What is sustainability?

Sustainability in Australia is the practice of meeting current economic, social, and environmental needs without exhausting the country's resources or damaging its ecosystems for future generations. It covers energy and emissions, water and food, materials and waste, transport, urban planning, and social equity, and has become a central organising principle for national, state, and corporate policy.

Federal sustainability policy is shaped by the Climate Change Act 2022, the National Reconstruction Fund, the National Waste Policy, and the National Hydrogen Strategy. The Climate Change Act sets legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050. Australia is also a signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the seventeen targets agreed in 2015 to be achieved by 2030.

Australian businesses are required to report on sustainability through the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (introduced 2024), which align with international ISSB standards. Listed companies on the Australian Securities Exchange disclose climate-related risks, emissions, and adaptation plans. Major banks have committed to align lending with the Paris Agreement, and the country's superannuation funds, with more than 3.7 trillion dollars under management, are major drivers of sustainable investment.

At a household level, sustainability is supported by rooftop solar (now installed on more than 3.6 million homes, the highest household solar penetration in the world), rebates for electric vehicles and home batteries, container deposit schemes operating in every state and territory, kerbside organic waste collection in many councils, and a strong public culture around water conservation and waste reduction. The Sustainable Australia Report, released annually by the Department of the Treasury since 2022, tracks the country's progress against environmental, social, and economic indicators.