Environmental Environmental Issues Issues

in Australiain AustraliaBy Leah BurnsBy Leah Burns

Readings and Readings and ResourcesResources

Markus, N. 2009 Markus, N. 2009 On Our Watch: The On Our Watch: The Race to Save Australia’s Environment.Race to Save Australia’s Environment. Carlton: Melbourne University Press.Carlton: Melbourne University Press.

The Australian Government Department The Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts: http://www.environment.gov.au/the Arts: http://www.environment.gov.au/

Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australia's Australia's Environment: Issues and TrendsEnvironment: Issues and Trends, Jan , Jan 2010 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs2010 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4613.0/@.nsf/mf/4613.0/

OverviewOverview

The Australian EnvironmentThe Australian Environment

Threats to the EnvironmentThreats to the Environment

Consequences of those ThreatsConsequences of those Threats

ExerciseExercise

Ways of protecting the EnvironmentWays of protecting the Environment

Multiple Choice QuestionsMultiple Choice Questions

Plan for tomorrowPlan for tomorrow

The Australian The Australian EnvironmentEnvironment

Very large continent: 7.6 million kmVery large continent: 7.6 million km22

Diverse environmentDiverse environment

Endemic flora and faunaEndemic flora and fauna 85% flowering plants, 84% mammals, 45% 85% flowering plants, 84% mammals, 45%

birds, and 89% fishbirds, and 89% fish Australia has the greatest number of reptiles of Australia has the greatest number of reptiles of

any country:any country: 755 species755 species

Driest habitable continent on earthDriest habitable continent on earth

AustraliaAustralian n FaunaFauna

MonotremMonotremeses

EchidnaEchidna

- egg laying mammals

Threats to the Threats to the EnvironmentEnvironment

Climate ChangeClimate Change

What is climate change?What is climate change?

““long-term changes in climate, including long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and rainfall” average temperature and rainfall” (http://www.climatechange.gov.au/climate-(http://www.climatechange.gov.au/climate-change.aspx)change.aspx)

Since the beginning of the 20Since the beginning of the 20thth Century, Century, Australia has an increase of 0.8 degrees C in Australia has an increase of 0.8 degrees C in average temperaturesaverage temperatures

The Kyoto ProtocolThe Kyoto Protocol

Australia's carbon dioxide emissions per capita Australia's carbon dioxide emissions per capita are among the highest in the world are among the highest in the world

Land ClearingLand Clearing

FarmingFarmingAgricultureAgriculture

The major use of land in Australia – 60% or 454 million The major use of land in Australia – 60% or 454 million hectareshectares

Livestock (cattle and sheep)Livestock (cattle and sheep)

MiningMining 0.02% of the land0.02% of the land

LoggingLogging

UrbanisationUrbanisation Over 80% of Australians live in urban centres within 50km of the Over 80% of Australians live in urban centres within 50km of the

coast and these areas make up only about 1% of the total land coast and these areas make up only about 1% of the total land mass of Australia. mass of Australia.

DroughtDrought

Water useWater use ¾ water used by agricultural and pastoral sectors ¾ water used by agricultural and pastoral sectors

(Markus 2009:21)(Markus 2009:21)

The world’s driest continentThe world’s driest continent

Two thirds of the country is arid or semi-arid Two thirds of the country is arid or semi-arid and only partly habitable due to the lack of and only partly habitable due to the lack of permanent waterpermanent water

Climate and annual rainfall are highly variableClimate and annual rainfall are highly variable

Only 6% of Australia’s land is classed as Only 6% of Australia’s land is classed as arablearable

PopulationPopulation

Currently 22 millionCurrently 22 million

Expect 30 million by 2050Expect 30 million by 2050

Urbanisation (high density in coastal Urbanisation (high density in coastal cities)cities)

ConsequencesConsequences

PollutionPollution

Soil SalinitySoil Salinity17 million hectares in Australia will be at risk of 17 million hectares in Australia will be at risk of

serious dryland salinity problems by 2050 serious dryland salinity problems by 2050 (National Land and Resources Audit)(National Land and Resources Audit)

Loss of Biodiversity and Loss of HabitatLoss of Biodiversity and Loss of Habitat

Species ExtinctionSpecies ExtinctionSince European arrival 220 years ago, 104 plant Since European arrival 220 years ago, 104 plant

and animal species have become extinct. 88 are and animal species have become extinct. 88 are currently critically endangeredcurrently critically endangered, and , and 1502 listed 1502 listed as endangered, vulnerable or conservation as endangered, vulnerable or conservation dependent (Markus 2009:27).dependent (Markus 2009:27).

ExerciseExercise

Form groups based on the topic you Form groups based on the topic you have chosenhave chosen

Discuss this topic, in the context of Discuss this topic, in the context of the Australian Environment, in your the Australian Environment, in your groupgroup

You will be asked to present your You will be asked to present your ideas back to the class based on,ideas back to the class based on,Why your topic is the most Why your topic is the most

important, andimportant, andHow it should be protectedHow it should be protected

Ways of Protecting Ways of Protecting the Environmentthe Environment

LegislationLegislation

ConservationConservationE.g., protected areasE.g., protected areas

Local and Global InitiativesLocal and Global InitiativesE.g., indigenous knowledgeE.g., indigenous knowledge

1. How many world heritage listed sites exist currently in Australia?a. noneb. fivec. tend. eighteen

2. Australia has 755 species of what? a. flowering plantsb. mammalsc. reptilesd. birds

3. Which of the following is NOT true?a. Australia is the largest country in the worldb. Australia is a very old continentc. Australia is the driest habitable continent on earthd. fire has been a major force in shaping Australia’s landscape

4. Which of the following species are monotremes?a. kangaroo and emub. koala and possumc. echidna and platypusd. dingo and sugar glider

5. What is climate change?a. global warmingb. long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and

rainfallc. the gradual increase of the Earth’s average surface temperature, due

to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.d. a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere

Stradbroke IslandStradbroke Island

What to bring:What to bring:Lunch is provided, but you may wish Lunch is provided, but you may wish

to bring snacks.to bring snacks.We will be outdoors all day. You We will be outdoors all day. You

MUST wear a hat and sunscreen.MUST wear a hat and sunscreen.Bathers – if you want to swim.Bathers – if you want to swim.

What to do:What to do:Be on Grey St in Southbank, outside Be on Grey St in Southbank, outside

QCA, at 9am so you don’t miss the QCA, at 9am so you don’t miss the bus!bus!

ReferencesReferences

Australian Government Department of Climate Change Australian Government Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 2010 and Energy Efficiency 2010 http://www.climatechange.gov.au/climate-change.aspxhttp://www.climatechange.gov.au/climate-change.aspx

Markus, N. 2009 Markus, N. 2009 On Our Watch: The Race to Save On Our Watch: The Race to Save Australia’s Environment.Australia’s Environment. Carlton: Melbourne University Carlton: Melbourne University Press.Press.

The Australian Government Department of the The Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts: Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts: http://www.environment.gov.au/http://www.environment.gov.au/

Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australia's Environment: Australia's Environment: Issues and TrendsIssues and Trends, Jan , Jan 2010 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4612010 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4613.0/3.0/