An Introduction to Sustainability in Australia
Before you embark on your sustainability journey, it’s important to understand WHY you’re making this choice! Having all of the facts will make it easier for you to stay on board and know why you’re making these changes. Because let’s be honest, this is probably not going to be an easy journey.
We were appalled to learn that Australia is the world’s 14th largest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita. We (yes, you and me) emit 16 tonnes of carbon dioxide EACH, per year.
This is the equivalent to the weight of 16 polar bears *insert sad face here*. This is crazy, for the size of our population, compared to some of the front runners like China and the USA.
Due to this ridiculous figure, Australia’s treasured ecosystems and vulnerable coastal communities face significant environmental challenges that are year by year, exacerbated by climate change. Sustainability is a critical issue, affecting not only the environment but also the nation’s economy, public health, and overall quality of life.
In light of this, it’s insane to us that sustainability in Australia is not being addressed with more urgency. Sustainability matters, for you, for our cute polar bear friends and for the future of our planet. Take my proffered (if not a little sweaty) hand and I’ll tell you why.
Climate Change in Australia: A Historical Context
You might be thinking “but Australia has always had bushfires and floods?” Yes, this is true.
BUT… recent decades have seen a marked increase in the intensity and frequency of these events, a trend that is linked directly to climate change. Think back to some recent natural disasters that might have directly affected you or people you know and love.
In recent years, the impacts of climate change in Australia have become more blatant, with catastrophic bushfires in 2019-2020, prolonged droughts, and unprecedented coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef, which has just experienced it’s fifth mass bleaching since 2016 (Australian Institute of Marine Science, 2024; Henley et al., 2024).
In the early 2000s, people were still largely, skeptical of climate change (my dad still harps on about climate change being a ‘normal Earth process’), but by the mid-2000s, the scientific community started to link human activity to an acceleration in global warming. Researchers studying ice found that carbon dioxide has not been so potent in the atmosphere as it is now in over 800,000 years (NASA, 2024).
A process that should be occurring over thousands of years, was now happening at an alarming rate. Australia’s unnerving amount of carbon emissions were recognised by scientists, spurring national discussions on climate change and sustainability. While these discussion led to the adoption of various policies aimed at reducing emissions and promoting renewable energy sources, there is still a long way to go.
Why Sustainability Matters in Australia
Here are the cold hard facts on climate change in Australia for you over the last 100(ish) years:
- Australia has warmed 1.5º, resulting in extreme heat events
- Increase in frequency of fires
- Increase in wet season rainfall resulting in flooding and flash flooding
- Decrease in cool season rainfall resulting in crop failure and drought
- Increased risk to social, emotional and economic wellbeing of Australian people and businesses
- Decrease in snow cover and depth (CSIRO, 2024).
We feel the same unnerving fear that you do. We’re scared and apprehensive about the years to come. But it’s not all doom and gloom. If enough people and businesses switch to more sustainable choices, Australia can find itself back on the yellow brick road of environmental prosperity.
Individuals alone won’t be able to make a HUGE difference, but your actions do matter and it only takes one domino to send the whole track tumbling. To create a more holistic change in Australia, a move toward greener solutions must be enacted in all areas including agriculture, energy, water management and waste reduction. That’s where the real battle lies, unfortunately.
There are multiple upsides to sustainable solutions in Australian society. I’m not out here trying to embody a finance bro, but we do need to talk about economics (just for a moment).
Sustainable developments contribute to economic resilience and social well-being (Gardoni & Murphey, 2018) as well as creating the potential for thousands of new jobs in the renewable energy, waste management and sustainable agriculture sectors (United Nations, 2019). Not to mention, sustainability’s role in driving innovation, creating new markets and enhancing resource efficiency (Rautavuori, 2022).
If the goal is to equip the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to address environmental challenges, the most important thing IMO and logical next step, is sustainability education in Australian schools.
Having conversations about sustainability at school and at home with your kids, siblings, pets, friends, stuffed teddies etc. helps everyone understand the importance of environmental conservation and empowers them to make informed decisions about their ecological impact (Biancardi et al., 2022).
Sustainability and Climate Change: Looking to the Future
Sustainability and climate change are inextricably linked, and Australia’s future depends on its ability to adapt to the changing climate. The country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, such as floods, heatwaves, and wildfires, requires urgent action to reduce emissions, improve resilience, and protect communities. I don’t think I can put it any more bluntly than that.
In light of recent climate events, Australian policymakers have supposedly been focused on sustainable development in Australia, with an emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity, and investing in climate adaptation strategies.
In 2021, the Australian government committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Myself, as well as a lot of way more qualified people than me, think this isn’t good enough or soon enough (Gills & Morgan, 2019). We need effective policies and people who really, genuinely care, if the transition toward sustainable solutions in Australia ever actuates.
What does the Australian Government need to do?
Looking ahead, why sustainability is important for the future of Australia is clear. The impacts of climate change are already being felt, but with coordinated action, Australia can mitigate some of the worst effects. Sustainability solutions provides a roadmap for addressing climate change, protecting natural resources, and building a resilient economy that can withstand the challenges of the future. We’re on a journey of learning what all of this means so we can tell you and make your life a bit easier.
The time to act is now, for the sake of the environment, the economy, and future generations of Australians.
What can Australia do to tackle Climate Change?
Here are some things the Nordic countries we visited on our trip were already doing to tackle climate change.
Denmark: Wind Energy
Denmark generates approximately 50% of its electricity from wind energy, with a long-term focus on becoming fossil-free by 2050 (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2023).
What Australia could adopt: Given Australia’s vast coastline and wind resources, increasing investments in offshore wind farms and energy storage could significantly boost renewable energy capacity.
Sweden: Carbon Tax and Pricing Policies
Sweden has implemented one of the highest carbon taxes globally at EUR125 (AUD$208) as of 2024 (Government Offices of Sweden, 2024). A carbon tax is when the government charges emitters, maybe mining companies, for example, based on how much greenhouse gas they emit. This tax has resulted in more than a 50% decrease in carbon emissions since 1991 (Ritchie & Roser, 2022).
What Australia could adopt: Um… the same thing?
Norway: Electric Vehicles
At the end of 2024 upward of 27% of all registered vehicles in Norway were electric vehicles, with EVs making up approx.. 54% of new car sales (compared to 7% in Aus). Norway also has incentives like tax exemptions and subsidies on tolls for people who own EVs.
What Australia could adopt: Australia could expand its EV incentives and build more charging infrastructure.
Finland: Sustainability Education
Finland integrates sustainability and environmental education into its school curriculum, raising awareness about climate change and sustainable living from an early age resulting in more eco-conscious citizens and a more sustainable society (Furu & Heilala, 2020).
What Australia could adopt: Australia could embed sustainability into the national curriculum to educate future generations about environmental issues and empower them to adopt sustainable practices.
Iceland: Geothermal Energy
Iceland uses its abundant geothermal energy for electricity generation, district heating, and industrial applications, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. One guy we met in Iceland said he paid the equivalent of a PIZZA for his quarterly electricity bill.
What Australia could adopt: Australia could explore the potential of geothermal energy, particularly in regions like South Australia, to diversify its renewable energy resources and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
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