First is Australia’s role in global sustainability and, on that point, it is necessary to look at our commitment to greenhouse gas generation directly and, indirectly, through our trade in fossil fuels.

From the point of view of greenhouse gas emissions, Australia is a significant emitter directly in terms of our urban and industrial activities within the country, where our annual generation is of the order of 500,000 megatonnes. This puts us as one of the highest per capita emitters internationally. Indirectly, Australia is a major contributor via its international trade in fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.

The implications are significant in terms of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming and climate change. Of course, this has global implications but we would also do well to understand the implications within Australia in its relationship to agriculture, biodiversity and water supply as a result of lower and more variable rainfall and drought as well as a range of other impacts briefly discussed later. 

The most significant challenge to the resilience and sustainability of our urban systems at present relates to a sustainable water supply.

Again at a global level, Australia is contributing to a less sustainable earth as a result of its resource consumption. Australia continues to be among the highest per capita consumers of resources, with an ecological footprint four times the global average.

Pressing issues facing sustainability of cities in Australia

 At a national level, Australia’s challenges in terms of the sustainability of its cities will revolve around:

1. Sustainable water supply
2. Sustainable energy in the context of greenhouse emissions and peak oil (depletion)
3. The utilisation of waste streams as resource streams rather than continuing to direct a high proportion of waste to landfill or receiving waters
4. Congested cities as a result of continuing high rates of growth in vehicles and kilometres travelled
5. A continued development of cities in low density patterns leading to increasing residential sprawl
6. Continuing patchiness of prosperity among certain groups in Australia notwithstanding 15 continuous years of strong economic growth. This is reflected spatially throughout the housing market in pockets of geographic disadvantage. Sustainability needs to embrace dimensions other than the environment, of which human well-being is one key pillar

It could be a scary picture. Climate change could deliver a number of significant blows to our coastal cities in terms of a rise in sea levels, storm surges, increased intensity of cyclone events and associated flooding. There is also increased heat stress within cities and increased threat from bushfires in peri-urban areas of cities. 

Water shortages would undercut potential for further growth of Australian cities.

For residents of cities to be confident these pressing issues are being addressed requires national leadership.  Otherwise there is fragmentation of effort and lack of coordination and harmonisation, which is not an optimal approach. If this happens, you have federal, state and local governments each doing different things, establishing different standards and guidelines for development. 

There is a need to consider issues of regulation and taxation, as well as a coordination of environmental practice related to water, energy, biodiversity and so forth. This necessitates involvement by federal government in concert with state and local governments. 

Most of these vulnerabilities have had their origins in a defective post-war planning paradigm based on a linear industrial-era model of extract-process-usedispose in the context of resource use. And a predilection for private over public provision and consumption of transport and recreational space resulting in expansive urban development at low densities. This has brought Australian cities to a point where their long term sustainability and liveability is being threatened. 

Pathways to sustainability will require fundamental transitions in the key vulnerability areas. This will necessitate radical change on the demand side, such as changes in consumption, which is influenced by the attitudes of households and individuals.We also need changes in the supply side, such as radical new infrastructures and pricing.

Obstacles and challenges

The first obstacle exists in relation to selecting the correct technology options for future infrastructure platforms. Do we consider desalination versus recycling of wastewater versus reuse of stormwater? Or some combination of all?

With energy, we need to consider which set of renewable options offer the best solution (for example, solar, solar thermal, solar hydrogen, biomass, wind, hydro, etc). There are also a host of other issues that relate to where energy is generated, such as whether to generate it close to the user in a distributed model, versus generating it at a distance via a traditional centralised model.

The second obstacle is overcoming the institutional barriers to change.We’re talking about a new way of thinking about infrastructure. Each type of infrastructure has its current way of operating and performing. This needs to be radically reassessed.  For example, there is a need to integrate urban water systems, transition distributed renewable energy systems and to develop eco-industrial centres based on their utilisation of the massive waste streams present in mega metropolitan regions of Australia. 

Thirdly, we face the often negative attitude of urban populations to alternative forms of delivery of urban infrastructure and services, such as using treated water or the generation of our own energy.We need to become more direct participants in minimising as well as sorting out our own waste streams.

It’s almost coming back to a village or closed loop mentality. It’s a matter of recognising and addressing the negative externalities and limitations to our development and well-being. Ultimately, it comes down to us. People.

Dr Peter Newton is CSIRO’s Chief Research Scientist and Leader of its Urban Systems Program. Dr Peter Newton’s research focuses on new generation technologies and integrated planning management solutions aimed at revitalising Australian cities.

www.cse.csiro.au/research/urban