Sustainability and Climate Change: What are they? How can I find out more?

Our country is blessed with stunning landscapes and incredibly unique native wildlife. However, we are at the crossroads of our environmental journey as the effects of climate change begin to become increasingly apparent and threatening. Australia must protect its rich, natural heritage via sustainable practices.

But what is sustainability? What is climate change? How do these things affect us and our country and how can we fight to preserve natural resources? This article will help you understand these terms, and explore a bunch of useful resources to help continue your journey into an environmentally sustainable lifestyle.

Sustainability, particularly environmental sustainability - is about meeting the current ecological needs of the present whilst ensuring not to compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Essentially, sustainability means leveraging your natural resources responsibly: and ensuring their continuation and longevity into the future. Sustainability encompasses ideas of environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic viability - harmonising them to foster a society that both preserves and protects our unique ecosystems via valuing and practicing sustainable living and working. Of course, if you want to learn more about sustainability as a concept - you can check out Wikipedia which collates many scholarly resources about sustainability into one digestible page.

In recent years, Australia has been making good efforts to promote sustainability, particularly via renewable energy. The government has been making investments into Solar and Wind power - helping us to become leaders in green energy production. The Powering Australia plan aims to boost jobs in the sector whilst promoting renewable energy sources and aiming for Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as part of the Paris Agreement. We'll discuss this in more detail shortly.

Sustainability isn't all Green Energy, though. Sustainable lifestyles are about incorporating sustainable practices into all aspects of life. Goodfish is working to educate Australians about sustainable seafood - both farming and consuming. Tourism is also a massive aspect of sustainable life - and Ecotourism is on the rise. Learn more about these aspects of sustainability via the links provided. Want to get involved in sustainable practice from your own home? Browse through Greenfinder's eco-friendly product and business listings. If you're interested to know more about sustainability practices and current news - check out Sustainability Matters.

Climate Change encompasses the significant and long-lasting changes in the Earth's climate - particularly ones that have been caused by the Anthropocene (human activities and involvement). Climate change poses severe risks to natural ecosystems and human life - particularly via global warming, rising sea levels, intense weather events, and the harm that may come to agriculture as a result. Comprehensive strategies and plans are needed to address climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions are a major aspect of accelerating climate change, and reducing emissions are often at the forefront of these initiatives. Find out more about Climate Change as a concept via Wikipedia.

The United Nations works hard to promote sustainable practices across the globe and get many countries involved in the activism. Among many worthy causes, environmental sustainability is an important part of their list of 17 goals that the world's nations should strive towards. Goal 13 is to "Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts" - and the UN has furthered an international treaty to encourage nations around the world to take charge.

The Paris Agreement is the international treaty posed by the United Nations to halt the effects of climate change and prevent global warming from increasing any further than 1.5°C by the end of the 21st century. Australia is one among many countries to sign and commit to this treaty - aiming to curb emissions as much as possible to foster clean and green renewable energy sources. However, many activists and experts argue that Australia just isn't doing enough to meet target: and that there is a pressing need for more ambitious policies and a stronger push for environmental sustainability practices within the nation. Want to fight climate change from your own home? Check out Greenpeace and its initiatives, or browse Greenfinder's listings of Green products and businesses to help you live more sustainably every day.

Obviously, government organisations are vital to shaping and implementing environmentally sustainable policies, and those related to climate change. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is a key component in this space, as they work to oversee initiatives that are often aimed at reducing emissions, protecting our natural resources, and promoting sustainable practice in many aspects of daily life and business. The National Science Agency (CSIRO), has a mission to use science to deliver innovative solutions via cutting-edge research to address Australia's environmental sustainability challenges. They develop technologies and strategies that work to reduce carbon emissions, enhance the conservation of water and land, and protect our unique biodiversity. The Climate Change Authority is a government agency that provides updates, advice and information about Climate Change policies implemented or that could be implemented by the Australian government. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has put together its '2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals’. This outlines a global development roadmap to finance and implement sustainable development goals outlined in other plans. It is both domestic and internationally aligned, and a valuable resource for environmental sustainability in the trade sector. Finally, the Department of Health has a valuable resource that outlines the overlap between the health of citizens and the effects of climate change. They mention strategies to develop a more sustainable and resilient health system, as well as the direct health impacts that climate change can inflict on humans.

The decisions made today by our leaders, businesses, and individuals in our approaches to sustainability and climate change will inevitably shape our environmental and economic landscape long-term. Governmental organisations may have a pivotal role in steering the nation towards a more green, eco-friendly, and sustainable future: but true progress will require the collective effort of all Australians. By embracing the use of sustainable lifestyle practices in our daily lives and workplaces - we can each contribute and play our part in the fight against climate change. Whether via implementing Solar, embracing Green Design, using organic and green Hair and Body products, or by generally more Sustainable Living: we can work together to build a more ecologically sustainable nation and ensure a healthier planet for future generations.

Browse Greenfinder today and move towards a more sustainable lifestyle by using a showcase of eco-friendly Australian products and services.