Dominant Contributors to Environmental Pollution in Australia
The approach of system thinking is extremely useful in dealing with the issues of sustainability. This approach looks at the problems from microscopic rather than seeing a shorter picture. It looks for the interrelationship among different constituents of a problem. System thinking provides permanent solution to the wicked problems through understanding the root causes of the problems (Aslani, Helo & Naaranoja 2014).
Wicked problems are highly difficult to solve because of contradictory, incomplete and changing requirements, which are highly difficult to recognize. Over the years, system thinking has been used in Australia for solving various wicked problems that helped in driving sustainability in the country. Moreover, this approach has been effectively used in Australia for it social development through using human rights. It has also been used in solving the issues of Government transparency (Tejeda & Ferreira 2014).
This research essay will solve the problem of shifting to more renewable sources of Energy in Australia through system thinking. With increasing industrial development, Australia is recently facing extreme environmental issues. Moreover, it is leading to climate change and causing danger for human as well as biodiversity life (Environment.gov.au 2017). Hence, there is an emerging need of shifting to more renewable sources of Energy in Australia. Renewable energy sources are generated from natural resources wind, tides, rain and geothermal heat. Renewable energy sources can be naturally replenished by saving the natural resources and maintaining environment sustainability.
This research essay will critically discuss the depraved problem and the requirement of shifting to more renewable sources of Energy in Australia. Throughout the research essay, various points will be discussed over the wicked problem including its needs, trends, current situation and future planning. The focus of the research essay will be to draw effective solution to the wicked problem through system thinking.
Discussion
According to McKerracher and Torriti (2013), Australia spends around $50 billion in each year over its total energy demand and energy exports earn around $24 billion a year. This sector involves massive and long-lived capital items like transmission lines, oil and gas production facilities, electricity plants, refineries, wind farms, pipelines. It also involves multitude of smaller facilities like retail and wholesale distribution sites. The production and utilization of energy causes major environmental challenges in Australia. On the other hand, Ahmad et al. (2014) pointed out that energy is the major single contributor to the global emissions of Greenhouse Gases. Transportation and direct combustion of fuels contribute 17% of the total CO2 emission in Australia.
Allouhi et al. (2015) opined that electricity generation is the largest sources of greenhouse gas emission, which contributes around 33% of the total emission. For example, the contribution of Arrow Energy to the emission has been increased by 8% from the previous years. On the other hand, Bhattacharya et al. (2016) pointed out that industrial scale carbon burning is also causing climate change in Australia. Moreover, industrial processes also contribute 5% to the total emission of Australia. All these emission contributors are actually affecting the water and air quality, noise level, biodiversity and heritage of the country. Polluted water and air quality is actually reducing the agricultural productivity of the country.
The Need for Sustainable Energy Solutions
On the hand, mining of coal is extremely difficult task, which can cause serious health hazards to the people. As per the statistics of Australian mining industry, almost 16-20 people died on mining disasters in 2013 (Cleanenergycouncil.org.au 2017). Moreover, it can also destroy wide areas of land by resulting ecological imbalance. On the other hand, the traditional fossil fuel like oil needs to be carried over from one to other through the ships. In such case, leaks in tanks often cause oil spill, which can several impact the aquatic life. For example, Montara oil spill was one of the considerable oil disasters in Timor Sea.
Moreover, it created imbalance to the biodiversity life of the Sea. In this way, Australia can face severe environment, economic and social disasters, if it still continues with traditional energy sources. In this way, this sustainability issue is highly related to the three pillar model of sustainability. The three pillar model is used to define a complete sustainable problem. Moreover, the sustainability is measured through three pillars like economic, social and environment. A system is unsustainable, if one of the pillars is weak in the system. In this case, the traditional energy system is damaging whole three pillars of three pillar model. Hence, it have direct relevance with the model. All these things drive the emergent need of Australia towards shifting to more renewable energy sources.
As per Reneweconomy.com.au (2017), the demand of energy in Australia has been projected to increase by 50% by 2020. The energy industry has estimated that at least $37 billion energy will be needed by 2020 towards meeting the total energy needs of the country. It will ultimately enhance the carbon emission rate in the country by enhancing environmental pollution.
On the other hand, Hua, Oliphant and Hu (2016) opined that increasing energy production needs huge supply of oil and gas from foreign countries. It will ultimately increase the cost of nation by severely affecting national economy of Australia. Hence, there is an urgent need of shifting to more renewable source of energy in Australia. It will protect the environment of the country through utilizing the energy produced from natural sources. ABC News (2017) indicated that by 2020, 23.5 percent energy of Australia will be generated from clean sources like hydroelectric, solar and wind power.
Azad et al. (2014) mentioned that Australia has the highest per capita CO2 emission in the world. It primarily uses coal power for producing 70% of the total electricity required in the country. On the other hand, Simpson and Clifton (2014) opined that manufacturing industries like chemical industry and mining industry have huge rate of contribution to the environment sustainable challenges in Australia. For example, BHP Billiton of Australia contributes about 1% to the total emission of the country. Hence, Australia should immediately adopt new technology like renewable energy for removing this sustainability challenge.
Low emission energy sources are highly required for the challenges of living standard and growth of Australia. According to Bahadori and Nwaoha (2013), sustainable energy sources will avoid the depletion of natural resources for future generation. It will lead to clean, hygienic and healthy environment for the people. However, Martin and Rice (2015) opined that it is quite difficult to generate huge quantities of electricity through renewable energy sources. It may not meet the total energy demand of Australia.
Benefits of Renewable Energy Sources
According to Byrnes et al. (2013), renewable energy sources can also reduce the dependency of Australia on foreign countries in regards to availability of foreign energy sources. Hence, it creates sustainable economy by reducing the cost of the country in getting supply of the energy. On the other hand, Simpson and Clifton (2014) opined that renewable sources often are to rely on weather for its source of power. Hydro generators require rain for filling the dams towards supplying water flow. Wind turbines require wind for turning the blades and solar system require clears skies for collecting heats from the sunshine and making electricity.
As per McKerracher and Torriti (2013), renewable energy sources can develop rural areas, as most of the renewable energy projects are developed in rural areas. Hence, it ultimately develops the rural economy of the country, which in turn contributes to the overall economy of the country. However, Byrnes et al. (2013) opined that the maintenance cost of renewable energy sources are quite high and even more than the traditional fossil fuel energy sources. Bhattacharya et al. (2016) opined that the industry of renewable energy generators can create huge job opportunities in Australia.
The innovative projects of energy sources can provide stable job to the unemployed youths, which can actually foster social and economic development of Australia. Moreover, Australia would get sustainable development in all aspects through generating renewable energy sources. Hence, Australia should immediately shift to more renewable sources of energy.
Australia has the opportunity towards becoming a renewable energy superpower and giving it a global economic advantage over the traditional fossil fuel energy. Towards the development of renewable energy sources, Australia has already adopted some strategies. According to Ga.gov.au (2017), Australia has almost 100 operating hydroelectric power stations and those power stations have total installed capacity of around 7800 megawatts. These are established in most rainy areas of the country. The most important hydro energy source in Australia is established in Tasmania.
It provides much of its state’s electricity. On the other hand, Cleanenergycouncil.org.au (2017) opined that Australia faces extreme difficulties in making the project of hydro energy source, as it is the driest inhabited continent in the world. The increasing variability of rainfall, temperature between years and evaporation rate causes limitation in water resources. Hence, it seems to be a challenge to implement hydro energy source everywhere in the country.
Bahadori and Nwaoha (2013) pointed out that Australia has highest solar radiation per square meter and has potential to be best source of solar energy in the world. The Department of Resources Energy and Tourism has committed to provide $1.5 billion towards constructing four big solar plants in Australia. However, Aslani, Helo and Naaranoja (2014) opined that the current use of solar energy in Australia is extremely low with 1% consumption of total energy consumption of the country.
Moreover, lack of initiatives from the Government part is also hindering the effectiveness of the solar energy sources in Australia. Furthermore, Allouhi et al. (2015) opined that Australia has also issues in implementing tidal energy sources and wave energy sources. The tidal energy sources are only restricted to tide kinetic energy. On the other hand, the low wave energy density of Australian seas has also become the hindrance towards implementing renewable energy sources. In this way, the current approaches of solving the issue have failed in Australia.
Adopting System Thinking Approach for Sustainable Energy Solutions
System thinking can be better applied to solve this sustainability issue of the country. Implementing more numbers of renewable energy sources can add golden era to Australia, which can foster sustainable development in the country. Australia Government should support more to the organizations towards developing increasing numbers of renewable energy sources. Moreover, Government should also support the organization towards operating their process through sustainable energy sources. Furthermore, they should take initiatives towards providing financial support to the renewable energy producing companies.
The energy producing companies should more concentrate on producing renewable energy source. It has been found that BHP Billiton has concentrated more of producing solar and wind power sources. The Renewable Energy Council of Australia should take more initiatives towards measuring the renewable energy consumption in various leading business, which are operating through sustainable energy system.
It is quite tough to make increasing numbers of hydro energy sources in Australia, as it is extreme dry country. Hence, the renewable energy industry of Australia should more concentrate of solar energy and bioenergy sources. Clean Energy Council of Australia has already promised that the renewable energy industry would double their productivity by the year 2030. On the other hand, renewable energy sources are to highly depend on weather for generating energy and supplying it.
Hence, the energy generating organizations should produce energy saving batteries for saving the generated energy and using it in future during crisis time. Efficient energy saving technology also help the transportation vehicles to use those energy for driving long way. It will ultimately reduce the pollution in the environment. Increasing numbers of renewable energy sources projects would definitely increase the job opportunities in the country by directing impacting the national economy.
Conclusion
While concluding the research essay, it can be said that systematic thinking is a trans-disciplinary framework, which find interrelationship among the constituents of the sustainable challenges. It can provide concrete solution to any wicked problem. Australia is facing tough challenges in its energy generation, which can direct impact on environment, society and economy of the country. Over the years, the traditional fossil fuel energy sources have been caused severe environmental damage in Australia.
On the other hand, extraction of traditional energy sources like oil and gas has also caused several employee deaths. Moreover, Australia is also facing economic underdevelopment due to getting supply of foreign energy sources. Hence, this is the high time for Australia towards shifting to more renewable sources of energy. Renewable energy sources can be replenished and there is no harm to the environment.
Furthermore, most of the renewable energy sources like wind energy, solar energy, hydro energy and bioenergy sources projects are developed in the rural areas. Hence, it can also help in rural development of Australia. Increasing numbers of renewable energy projects can create huge job opportunities in the country. It can have direct relation with the economic development of the country. However, the Government of Australia should be more concentrated on the development of renewable energy sources in Australia.
Reference List
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