<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/nature-climate-in-deep-trouble-as-most-populous-state-dumps-waste-equal-to-three-small-cars-a-year/>
"More scorching days over 35°C are on the horizon, hundreds of species are
considered threatened and a landfill crisis is looming with rubbish piling up
rapidly, a “truly alarming” report shows.
The
State of the Environment 2024, released every three years by the NSW
Environment Protection Authority, found each person in the most populous state
generated an average of 2.7 tonnes of waste in 2022-23.
That’s the equivalent of about three small cars being thrown out.
Authority chief executive Tony Chappel praised the marked jump in renewable
energy powering 34 per cent of NSW’s electricity, compared to less than 20 per
cent five years ago.
But he warned about “serious” environmental concerns particularly biodiversity
loss and waste management.
There were now 1018 threatened species, an increase of 36 since 2020, the
report found.
More hot days over 35C are expected as well as severe fire weather and extreme
rainfall adding to the slew of catastrophic flood events that have pummelled
NSW in recent years.
Plastic litter has dropped by 55 per cent, smashing the 2025 target of a 30 per
cent reduction, but greater Sydney’s landfill capacity is projected to run out
by 2030.
Waste generation has outpaced population growth, rising from 18.7 million
tonnes in 2015-16 to 22.4 million tonnes in 2022-23.
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the 676-page report tabled in parliament
on Thursday was not all doom and gloom despite the sizeable climate challenges
facing the state.
The latest figures show NSW is on track to cut emissions by 46 per cent in 2030
and 62 per cent in 2035."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
