The Sustainable Australia Report 2013 is the first report from the National Sustainability Council and tells the story of how Australia has changed as a nation over the last 30 years. Health and levels of educational attainment have improved, and Australians are living longer and have benefited from a strong economy, with low unemployment and increasing incomes. However, inequality has increased and the health of the natural environment has continued to decline in some key areas.
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.
The Keep Australia Beautiful Australian Sustainable Cities Awards encourage, motivate and celebrate the local sustainability achievements of urban communities across Australia. State and Territory finalists are announced mid year with the Australian winner announced in November. Nominations for the Sustainable Cities Awards 2013 are starting to open around Australia – to find out more visit Keep Australia Beautiful, then see “Our Network” for links to Keep Australia Beautiful in your State or Territory.
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.
In support of the International Year of Water Cooperation, the United Nations Association of Australia (Vic) Sustainability Leadership Seminar, Corporate Water Valuation: Accounting for Risks and Impacts, Valuing Ecosystem Services will bring together experts and practitioners from business, government and civil society to discuss corporate water valuation as a critical area of natural capital valuation for Australian business.
Youth Leading the World is a 3-day intensive process with youth who explore local and global issues of sustainability, measure and understand their own eco-footprint and work on action plans to make change in their lives, schools and communities. Congresses are held simultaneously, digitally linked across multiple global locations. YLTW in 2013 has a target to run in 500 locations.
Asia’s cities have been the drivers of the economy and have lifted millions out of poverty. However, the environmental consequences of this rapid development are apparent, and the citizens of Asia’s urban areas are increasingly insistent that something should be done. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), of which Australia is a member, has developed its new Urban Operational Plan to support its developing member countries in more sustainable urban development. The ADB Green Cities book is intended to provide examples of how this challenge may be met.
The 2013 NSW Landcare and Catchment Management Forum will showcase sustainability, Landcare and volunteering. Coordinated by the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority in partnership with other organisations and agencies, the forum will be held in Newcastle with a number of field trips conducted around the region to showcase the environmental values and the amazing work being done by community groups, individuals and agencies to protect and enhance it.
The 2013 Queensland State Landcare Conference has the theme ‘Healthy Habitats … Profitable Production’ and will focus on balancing sustainable natural resource management with vibrant landscapes for profitable and productive farming. Hosted by Condamine Headwaters Landcare, the conference program will include a mix of interactive workshops, keynote addresses and field trips as well as the Queensland State Landcare Awards and a relaxing networking evening on the banks of the Condamine River.
The 2013 Government Sustainability Conference will provide delegates from Local, State and Commonwealth Governments with comprehensive analysis and advice about how to embed environmentally sustainable policies and practices within their organisations and the communities they serve. This conference will follow on from the highly successful 2011 and 2012
Government Sustainability Conferences, which both attracted 200 participants.