Why going so far away again...?

Going to Australia is not easy or something you do often as a Dutch person. It is far away from family and friends, and a long trip. I thought about it a lot, but the realization that I really wanted to go came when I was in the desert in Peru. This was such a cool experience that I wanted to extend the period of exploring and seeing unique parts of the world. Also, I wanted to continue meeting Purpose Drivers, and I am confident that in this part of the world, the effort towards sustainability is high and interesting for me to visit, learn, and document. This also gave me an extra push to get out of my comfort zone again and make an effort to make it happen.

Currently, I am preparing for my new adventure in Australia, and therefore, I want to have a better understanding of the efforts and ambitions of Australia towards sustainability. Also, I am planning to try to look for a job in the field of sustainable development since I am planning to live and work 3 to 6 months in Sydney.

Australia introduction

Australia is a diverse country, it has rainforests, deserts to lively cities, and amazing coastlines. Because it has so much beauty and nature, the challenges are also complex. To develop and thrive without damaging ecosystems is the main goal. Australia has increasingly shaped its policies, industries, and public awareness. The process of all these initiatives started in the 60´s. For a better understanding of Australia and its efforts towards sustainable development, I will briefly dive into the history

Early environmental movement (1960-1980)

During these times, major conservation campaigns started to protect the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania's wild rivers. Groups like the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and Friends of the Earth, which are still active these days, were established in this area. 

While these movements were largely focused on conservation rather than sustainability as we know it today, they laid the groundwork for a national environmental consciousness.

Switch environment to sustainability (1990)

The 1992 Rio Earth Summit was a turning point globally, and Australia followed. That same year, the government released “Australia’s National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (NSESD)”,.

This strategy marked a shift from pure conservation to a more integrated approach, balancing environmental protection with economic and social goals.

Key developments:

• The formation of Environment Australia 

• Greater emphasis on environmental impact assessments (EIA) in infrastructure and industry

• Expansion of protected areas and World Heritage listings

Climate action (2000 - 2010)

During this time, Australia realized that sustainability was a huge issue. There were droughts, bushfires, and coral bleaching events happening more often and intensely. 

Australia implemented several landmark policies:

• The Renewable Energy Target (RET) to boost clean energy

• The Carbon Pricing Mechanism in 2012 (later repealed)

• Growth in green building standards, led by the Green Building Council of Australia

During this period, local councils and cities began embedding sustainability into urban planning, water recycling, waste reduction, and public transport projects. Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide became sustainability frontrunners.

Now: Net zero & Circular economy 2020 - today) 

Today, sustainable development in Australia is more holistic, urgent, and strategic.

Key shifts include:

• The federal government is committing to net zero emissions by 2050

• Corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is becoming mainstream

• Circular economy strategies are emerging

Major sustainability challenges—like housing, biodiversity loss, and climate adaptation—are now part of public and private sector planning across the country.

Practical example

For example a creative company that is making an impact in Australia is Uluu. This company makes plastics from seaweed! No fossile fuels, no land is used, no fresh waster is used, and the product is biodegradable. They're using fermentation tech inspired by beer brewing to grow sustainable materials. These creative, innovatave and unique concepts inspire me a lot. In Australia they like to include nature to fix problems. I can not wait to visit and learn about more concepts like this.

Sydney Zoom-in 

Sydney is one of the leading cities in the world of sustainable development. For me a unique opportunity to live here and learn about all the initiatives. I love the ocean and everything what it brings, also I know already some people that live in this city. All extra reasons for me to discover and see it myself. 

Sydney is the largest city in Australia, known for its iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, diverse culture, and strong economy. It's a major hub for business, tourism, and education. The City of Sydney is ambitious and aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2035 (and the Greater Sydney region by 2050), focusing on renewable energy, sustainable transport, and energy-efficient buildings. 

The city is investing in urban green spaces, green roofs, and tree planting to improve air quality and reduce the urban heat island effect, as it can get very hot for a large part of the year. Also, it is focusing on fewer cars and more public transport and cycling paths. This is something I fully support as a Dutch person, one of the first things I will do when I get to Sydney is buy a bike! Sydney is also moving toward a zero waste goal through recycling, composting, and reducing single-use plastics. The last main subject is water management, because of climate change, Sydney is even getting warmer, and because of that, the city struggles with water supplies.

Writing this blog and diving into this topic gave me a good sense of the direction Australia wants to go in terms of sustainability. I am excited to live in a place where this subject is high on the agenda. I heard great stories about the local people and that they value nature, being active outside, and therefore also have a high interest in sustainability. I can´t wait to experience this myself and meet, or even work with people who have this vision and learn from them. Going to Australia is a dream of mine, and I am happy I am taking the challenge and grateful I have the opportunity to go. I have no idea yet where I will live or where I will work, which gives me a bit of nerves, but also makes me excited for the challenge and the unknown opportunities that are coming. I know it will be alright, as I have learned to trust, appreciate, and enjoy the process.  

If you know of any projects, organizations, or initiatives in Australia that focus on sustainable development—whether environmental or social—I’d love to hear about them. I’m interested in opportunities to visit, document, or potentially get involved through work. 

Thanks for reading, and new updates will come soon!