FACTS AND FIGURES

• Australia faces significant environmental challenges: efficient and sustainable water use is a critically important issue for our economic and social development; significant land degradation issues, such as salinity, need to be arrested to underpin our agricultural production systems; climate change can be expected to have complex, long-term consequences for the environment, for our agricultural and marine production systems and for communities; the cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems should be enhanced.

• In March 1996, 91% of Australian households engaged in some form of recycling or reuse in the home. By 2006, this percentage has increased to 99%.

• While figures have increased (from 11.9% nationwide in 1996 to 13.5% in 2006), the survey reflected the desire of individuals to continue using private vehicles, due to such factors as the lack of public transport services available and the convenience, comfort and privacy of using a private vehicle.

• In March 2006, about 98% of Australian households recycled waste, 87% reused waste, while less than 1% did not recycle or reuse waste at all.

• Between 1996 and 2006 there has been an increase in community involvement in recycling organic waste. In 2006, 66% of Australian households recycled garden waste, an increase from 51% in 1996.

• Reusing waste material continues to grow amongst Australian households, increasing from 37% in 1996 to 87% in 2006. The most frequently reused materials were plastic bags (89%), old clothing or rags (41%) motor oil (28%) and kitchen or food waste (27%).

• 46% of Australian households practised composting in 2006, down from 54% in 1996.

• In March 2006, 90% of Australian households kept at least one registered motor vehicle in their garage or dwelling. 96% of family households were more likely to keep one registered motor vehicle in their dwellings compared to non-family households (74%).

• Air conditioning in motor vehicles increased from 72% in 1996 to 92% in 2006.

• In 2006, around 90% of motor vehicles used ran on unleaded fuel; 6% on diesel and 3% on gas.

• In 2006, 66% of Australians aged 18 years and over travelled less than 20km to get to work or study. Nearly a third (28%) travelled 20km or more and 20% travelled 5km or less.

• Private motor vehicles are the most common transport for Australians to get to work or study. In 2006, 80% of those aged 18 years and over used a private vehicle to travel to work or study.

• Use of public transport increased from 12% in 1996 to 14% in 2006.

• Overall concern about environmental issues has shown a decline between 2001 and 2004 (from 62% down to 57%). All states and territories showed a decline in concern ... In 2004, people in the Australian Capital Territory reported the highest level of concern (69%), followed by South Australia and Western Australia (both 63%). Those in the Northern Territory had the lowest level of concern (46%).

• People aged between 45-54 years expressed the most concern (65%) about environmental issues and those aged 65 years and over, expressed the least (47%).

• 9 in 10 Australian households use at least one type of environmentally-friendly product (EFP). Recycled paper products (67%) and products with refillable containers (65%) were the EFPs purchased most often by Australian households. These were followed by unbleached paper products and organically grown fruit and vegetables.

• Research has found that wealthy, tertiary-educated households have by far the biggest “carbon footprint” in Australia, generating almost 58 tonnes of greenhouse pollution a year. In contrast, poor families were only responsible for 22 tonnes of emissions, with pensioners and people living on welfare also recording the lowest carbon footprints. The national average was 32 tonnes a year.

• If every Australian offset all their car, plane and house-hold electricity emissions it would reduce Australia’s emissions by 16% ... but it wouldn’t come close to making Australia ‘carbon neutral’ ... if you want to be truly carbon neutral, ACF suggests you aim to cut your greenhouse footprint by 27 tonnes each year – that’s what the average Australian produces.

• Conventional electricity from the supply grid currently produces the largest amount of CO2 of any energy source per unit of energy used, except in Tasmania where hydro-electric power is used. Renewable energy sources produce no greenhouse gases in operation and reduce or eliminate the need for additional coal-fired power stations and large hydro-electric dams. Natural gas produces only about one third the greenhouse emissions compared to conventional electricity.

• Minimising demand for energy through conservation and efficiency is the most cost-effective means of reducing operational and environmental costs for all home owners and tenants.

• Space heating and cooling and water heating account for nearly 70% of household energy use.

• If we minimise waste by avoiding and reducing waste, and re-using and recycling, we can cut waste by up to 50% – and even more if we compost.

• Travel close to home can be great, and it will save a lot of greenhouse gases; a single flight from Sydney to Melbourne can produce up to 256 kg of CO2 per person. That’s about three times more greenhouse gases than a train or a bus. If you do need to fly, think about joining a carbon offset scheme.