Sustainable Use Of Water And Energy: A Comparison Between Australia And New Zealand

Your task is to write a report that compares and contrasts how Energy sustainability and Water sustainability have been addressed in Australia in comparison to an overseas country of your choice.

Your report should have the following sections:

Step 1 You should report the following types of actions regarding energy sustainability both in Australia and your country of choice:

• Government regulation of the country regarding energy and water sustainability
• Key scientific research and technological innovation of the country
• The actions of non-government organisations and the private sector
• Exemplar projects

Step 2 You should report the following types of actions regarding water sustainability both in Australia and your country of choice:

• Government regulation of the country regarding energy and water sustainability
• Key scientific research and technological innovation of the country
• The actions of non-government organisations and the private sector
• Exemplar projects

Step 3 You need to compare the actions taken (the actions you just reported in previous steps) in these two countries for energy and water sustainability. For example, why is it that two countries have dealt with issues differently? Is one approach more successful than the other? Are there any ways in which one country should be learning from the other? It is important to keep in mind that each of your countries is not a homogenous blend demographically and environmentally.

Overview of Sustainable Use of Water and Energy Programs in Australia

The modern world and the rapid industrialization have demanded for the sustainable use of the natural resources all over the world. The governments of the different countries across the world have developed different laws and regulations for the sustainable use of the resources. These laws and regulations adopt different techniques and measures which differ in each country. The purpose of this discussion is to compare the different measures for the sustainable use of water and energy that has been taken by the Australian government with that of any other foreign country. The chosen country for this comparison is New Zealand. The discussion focuses on the different laws and regulations that have been adopted by the two countries and how they have been effective in their purpose. A further comparison of the policy helps in the proper identification of the more successful methods and what the other country can learn from the respective policies.

The Government has taken up several programs to encourage the sustainable use of energy and water in Australia.

• Mission Innovation Champions Program encourages the individuals and scientists who work for developing the new ideas for the sustainable use of energy in Australia (gov.au 2018).
• Renewable Energy Target is a scheme of the Australian Government which aims at reducing the emissions of the greenhouse gases in the electricity generation (gov.au 2018). The government has focused on the development of methods to use sustainable and renewable energy in this sector.
• The Australian government has also developed the Solar Towns Programme which targets to give the Australian community a chance to reduce the use of non-renewable energy and engage in the use of the sustainable use of renewable energy to contribute the society (gov.au 2018).
• The Australian government has developed the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to develop new processes and innovative methods for the better and sustainable use of the renewable energy and increase its use over the years (gov.au 2018).
• On-farm Irrigation Efficiency Program has been developed to help the farmers for the efficient use of water resources for the irrigation purposes and at the same time focusing on the sustainable use of water (Horne 2013).
• The New South Wales government has developed the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program to encourage the sustainable use of resources by the private operators and enhance the irrigation system of the country (Sivapalan et al. 2014).

There have been significant developments in the Australia regarding the innovative use of the sustainable use of the renewable resources.

• The Australian Government is working in collaboration with the private entrepreneurs to fund the research and development of the innovative measures and ideas for the sustainable use of water and energy (gov.au 2018).
• The practical application of the research in the industries helps in the identification of solutions for the problems faced in the innovation of new ideas for the sustainable use of water and energy.
• The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain is an innovative project to refine the greenhouse gases into a more sustainable renewable energy (gov.au 2018). The refined hydrogen gas helps in the reduction of pollution and is also cost-effective than the coal gas or other non-renewable energy.

The Australian government has found that the research and development is not effectively possible without the active participation of the private sector companies. Engagements of the private entrepreneurs have boosted the research and development and have helped to reduce the challenges that were being faced by the government in promoting the sustainable use of water and energy. The government also takes part in the global initiatives to collaborate with other countries to develop the research in the sector of the sustainable use of water and energy.

The Government of New Zealand has developed several programs for the sustainable use of water and energy in the country. The country is known for its contribution to the environmental sustainability and has always been an active participant in the improvement of the environmental quality.

• The New Zealand government has developed the Sustainable Water Program of Action as one of the primary projects for the sustainable use of resources in New Zealand (govt.nz 2018). The program focuses on the analysis of different case scenarios and develops the new processes for the better management of resources. The demands of fresh water are rising in some parts of the country. In order to maintain the high quality of the available water, it is essential for the government to focus on the sustainable use of water.
• The New Zealand government focuses on working in collaboration with the different state governments to specifically focus on the different requirements of the local areas and improve the sustainability reforms in a customized manner.
• The New Zealand Government also focuses on the collaborative participation of the colleges and universities and also the several private entrepreneurs to boost and finance the different requirements for the development of the sustainability features. Moreover, the availability of the researchers helps the government to focus on the specific problems and solve them accordingly.
• However, the government of New Zealand continues to manage water as a public resource to effectively control it with the Resource Management Act. The Act safeguards the use of water in the most efficient manner and at the same time maintains the quality of water that is available for use.
• New Zealand is one of the most successful countries to have sustainably used the resources. Almost 40% of New Zealand’s energy is harnessed from the renewable energies.
• New Zealand’s electricity supply is mostly generated by hydroelectricity. This ensures the reduction in the emission of the greenhouse gases (govt.nz 2018). The use of hydroelectricity leaves no carbon footprint upon the environment and promotes the sustainable use of energy.
• The New Zealand Government has created the organization named EECA to look after the development of building affordable homes for the citizens which would use solar energy as their prime source of energy (govt.nz 2018). This aspect would lead to the sustainable use of energy and at the same time decrease the emission of the greenhouse gases in the environment.

Australia and New Zealand, both the countries have taken the necessary measures for maintaining the high standards of the sustainable use of resources. There are several policies which are in action in both the countries to look deep into the matter of the sustainable use of water and energy. However, there are some basic differences in the policies of both the countries as both Australia and New Zealand have taken a different approach in tackling the issue of sustainability.

Overview of Sustainable Use of Water and Energy Programs in New Zealand

For example, in the case of the sustainable use of water Australia approaches the issue of water sustainability from one perspective while New Zealand approaches it from a different perspective. Australia, beyond its habitable cities has large stretches of dry lands known as the Australian outback. Water is scarce in those dry lands and the people living in the close proximity of the outback have to maintain a sustainable approach towards the use of water (Horne 2013). Moreover, for the irrigation purposes, Australia needs innovative technology to make a sustainable supply of water to the scarce areas. Hence, Australian government has developed a number of policies and regulations which safeguard the sustainable use of water for the irrigation purposes. On the other hand, New Zealand has a more temperate climate where there is no shortage of water. However, the New Zealand has to safeguard the benefits of the citizens and supply them with fresh water. There have been reports of shortages in fresh water for the daily human activities, which required action for the sustainable use of the water (Duncan 2013). Similarly, the New Zealand government has developed several innovative ideas to fight the shortage of fresh water and provide its citizens a sustainable supply of fresh water.

As both the governments have different approaches towards the sustainable use of the water and energy resources, both can take inspiration from the regulations of each other. Australia, which focuses primarily on the sustainable use of irrigation waters, should also focus on the sustainable use of the fresh water. Australia is a large country with a growing population. It is important for the Australian government to maintain a steady and sustainable supply of water to avoid the negative impact on the environment and the society in the future (Liu 2014). Similarly, New Zealand can take inspiration from Australia’s power generation technologies. The Australian government’s Renewable Energy Agency is one of the primary strengths of Australia’s innovative power in the sustainable use of energy (Yu and Halog 2015). New Zealand can also establish an independent body like Australia, which can look after the innovation part of the sustainable use of energy.

Conclusion:

The above discussion highlights the several aspects of the policies and regulations regarding sustainability that have been adopted by Australia and New Zealand. Both the countries have a different approach towards sustainability. This difference occurs due to the dissimilarity of issues faced by the different countries. However, both the countries have an innovative approach towards the issue and have been developing several innovative ideas for the sustainable use of water and energy.

Reference:

Duncan, R., 2013. Converting community knowledge into catchment nutrient limits: a constructivist analysis of a New Zealand collaborative approach to water management. Nature and Culture, 8(2), pp.205-225.

Eeca.govt.nz 2018. About the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. [online] EECA. Available at: https://www.eeca.govt.nz/about-eeca/?stage=Live [Accessed 26 Sep. 2018].

Eeca.govt.nz 2018. Hydroelectricity. [online] EECA. Available at: https://www.eeca.govt.nz/energy-use-in-new-zealand/renewable-energy-resources/hydroelectricity/ [Accessed 26 Sep. 2018].

Eeca.govt.nz 2018. Solar energy. [online] EECA. Available at: https://www.eeca.govt.nz/energy-use-in-new-zealand/renewable-energy-resources/solar/ [Accessed 26 Sep. 2018].

Environment.gov.au 2018. Department of the Environment and Energy. [online] Department of the Environment and Energy. Available at: https://www.environment.gov.au/about-us [Accessed 26 Sep. 2018].

Environment.gov.au 2018. Department of the Environment and Energy. [online] Department of the Environment and Energy. Available at: https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/government/renewable-energy [Accessed 26 Sep. 2018].

Horne, J., 2013. Economic approaches to water management in Australia. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 29(4), pp.526-543.

Industry.gov.au 2018. Business and startups. [online] Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. Available at: https://www.industry.gov.au/topic/funding-and-incentives/business-and-startups [Accessed 26 Sep. 2018].

Liu, G., 2014. Development of a general sustainability indicator for renewable energy systems: a review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 31, pp.611-621.

Mfe.govt.nz 2018. Sustainable Water Programme of Action – Implementation Package | Ministry for the Environment. [online] Mfe.govt.nz. Available at: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/more/cabinet-papers-and-related-material-search/cabinet-papers/freshwater/sustainable-water-0 [Accessed 26 Sep. 2018].

Sivapalan, M., Konar, M., Srinivasan, V., Chhatre, A., Wutich, A., Scott, C.A., Wescoat, J.L. and Rodríguez?Iturbe, I., 2014. Socio?hydrology: Use?inspired water sustainability science for the Anthropocene. Earth's Future, 2(4), pp.225-230.

Yu, M. and Halog, A., 2015. Solar photovoltaic development in Australia—a life cycle sustainability assessment study. Sustainability, 7(2), pp.1213-1247.a