New research Exploring the Attitudes-Action Gap in Household Resource Consumption surveyed three environmental lifestyle segments representing the spectrum of attitudes, opinions and intentions across the population in Melbourne: “committed” greens, “material” greens and “enviro-sceptics”. Despite a divergence of attitudes, opinions and intentions, few differences were found in relation to each segment’s actual consumption of energy, water, housing space, urban travel and domestic appliances. The persistence of well-ingrained habits and practices among individuals and households and the lack of norms and values in western societies that explicitly promote environmental conservation among its population are fundamentally involved in this attitude-action gap.
Living Smart is an award-winning program that helps you live a more sustainable lifestyle. Knowledge, skills and practical tools are obtained over 6–8 weeks for you to take action in your own home and community to improve both your quality of life and reduce your environmental impact. Topics include simple living, water, power, waste, gardening for biodiversity, gardening for food production, transport, healthy you, healthy home, and community. You can participate in a course in your local area, or if there are no courses near you, consider hosting one.
In July 2011, the NSW Government commenced a comprehensive review of the state’s planning system, with the aim of creating a new planning system that is more strategic and streamlined and which facilitates sustainable economic growth and upfront community participation. In July 2012, the government released ‘A New Planning System for New South Wales - Green Paper’ which set out the major proposed reforms and responded to an Independent Review. Since then, there has been stakeholder engagement to develop the White Paper – A new planning system for NSW that sets out the details on how the new system will be implemented, and accompanying draft legislation. Public feedback is invited by 28 June 2013.
The new Look Learn Act campaign is highlighting the impacts of weeds on everyone in northern NSW through TV and radio advertising and social media, and encouraging people to identify and report new weed infestations through the innovative website www.looklearnact.com. The campaign is being coordinated by the North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee (NCWAC) which hopes to see it expanded statewide.
The Youth Guide to Biodiversity, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), is designed as an educational resource for schools, youth groups and other curious young learners. It explains biodiversity and considers why biodiversity is important, how humans impact it, and what we must do to conserve the world’s biological resources. At the end of the guide there are inspiring examples of youth-led initiatives and an action plan to help people develop their own biodiversity projects and conservation activities.
National Volunteer Week (NVW2013) is Australia’s largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism. Today there are over 6 million people volunteering annually in Australia, representing 36% of the adult population. Volunteering Australia along with its state and territory network recognises the valuable contribution each individual provides by offering their time, skills and passion, continuing to demonstrate Australia’s proud culture of giving.
Logan Eco Action Festival (LEAF) is Logan’s most successful environmental event promoting eco-living tips in a free, fun, family environment. The last two LEAF events have attracted over 9000 people who were eager to learn how to live their lives more sustainably. Leave the car at home and catch the train to the Loganlea train station and meet with the walking group and walk to LEAF or take the courtesy coach which will run from 9:30am-3:30pm between the station and LEAF.
Community Environment Grants form part of the Sustainable Environment stream of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program. Grants of between $5000 and $50 000 (GST exclusive) are available to help community groups and organisations to contribute to the sustainable management of Australia’s environment. The 2013–14 funding round is currently open, and electronic applications may be submitted up to midnight (12.00am) AEST Wednesday 8 May 2013.
The Nature Conservancy publication Innovation for 21st Century Conservation expresses the profound belief that retaining Australia’s unique and rich terrestrial and marine species and varied ecosystems is an urgent challenge that requires innovative partnerships across sectors, and illustrates a richness of examples of such innovation.
Planet earth is struggling to maintain the balance of LIFE for all of the species that call it home. In Australia the fragile landscape is under constant pressure from an ever-growing and consuming, modern way of life. Landcarers everywhere are working together to maintain the health of their local environments, but the time has come for everyone to help maintain the balance of LIFE by becoming involved and thinking about their actions each and every day and what impact they have. Landcare L.I.F.E is designed to give people ideas on what they can do or how they can join others in caring for the land and the environment.