution and

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climate changes. The increased level of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere absorbs
radiations of infrared wavelength and reemits them to cause excessive warming of water and
air. Fossil fuel burning and industrial activities act as chief contributors to increasing
concentrations of carbon dioxide gas. It is not only harmful to the climate but also causes
health hazards. In addition to this, environmental issues are deeply rooted in the daily life
activities of humans that is a major contributor to constantly degrading environmental
quality. It is leading towards the forfeiture of survival circumstances and conditions from our
planet (Garrote, 2017). Therefore, the danger and problems associated with environmental
issues make it a worth discussing topic discuss in the present time.
Water Pollution as an Environmental Issue
Water pollution is one of the major types of environmental issues that has an
excessively damaging impact on health, society, and economy. Water pollution is a global
crisis as the world’s freshwater resources are continuously being exploited through
contamination from various sectors, and thus it is threatening the health of humans as well as
wildlife. According to the latest statistics of the World Health Organization, contamination of
drinking water has led to more than 8 million deaths worldwide, and 2 million children under
the age of five years suffered from death-causing diarrhea. In 2017, 220 million people
became infected by a chronic disease named schistosomiasis that is caused by parasitic
worms germinating in infested water (Hutton and Varughese, 2016). An example of an
extreme case of water pollution came forward in China when the drinking water was regarded
as more harmful than breathing in the smog. In India, the general practice of releasing sewage
waste in water has resulted in numerous deaths and long-term deterioration of water as a
resource (Aeschbach-Hertig and Gleeson, 2012). The contamination of water resources due
to urbanization and industrialization is leading to scarcity of drinking water, aquatic life
damage, health hazards, and overall worsening of climate conditions.

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The preservation of water resources from unwanted waste, pollutants, and toxic chemicals
can be materialized through the cross-sector drive of sustainable development. Water
environment salvaging is possible through effective water management policies. In this
regard, countries are engaged in taking necessary actions to avoid further degradation of
water resources by developing and implementing policies on the state-level (Olmstead and
Zheng, 2019). Clean and noncontaminated water is essential for life without any doubt. All
activities, including metabolic, environmental, and industrial, are dependent on water
resources. It shows that water pollution is a serious threat to the environment and life. The
effect of various pollutants on water vary depending on their source and type, but heavy
metals, chemicals, dyes, and organic pollutants are immensely damaging. The entry of
pollutants in the water body occurs through multiple channels, but anthropogenic is regarded
as the utmost concern for environmentalists.
Moreover, previous research highlights water pollution as a predominant source of
many social and economic distresses (Bhaduri et al., 2016). For instance, the time spent by
people to travel long distances to reach and collect clean drinking water could be invested in
productive activities to earn money. It also cuts the medical cost, which is incurred to cure
water-led diseases. Thus, the prevention of water pollution has the potential to offer manifold
advantages.
Water and Planning in Australia
Australia is considered as the driest continent inhabited by millions of people. It
necessitates the need for appropriate planning to manage the use of limited resources of water
available. Australia has the least number of waters, smallest wetlands area, variable rainfalls,
inconstant stream flows, naturally saline and turbid inland streams, and lowest run-off. The
water resources available in Australia are prone to contamination, and thus great care is
required to be taken for maintaining available water resources by avoiding contamination and
overuse. It is necessary to note that in Australia, the problems linked with the quantity and

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quality of water are rooted in the way water resources are being utilized (Wei et al., 2017).
The activities that disrupt the overall balance of naturally existing ecosystems must be
controlled for ensuring sustainable development to combat the issue of water pollution.
The major causes of water pollution and degradation include inconsistent flooding, which
leads to massive sediment amounts. The chemical products used in agricultural farms are also
washed away in the water streams. The addition of unwanted chemical toxins in water
disrupts the balance of the ecosystem. The sediments block the sunlight from reaching
seagrasses and coral. Thus, marine life is deeply injured as an aftermath of water pollution.
Another source of water pollution is construction activities in Australia, which removes
integral components supporting biodiversity from the seafloor and expose water to acid
sulphates (Valli and Girard, 2017). In Australia, pollutants released from urban and industrial
areas also end up directly in the ocean waters.
Australia is engaged in making effective policies for combating the environmental
issue of water pollution. The National Water Initiative (NWI) is developed to optimize
environmental, social, and economic outcomes by means of regulating water usage. Water
reforms in urban areas of Australia are being dealt with in accordance with the National
Urban Water Planning Principles released by COAG. It was a substantive step toward the
planning and management of urban water resources. In addition to this, the Basin Plan is
operational to achieve an equilibrium between considerations of society, economy, and the
environment (Connell and Grafton, 2011). It provides guidelines to deal with the issue of
water over-allocation, natural variance in climate, climate change, and prolonged droughts
that consequently resulted in deterioration of water resources and wetlands in the Basin. The
W.R. Act (water resources act) 2007, is targeted to govern the steps for water resource
management by providing legislation. It underlines the right to groundwater and surface
water, water licensing, flow provisions, monitoring, and resource management as well as

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penalties in case of breach (Howes et al., 2017). It exhibits the steps taken by Australia to
protect against the thriving issue of water pollution.
Water Pollution and Policies in Other Countries
In the twenty-first century, humanity is faced with the major challenge of water
pollution on a global scale. Every country around the world is fighting with the vice of water
pollution and developing necessary policies to deal with this issue (Gain et al., 2016). In
Switzerland, the ancient stations of water purification constructed in the 1960s are still
functional. They are working to remove micropollutants from water caused by agricultural
activities. Swiss policies against water pollution are undergoing changes due to increased
stress of environment protection. The new policies emphasize the development of a new
system of water resource pricing. It addresses the problem of non-point pollution sources,
power generation, flood control, and protection of biological life in the watercourse.
In 2017, China revised its policies regarding water pollution by including the
stipulation of the required backup water resources that can be used in case of emergency,
upgrading drinking water standards, and in case of violation, a fine of 32000 US dollars is
imposed. For the purpose of avoiding the mixing of sewage waste in water resources, the
sewage outlets were moved away from protected areas of drinking water (Owa, 2013). The
government of China instructed to build garbage disposal and sewage treatment plants in
rural areas.
In the U.S., the Clean Water Act is enacted to establish a structure for controlling
pollutant discharge in the water resources of the country. CWA is also monitoring quality
standards of surface waters. It has devised pollution control mechanisms and programs by
setting a standard of wastewater according to industry (Currier et a., 2008). Under this act,
the unlawful discharge of pollutants from point sources into flowing waters is also restricted.
In the U.K., water pollution and relevant encroachments are dealt with in accordance with the
Water Resources Act 1991 and the Environment Permitting Regulations 2010. In the U.K.,

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water pollution is strictly dealt with by the official authorities, and heavy penalties are
imposed. According to the act, the discharge of poisonous and polluting waste matter in the
freshwater, territorial, or coastal waters is not permitted. Similarly, the discharge of sewage
and trade waste into water resources is also forbidden by the policies of the U.K. The country
has taken substantive steps against substantial cutting of vegetation and uprooting it in water
to pollute it (Hassan and Saha, 2018). In short, the world recognizes the perils of water
pollution and strives to eliminate its associated hazards.

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Part 2
Executive Summary
The report is focused on environmental management and planning by presenting a
comparison of Australia and other countries. The selected environmental issue is water
pollution that is counted as a significant threat to Australia vis-a-vis the rest of the world.
Water pollution analysis is carried out in this report in relation to policymaking, business
operations, and future strategical stance of Australia and other countries.

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Introduction
Environmental management and planning have gained importance in recent years.
The trend of managing the environment and combating environmental issues is not limited to
any specific country. Every country of the world is faced with environmental challenges
which keep on rising with every passing year. The world as a whole is prone to
environmental issues, and thus there is an ever-increasing need to manage and plan
environments based on the country-specific context globally. Environment management and
planning are associated with many other factors that shape our surroundings, including the
urban form, attitudes of communities towards varied environmental issues, policymaking,
and management of the environment as a resource (Garrick et al., 2017). This section
includes a comparison of environmental management and planning in Australia and the rest
of the world. It also presents a business case, suggestions for future strategies regarding the
environment, and a summary to conclude the whole discussion.
Comparison of Environmental Management and Planning in Australia and Globally
Environmental management and planning are mandatory to preserve the available
resources of the world. Each country in the world globe is taking necessary actions to ensure
a protected environment over the years (Baland et al., 2018). EPI (Environmental
Performance Index) provides a measure to determine the extent of any country involved in
the implementation of environmental protection policies.
Fig 1: Environmental Performance Index (Williams, 2015)

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According to the World Economic Forum, Australia is ranked third in the list of top
countries putting in efforts for environmental protection. Whereas, Switzerland and
Luxembourg occupy first and second ranks, respectively.
The management and planning of Australia as a country, in contrast with the rest of
the world, show that the country has adopted a dynamic approach for dealing with
environmental issues. According to the guidelines of the Environmental Management Plan
(2014), activities and control measures are underlined by the Australian authorities. The
proper planning of coping with environmental issues is presented visually through diagrams
and maps that provide necessary spatial information which is required for environmental
management in a particular area. After careful monitoring of the environmental management
plan and taking required coercive actions, the plan is reviewed to make essential
improvements (Hall et al., 2018). It shows that Australia is highly involved in the practices of
environmental management and planning.
Urban Form, Community Attitudes to Natural Processes, Resource Management, and
Policy Development in Australia: Water Pollution
In Australia, the urban forms are designed in congruence with the water management
plans. It means that while planning urban forms, the authorities follow the plan which
supplies water to that area. The trends in urban forms have changed over time, and
consequently, the level of water pollution has splurged (Xia et al., 2015). It has made urban
form and water management alliances more necessary in Australia. Community attitudes
towards the preservation of water differ in various areas of Australia, depending upon water
scarcity or surplus. People are more concerned about water management in areas where they
are faced with a lack of water or drought-stricken areas of Australia. Water as a resource is
being managed in Australia for several years, but with increased stress on water resource, its
proper management has gained more attention (Mamouney, 2017). It is due to the reason that
Australia is functioning on the same ancient water resources, and water management is an

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essential element for survival. The analysis of Australian policymaking regarding water
management and pollution shows an ascending trend as they are increasing in number, and
reforms are regularly included to keep them abreast of changing requirements of the country.
Urban Form, Community Attitudes to Natural Processes, Resource Management, and
Policy Development in A Global Environment: Water Pollution
The changing trends in the urban form, which led to the emergence of industries and
an increased number of populations around the world, had a worsening influence on water
quality. The urban areas present a higher level of water pollution, mainly due to closely
packed areas with an abundance of people living and earning in those areas. Urban forms
have changed, and the amount of pollutants produced and released in water sources has
increased. Community attitudes are formed by mutual interactions, discussions, virtual
meetings, and media. As water pollution has gained importance as an emerging issue across
the world, it has led to the exchange of discourse between community people about causes
and prevention. Over the years, people are becoming more aware of activities that lead to the
degradation of water quality. Water is a natural resource that requires a specific level of
management. Water as a resource is managed globally through regular monitoring of water
quality. The analysis of global trends highlights that countries are becoming more cognizant
of water pollution and conservation of water quality than ever before. For instance, in the
U.K., water-polluting incidents dropped from 65% in 2014 to 59% in 2015 due to strict
country policies. It is evident from the increased number of policies specifically developed to
cater to the issue of water pollution (Chakrabarty, 2013). Therefore, trends about water
pollution are found to be evolving with the passage of time.
Business Case
The involvement of the corporate sector in advancing water management and
sustainable development is often criticized due to the lack of economic incentives associated
with it. It is argued that the actions of the corporate, private sector to prevent water pollution

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development 13
has nothing to offer in return. There are no monetary benefits, opportunities for business
expansion, enhance sales volume, and increased business profitability due to water
management practices. These arguments lead towards the building of the final stance that all
these activities targeted at water pollution and sustainable water management only get
acknowledged as green practices of business. It exhibits that these efforts by the corporate
sector are categorized as a strategy to build a business image as a responsible corporate
citizen to gain benefits by strengthening public relations, with minimal concern towards
public interests (Schulte et al., 2012). Moreover, the programs proposed for water
sustainability by corporate sector receives backlash because they do not have any substantial
long-term outcome. For instance, Coca-Cola developed the program of ‘water neutrality’ to
support its claim of giving back the same amount of water to the community as consumed by
its business operations. The later investigation unveiled that the program’s outcome was not
even close to its gigantic claim. Water neutrality was regarded as a misleading term that
essentially lacked efforts to asses the use of water and its offsets. Similarly, it was argued that
the world’s problems of water pollution could not be resolved with some charitable
contributions by big corporate names (Walsh and Dowding, 2012). Nonetheless, the practical
example of SABMiller makes it evident that the company made partnerships for ensuring
efficient water usage and promoted forest management to lessen sedimentation, which
increases water supply. It not only reduces business risk but also addressed the concerns of
the public in the water-stressed area.
Strategies for Future Sustainable Development of Water Resources
For sustainable environmental development to cater to the issue of water pollution in
the future, the most preferred approach is to conserve water at every stage. It is suggested to
make efficient use of water resources by reducing its demand for water supplies currently
existing (Newborne and Mason, 2012). Water conservation should be encouraged at every
level, including individual, group, or corporate. Individuals can play their role by using low-

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development 14
flow accessories for flushing or taking a shower. In the corporate sector, the same water
conservation policy can be followed. For instance, in Italy, Nestle Waters played a role in the
optimal use of water in its factories. The strategy of water reusage is another suggested
approach to deal with the issue of water pollution. The reused water can be conveyed through
the pipeline to landscapes, agricultural lands, or parks (Galli and Vousvouras, 2020). The
practice of water reuse is found to be used by Coca-Cola in the past as a part of its water
management plan. Coca-Cola ensured that all functional business units were following the
policy of efficient use of water resources, and this policy was carried out for five years, which
was then updated to include necessary amendments. In this manner, the future goal of
sustainable water resources can be realized.
Summary
Part 1 and part 2 of this report cover a general discussion of environmental issues,
which is derived from previous literature. The selected environmental issue for this report is
water pollution, which is one of the hottest topics of debate on world forums. The report
analyzes the policies addressing water pollution in Australia and compares it with the policies
of the rest of the world. The sustainable development and management of water as a resource
is important for the economy, community, environment, and business. Part 2 of the report
underlines a comparison of environment management and planning steps taken by Australia
in comparison with other countries. The trends are analyzed over the years to find out that
Australia is showing more commitment towards materializing water resource conservation
than before. A business case is developed to elaborate on the importance of environmental
protection for the business world. In the last section, literature is used to extract some useful
strategies for future sustainable development of water resources.
Conclusion
The business report comprises two parts. In part one, a general discussion about
environmental issues, types, and its significance is provided. It is followed by an elaboration

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development 15
of water pollution as a threat to life, society, economy, and environment. The comparative
analysis of water pollution policies is carried out between Australia and the rest of the world.
In part two, environment management and planning with respect to water resource in
Australia and other countries is provided. Over the year, trends are evaluated to shows its
importance for business, and lastly, suggestions for strategic water management are included.

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development 16
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