Concrete Things the Australian Government Ought to Do to Achieve a Pollution-Free Country

Image by Oxfam International via FlickrBy Harvey Russell

Australia is fast becoming one of the large emerging economies on the other side of the world. And just like any of the developing countries in Asia and Europe, the first casualty of progress is nature and the environment.

Pollution is the number one effect of progress and in the long run, the only real loser is the country itself. Unless there is urgent action on the side of the government to impose drastic changes on the way Australians treat their environment, the country may find itself knee-deep in trouble in as early as 50 years from now.

The economy of Australia is now becoming too dependent on energy and fuel sources that cause pollution on a large scale. On top of their negative impact on the environment, Australia's fuel sources are also making climate change factors worse than ever. Although the past and present governments have programs that help regulate the consumption rate of fuel sources in producing clean energy, there still is a need to pursue a more aggressive approach in dealing with the emergence of a cleaner and more efficient energy source. There must activity on the part of the government to reduce pollution on a national scale, as well as to produce energy through large scale development of wind, geothermal, and solar power.

Some of Australia's most prized tourist attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu are already under threat. Vital life support systems like rivers, forests, wetlands, and oceans are constantly under stress. There is an urgent call for everyone to help protect the environment and make cleaner water and healthier air for forthcoming generations.

New federal officials after this coming 2010 Federal Election must do the following to achieve a much brighter future for the country:

• Strive to make clean and cheaper energy. There must be a large scale campaign to build solar and wind power plants all across the country. Australia can tap this unlimited energy potential to provide electricity to its current 21 million people.
• Focus on a cleaner economy. Presently, much of the Australian power sources that provide energy to industrial centers and commercial districts of the country come from pollution-causing power plants across the continent. Shifting power dependence to cleaner power sources can definitely benefit the country in the long run. Politicians must create a long-term solution to the power issues plaguing the country by making sure that fossil-based fuels are utilized in minimum amounts. The government can encourage big companies to invest more in cleaner power sources by rewarding them and enforcing applicable environmental laws if they will not obey.
• Build environment-friendly cities. This sounds ambitious but city planning should first consider the environment especially in terms of transportation and communication development. Sustainable cities that rely on efficient transport systems should be the key. There should be active efforts to fund public transport systems while at the same time, encouraging the general population to use them.

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