DIGGING INTO SUSTAINABILITY ..... CHANGING TIMES AND A TIME FOR CHANGE?
The use of natural resources and their decline, the approach to "economic growth", unchecked urban sprawl, erratic support for rural communities and rural enterprises, living in a changing climate and a changing world, the direction that our political leaders are taking the state - these are some of the big issues of our time, and all are not without their thorny side.
The state of the environment in South Australia is either not understood at all well by the general community, or it doesn't rate very highly. The real story today does not seem to be good news. It is time that South Australia re-set its compass.
Here are the key issues and topics that are explored.
Significance of Murray River to SA Significance of Murray Darling Basin Murray River threats to continue Lower lakes threats will not abate MD Basin Plan Unfavourable climate trends
River salinity risk to continue Rainfall and runoff Irrigation system is not sustainable
"Waterproofing" is unrealistic Water recycling Degraded river systems - who cares?
Water for mining Desalination issues Regulation of the water industry Oceanic problems
LANDSCAPE & BIODIVERSITY
Forgotten history Dryland salinity curse Soil acidity, erosion, compaction, loss of nutrients, low fertility Farming systems under threat Biodiversity on the brink Species loss
Fragmented landscapes 19th century legacy Time for a new agricultural economy
Feral animals - a battle lost Weeds - a battle lost Natural Resources Management system - is it
delivering?
CLIMATE
Adaptation Framework 2011 report Changing climate Garnaut Review 2011 Rainfall decline trend Impacts on agriculture Native vegetation and rainfall relationship
Impacts on agriculture Climate predictions, increasing storm intensities
ENERGY
The state's energy sources Relationship with the national energy scene A sustainable energy future Wind energy - problem or panacea Bioenergy - a two-pronged solution
Domestic solar power
URBAN ENVIRONMENT
The great flaw of the "city state" The "30-year plan" - where is it taking the state? Blight of urban sprawl continues Planning system problems De-centralisation - will it be seriously
adopted? Living in dry lands
POPULATION
The fallacy of population growth Rural population A city-state, Adelaide-centric Sustainable population Policies on population transfer Ageing of the population
Population and energy demand
POLLUTION & WASTE
Cleaning up the environment The curse of waste landfill Resources recovery hubs Regional reprocessing of wastes Composting Bale it don't bury Energy source
