A Report on the Topical Issue of Sustainability in Australia

This report examines the critical issue of sustainability in Australia, highlighting the country's significant greenhouse gas emissions and the government's efforts to reduce them. It delves into various factors contributing to non-sustainability, such as coal consumption, rainforest depletion, and the impacts of climate change on water resources and infrastructure. The report also discusses the challenges Australia faces in meeting sustainable development goals, including high carbon emissions and waste levels. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of energy, food, and water demands and the need for enhanced environmental policies and actions to mitigate climate change and promote a sustainable environment. The report concludes with recommendations for addressing these challenges and achieving sustainability goals by 2030. Desklib provides this and other solved assignments for students.

The Topical Issue of Sustainability
1

Contents
Executive summary:........................................................................................................................3
1.0 Introduction:..............................................................................................................................4
1.1 Scope and aims......................................................................................................................4
2.0 Analysis of current situation......................................................................................................5
2.1 Measures taken......................................................................................................................5
3.0 Rainforests and natural sources depletion.................................................................................5
3.1 Spills an dcalamaties..............................................................................................................6
4.0 Energy, Food and CO2...............................................................................................................6
4.1 Infrastructure and water requirements...................................................................................8
5.0 Climate change..........................................................................................................................8
6.0 Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................10
7.0 Recommendations:..................................................................................................................11
References:....................................................................................................................................12
2

Executive summary:
Climate change is said as a chief point of talking in Australia from last two decades. Australia is
ranked among the top ten countries in terms of greenhouse gas discharges per capital. The cities
of Australia have become a battleground for the war against change in climate. Australia is
ranked 6th in terms of Earth surface in the World and covers around 2% of the Earth surface and
over half of the population. The cities of Australia generate around 75% of the world’s 80% of
greenhouse emanations. The government of Australia is ready to cut out around 70% of the
emissions by the year 2030.
In Australia, the better partnerships in building bring along the proprietors of more than half of
the cities viable floor space which has been working collaboratively so that the emissions can be
diminished. The emission is so far reduced by 35% which also diminishes their energy bills by
$30m in a particular year. The report will be talking about all the chief reasons of non-
sustainability in Australia and the learning will be gained on what steps the government of
Australia is taking to solve the issues.
3

1.0 Introduction:
The scratchy veracity is that the slow responses to the changes in climate can cause adverse
influences on the environment of Australia. The government has been taking many measures to
resolve the issues and many of them are working robustly. The greenhouse emissions in
Australia are on a large scale and there is a limited source to deal with the emissions but the
government is planning diverse measures to eradicate the emissions until the year 2030 by 70%.
The different measures that can be taken to eliminate the changing climate in Australia and
develop a clean sustainable environment will be provided in the report.
1.1 Scope and aims
The scope of this report is to generate data about the causes and impacts of climate change in
Australia. The ways in which changing climate may affect Australia will be viewed in the report.
The major aim of this report is to watch whether the human lifestyles do not affect the culture
and society of Australia. The chief scope of this report is to create an understanding about the
impacts of climate change on the diverse countries and the country selected for the report in
Australia due to the increasing rise in temperatures of Australia.
4

2.0 Analysis of current situation
Australia is one of the foremost exporters as well as the consumer of coal and the incineration of
coal ponders CO2. As per the records Australia was said as the eighth major emitter of CO2 in the
World and redemptive around 16.5 tonnes per capita. The plan of residential apartments also
outlines a complement of unassuming measures to moderate the impact on the environment of
the apartment living valid to over two-thirds of the world population (Yang and Sarpin, 2014).
The tactics for climate variation that have been developed with the assistance of chief science
groups and the emerging business owners comprehend around 39 actions so that they can deal
with the concerns which array from the fluctuating rainfall patterns to the unadorned heat waves.
2.1 Measures taken
Even the government of Australia has a variety of environmental policies so that they can curtail
the influences of climate change in Australia. There are even measures of agency and even
specific marks for the carbon emission, waste use, resources use, energy and even the obligatory
environmental ethics for integrating sustainability into the government winnings. The
government of Australia ropes the binders to diminish the influences of the environment and to
espouse practices that have been utilising resource sustainability (Moshtagh and Mohsenpour,
2018). The aims of the government have been delineated in the ample sustainability policies that
also integrate the responsibility that drive affects the performance. There are various issues that
are covered in the policies of environmental management such as, energy use, greenhouse gas
emissions, suppliers, products, materials, building waste, potable water use and the ozone-
depleting substances.
3.0 Rainforests and natural sources depletion
Conservation of climate in Australia is a concern of the preservation of the biodiversity which is
especially by shielding the rainforests that are still saved. The rainforests of Australia have major
vitality for conservation as the only western country to possess rainforests is Australia,these
rainforests are a continuous source of timber, food and drugs which should be effectually
5

utilised. The dispute like clearance of natural vegetation and rheostat of exotic weeds are
affecting the land management (Botha and Middelberg, 2015). There isa vast number of
campaigns and the environmental policies encouraging for the actions on saving the
environment.
3.1 Spills an dcalamaties
There have been large disasters of the scale of Exxon Valdez in Australia as it is a large oil
industry,these spills are a serious hazard to the marine environment. The most frightening oil
spill in Australia was of Kirki Tanker which emitted around 17,280 tonnes of oil in 1991. The
Queensland oil spill occurred in March 2009 dropped 20,000 litres of oil. The dumping’s of
wastage from ships is also causing serious threats to the marine environment of Australia. There
isa vast number of causes which predominantly incorporate the navy of Australian and the other
countries that are polluting the rivers of Australia (Mack and Sadiq, 2016). The dumping’s of
chemical conflict agents also impact the pollution in Australia which is again a major threat to
the climate. Coal is referred as the solitary major influencer of the change in climate and the CO2
which is engendered at the time of coal of Australian export is scorched is the largest basis of the
emissions.
4.0 Energy, Food and CO2
If the global warming is no more kept then the 2C around 90% of the Australian local reserves
will be closed down. It is very much crucial to alteration in the economy of Australia to be
managed fairly. The lifestyle which is presently left by the humans is causing adversely to the
environment and the effects of climate change are not hard to measure but are most often ignored
(Botha and Middelberg, 2016). The policies started by the government are needed to be
enhanced and altered as per the situations which are getting worse day by day. As per the reports
the world is going to get rid of 80% of the CO2 by 2050. There are many individuals who know
what can control the carbon emission but when looked at the graphs the CO2 and other gases are
increasing rapidly which puts a question mark on the reports that how the world can get rid of
CO2.
6

The emerging countries are becoming the largest carbon polluters, which makes it a concern to
think seriously about it. The green economy is said as the 6th wave of innovation and vital to be
adopted. The world needs to get out of the poverty but it is not possible unless the fossil fuels go
down (Boschma, et. al, 2015). The energy, food and water needed in Australia are deeply
interrelated, the greater demand for food and energy creates demand for the water. Australia has
been ranked on the 20th position for progressing towards the sustainable development goals.
Australia is also said as the home of the World’s most lived cities but they have been far behind
to meet the sustainability goals of the world. Australia has been ranking ailing on the goals of
climate change and clean energy as it ranked as one of the highest carbon emissions in the
World, it has also been failing the environmental goals after the major levels of solid waste
(Vince, et. al, 2015). Even after the long life and good health of Australian individuals, the
indexes show that Australia has the most number of obesity in the World. As per studies
Australia degrees moderately exceedingly on lack of poverty, the chief purpose of the report is to
assist Australia in determining the gaps that are necessary to be closed so that the sustainable
development goals can be accomplished by the year 2030 and the priorities of early actions can
be determined. AS per the SDG indexes Australia has been performing decently then the other
United Nations, which concentrates on the economic and social developments but not in the
terms of environmental sustainability.
The study of indexes and report suggests that wasting no time Australia should act straightaway
to solve the concerns of climate change. Australia is not the worst performing country on the
graph relating to the policies and job opportunities but lacks in the control of pollution. In the
world, if there are requirements for specific goods in future than it is vital for individuals to take
utmost care of that particular thing (Rowell, 2017). Sustainability is there for very much vital as
the environment is and also will be the most vital thing in future, without a structured and
sustainable environment it is impossible to exist. The word sustainability is a long word which
itself depicts its meaning to keep on going a certain thing at the exact same rate.
Australia also possesses the principal reserves of uranium over the globe and also there have
been large enquiries on the mining of uranium, the extraction of uranium is widely opposed by
the anti-nuclear movement which has been contrasting the mining and also shielding the
7

development of nuclear plants. Australia is said as one of the most urbanised countries over the
globe and many of the cities in Australia have hefty urban footprints and are also categorised by
the unsustainable and subordinate density of urban struggle.
4.1 Infrastructure and water requirements
The requirements of infrastructure and the other services that have been subsidizing to the
concerns of pollution, energy consumption, urban heat islands and transport related emanations
are under such policies. The urban straggle has been continuing to enhance at a quick rate in
most of the cities in Australia predominantly in the capital cities. To curb the urban straggle
transit-oriented development tactics have been utilised in some of the past years. One of the most
sustainable issues in Australia is of water sustainability, as in the scenario of droughts the
restrictions of water are applied to the conversion of water (Kristensen, 2015). The climate
change in Australia may be exaggerated for the drought conditions in Australia by laying
compression on the resources of water which may lead to the alternative sources of which
integrates of construction of water tanks, dams and desalination plants. The shielding of
waterways is also a chief issue for diverse a reason that incorporates of habitats and also to the
utilisation of waterways by the individuals. Australian waterways are facing severe concerns of
the environment.
5.0 Climate change
The changing climate has been unpleasantly affecting Australia and its neighbouring places. The
water resources are affected and also continuous droughts are occurring due to the bad climate.
The temperatures in Australia have been constantly raising and the models off climates are
forced with the uplifting greenhouse gases. By enlargement of the various aspects of warming in
Australia are also to be attributable to the heightened greenhouse effects. The carbon dioxide and
the carbon cycle has also been a major cause of the negative climate change as all the living
organisms comprise carbon just like the gases and the minerals (Delavari, et. al, 2015). The
carbon cycle comprises the moment of the carbon dioxide are out of the atmosphere, amongst the
atmosphere, living organisms and decay. On the lengthier time scales, the chemical weathering
8

and formation of the fossil fuels diminish the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. There is a
leading apparatus of control of the carbon to the atmosphere.
Increment in the greenhouse gases because of the human activities also lead to negative
influences on the climate. The industrial revolution has been enhancing the increment in human
activities like the burning fossil fuels and agriculture. As per the recent overview of the
emissions carbon dioxide and the greenhouse gases have been developed. Ascribing the regional
rainfall changes is a very stiff task that ascribing the temperature changes. By the Gillard
government, a carbon tax was announced in 2011 so that the influence of climate change can be
diminished, this policy has very much fruitfully eradicated the carbon dioxide emissions in
Australia (Rowell, 2017). Australia has been experiencing and steady increment of 1 0C in their
temperatures since the 20th century. As per studying the paleoclimatic records show that at the
time of glacial maxima Australia was enormously parched. Studying the Garnaut Climate change
review it can be depicted that the change in climate can have a lot of negative effects on many
regions, activities and the structure.
On the ecosystem of Australia, climate change has been putting sweeping influences such as the
increasing temperatures and the unremitting erosion of the coasts from the upper level which can
impact further peroxiding of the greater barrier reef(Li, et. al, 2016). Along with the greater
tropical cyclones and stretched droughts can make the situation even crueller (Vince, et. al,
2015).As per the detailed report of the government of Australia, the level of water has been
constantly rising and around 247,600 houses are at serious risk of floods. The climate change is
the agenda for the most environmental and social justice and the non-government organisations.
9

6.0 Conclusion:
As per the report completed above, it can be concluded that the sustainability is very much
crucial for the present scenario of World and necessary steps and policies are vital to be
implemented. Australia has been selected as the country in the tasks as the level of pollution has
been on the continuous increase in the country. In the task, the various reasons that lead to the
change in climate and the ways in which they can be solved are given. The report has also tinted
the certain challenges for Australia in the terms of environmental sustainability.
The chief aim of this report was to depict about the climate changes and the effects of climate
change on the environment of Australia, the solutions for this severe problems have also been
provided in the task. There are severe policies that the government of Australia has implemented
to solve the issues and diverse NGO’s have also been established to deal with the issue. The
concern is currently on an unavoidable track and it is crucial to take mandatory precautions to
solve the issue.
10

7.0 Recommendations:
The planet is finite and so are its sources, no resource in the world can exist after so much
exploitation and it starts on declining after a certain stage. The sustainability goals of Australia
consist of reducing the consumption of energy, water and the consumables, diminishing waste to
landfill and enhance the recycling system, integrate the sustainability measures and conform to
the demands of the legislation.Campaigns should be started for spreading awareness regarding
the depletion of ozone layer and the drastic effects of pollution on the environment of Australia.
The rainforests are conserved in Australia but the CO2 levels have been on a drastic increase
which is a serious risk for the world and the basic policies should be upgraded to deal with such
issues. The government of Australia has also been appointing the commissions of climate change
that have been concocting the instantaneous of likely causes of influences of climate changes in
Australia and other neighbouring regions.
11

References:
 Boschma, S.P., Murphy, S.R. and Harden, S., 2015. Herbage production and persistence of
two tropical perennial grasses and forage sorghum under different nitrogen fertilization and
defoliation regimes in a summer‐dominant rainfall environment, Australia. Grass and forage
science, Vol. 70(3), pp.381-393.
 Botha, M. and Middelberg, S.L., 2015. Analyzing the water resources management
disclosures of South African SRI-indexed companies.
 Botha, M.J. and Middelberg, S.L., 2016. Evaluating the Adequacy of Water-Related
Reporting and Disclosure by High-Impact users in South Africa. Journal of Environmental
Assessment Policy and Management, Vol. 18(01), p.1650003.
 Delavari, M., Sønderlund, A.L., Mellor, D., Mohebbi, M. and Swinburn, B., 2015.
Migration, acculturation and environment: determinants of obesity among Iranian migrants
in Australia. International journal of environmental research and public health, Vol. 12(2),
pp.1083-1098.
 Kristensen, L.J., 2015. Quantification of atmospheric lead emissions from 70 years of leaded
petrol consumption in Australia. Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 111, pp.195-201.
 Li, G.D., Conyers, M.K., Schwenke, G.D., Hayes, R.C., Li Liu, D., Lowrie, A.J., Poile, G.J.,
Oates, A.A. and Lowrie, R.J., 2016. Tillage does not increase nitrous oxide emissions under
dryland canola (Brassica napus L.) in a semiarid environment of south-eastern Australia. Soil
Research, Vol. 54(5), pp.512-522.
 Mack, J. and Sadiq, K., 2016. The Impact of Information Asymmetry on CSR Disclosures.
 Moshtagh, M. and Mohsenpour, M., 2018. Community viewpoints about water crisis,
conservation and recycling: a case study in Tehran. Environment, Development and
Sustainability, pp.1-11.
 Rowell, A., 2017. Green backlash: Global subversion of the environment movement.
Routledge.
 Vince, J., Smith, A.D., Sainsbury, K.J., Cresswell, I.D., Smith, D.C. and Haward, M., 2015.
Australia׳ s Oceans Policy: Past, present and future. Marine Policy, Vol. 57, pp.1-8.
12

 Yang, J. and Sarpin, N., 2014, October. A framework for people capability enhancement to
support sustainable facility management practices. In Proceedings of the World Sustainable
Building Vol. 14 Conference.
13