What is environmental responsibility?

Environmental responsibility in Australia is the shared duty of governments, businesses, and individuals to protect and improve the natural environment for current and future generations. It is reflected in laws, planning systems, consumer choices, and a strong public culture around bushwalking, beach use, gardening, and outdoor recreation.

At the federal level, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the main law protecting matters of national environmental significance, including World Heritage areas, threatened species, Ramsar wetlands, and the marine environment. The Climate Change Act 2022 sets legally binding emissions targets of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050. State and territory laws cover land use planning, native vegetation clearing, water management, environmental impact assessments for development, and local pollution from noise, air, and water sources.

Individuals contribute through everyday choices. Reducing energy use, choosing renewable electricity tariffs, installing rooftop solar and home batteries, switching to electric vehicles or active transport, reducing meat consumption, composting food scraps, minimising single-use plastics, and using council kerbside recycling and organic-waste services all reduce household environmental impact. Australia leads the world in rooftop solar uptake, with more than 3.6 million households (one in three) generating electricity from their own roofs.

Volunteering and community action sit alongside individual choices. Landcare Australia supports about 6,000 community Landcare and Coastcare groups across the country, rehabilitating bushland, replanting native vegetation, removing invasive species, and monitoring water quality. Bush Heritage Australia, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and Greening Australia all manage protected areas with private and community support. Local councils run tree-planting events, beach clean-ups, and community gardens. Environmental responsibility is also embedded in the Australian Citizenship Pledge, where new citizens commit to share democratic beliefs that include responsibility to the country and its environment.