Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.
– Mahatma Gandhi
Humans – through their needs for resources such as food, water, land and raw materials, and also through their production of pollution and waste – have a significant impact on the environment.
Although the Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT’s) population is low compared with other Australian states and territories, it is steadily increasing (by 5.0% since 2011, which is marginally less than the growth rate for the Australian population). In addition, population density is increasing: from 156 people to 164 people per square kilometre from 2011 to 2014. In the longer term, the density has increased greatly since 1981 when it was 96 people per square kilometre.
The ACT’s population has a higher workforce participation rate, employment rate, weekly earnings and wealth, and a more even spread of income than the Australian average. This in turn drives a higher rate of consumption and waste production.
It is estimated that the average ACT resident had an ecological footprint of 8.9 global hectares in 2011–12, which is three and a half times higher than the world average and five times higher than the average available biocapacity.
The amount of waste being generated in the ACT has increased almost continuously since 1993–94. Total waste generated per year increased by 16% between 2007 and 2011 and by a further 10% between 2011 and 2015.
However, the ACT has an excellent record in recycling waste: 70–75% of waste in the ACT and Queanbeyan is recycled rather than being committed to landfill. By comparison, recycling rates in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney range between 35% and 67%. An average of 690 000 tonnes of resources have been recovered per year in 2011–2015.
The ACT’s economic production activities show a relatively high concentration in the public administration and safety sector compared with the rest of Australia, and the majority of activities are not those that have high direct environmental impacts.
The ACT Government has developed detailed plans for a sustainable city and limit the impact of human needs on the environment. Key documents include The Canberra Plan: Towards Our Second Century; People, Place, Prosperity: the ACT’s Sustainability Policy 2009; and the ACT Planning Strategy: Planning for a sustainable city.