Environmental Issues Facing Sydney:
- Deforestation - Soil salinity increasing, Water quality decrease from draining saline water, Soil recovery capacity decreasing from deforestation, Land degradation costs Australia $1 billion annually
- Agricultural Clearing and Overgrazing - Over clearing for agriculture, 13% original vegetation removed since European settlement, Overgrazing pressuring biodiversity and have had massive modifications on grasslands and open grassy woodlands, Less than 2% original grasslands remaining, Overgrazing promoting erosion, desertification, and invasive species spread
- Over-Fishing and Illegal Fishing - Decreased fish stocks to dangerously low levels, Lowering biological productivity, Over-fishing of species, Illegal fishing placing even more pressure on species
- Introduction of Exotic Species - Around 20 new pests and diseases introduced each year, Intrusive species causing local extinctions and reduction in range of native species, Habitat modification, Predation, Invasion of weeds into ecosystems exert significant pressure on all types of landscapes, Ballast shipping waters introduce hundreds of invasive marine species
- Pollution - Major effects of agriculture in coasts and oceans, especially estuaries and shore environments, Major pollution to rivers near coast, especially of phosphorus and nitrogen in thousands of tonnes
- Infrastructure Development - Lack of continuing infrastructure to support population growth, Massive metropolitan centers have increasing population density which will displace biodiversity and high-value agricultural land
- Water - Driest inhabited continent, Lack of smart water management, Lack of updated infrastructure, Rivers suffering from decades of massive over-extraction for irrigation, Drought, Climate change, Lack of urgent action to reverse issues, Lack of public knowledge, Unsafe water systems from salt and algae affecting animals and humans
- Climate Change - Most vulnerable to climate changes, Rising temperatures, Over 250,000 homes at risk from rising sea levels, Concerns in the economy, security, and justice, Health effect concerns
- Energy - Lack of fossil fuel to renewable replacement, Lack of government support, Lack of use of available resources like solar, wind, marine, and geothermal energy, Laziness of general populace, Lack of energy-efficient resources used in processing and manufacturing, Lack of support from manufacturing sector, Lack of long term thinking
- Coal - Serious concern for conventional coal-fired power plants, Massive global concentration from coal exports, Lack of alternative renewable energy sources on a large scale, Lack of public support to changes, Lack of research in global effects, Slow support of research and industry in alternatives
- Biodiversity - Extinction crisis, Large loss of biodiversity, Overshadowing of issues by other environmental concerns, Threatening ecosystem services like food and water, Loss of nutrient flow, Decreased pollination, Urbanization compounding problems, Disconnection from ecosystem services, Lack of public value in ecosystem services
- Oceans - No protection for Great Barrier Reef, Impacts on tourist attractions, Rising sea levels and fertilizer run-offs damage marine and reef ecosystems, No recovery of lost resources, Lack of action to protect marine sanctuaries, regulate sustainable harvesting, and seafood production, Fisheries in dire straits, Over fishing by commercial and illegal fleets threaten seafood extinction, Incoming crash of fish stock
- Populations - Increasing population, Strain on resources and infrastructure to support extra people, Lack of long-term strategies, Need to determine overall carrying capacity
- Transport - Lack of public transport investment, Lack of logical thinking in costs and benefits of transport, Not beneficial tax concessions on cars, Lack of investment in alternative cars(electric)
- Sustainable Cities - Increasing water and energy demands not being sustain-ably met, Lack of investment in energy-efficient solutions, Lack of sustainable infrastructure, Lack of large scale thinking
- Ourselves - Lack of public education and participation, Elected leaders not being held accountable, Companies have too much control over environmental decisions.
Australia's Natural Resources:
- Mineral Resources - Bauxite, Gold, Iron Ore, Copper, Zinc, Diamond, Mineral Sand
- Energy Resources - Coal, Natural Gas, Uranium
- Land Resources - Land, Soil, Grazing Land, Forests
Australia's Ecosystem Services:
- Regulation of atmospheric gases
- Large scale filtration
- Purification of water
- Energy
- Geologic stability
- Lots of water supply for agriculture and hydration
- Wide marine animal species diversity for food
- Greatest biodiversity and good wetlands give food
- Flood control
- Nutrient cycling
- Plant colonization