Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been caring for Australia sustainably for over 65,000 years!
Modern Australian traditions also focus on sustainability - like "Clean Up Australia Day" where millions of people pick up litter together every year!
Today, Australia is finally starting to listen! Indigenous rangers are being hired to manage national parks using traditional methods, and scientists are working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders to learn from their knowledge. But there's still a long way to go to make up for centuries of ignoring this wisdom.
Australia has one of the biggest plastic problems in the world - but people are working hard to fix it!
Every year, Australia produces about 76 million tonnes of waste - that's like filling 30,000 Olympic swimming pools! Only 13% of plastic gets recycled, and 130,000 tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean every year.
Plastic bottles and bags wash up on beaches, harming sea turtles, dolphins, and seabirds
Tourist areas and big cities produce more waste than rural areas
Most plastic waste goes to landfill instead of being recycled
South Australia leads the way: They recycle over 80% of their waste and are banning single-use plastic bags, cups, and containers by 2025!
Supermarkets stopped giving out plastic bags - now people bring reusable bags
Many cafes offer discounts if you bring your own coffee cup
Schools are teaching kids about reducing, reusing, and recycling
Housing costs have become a huge problem for young Australians - it's much harder for kids today to afford a home when they grow up than it was for their parents.
House prices have almost doubled compared to how much people earn - the average house now costs 9 times what a family earns in a year!
Some cities are requiring new developments to include affordable housing
Supporting young people with first-home buyer grants and shared ownership programs
Tourism creates 1 in every 10 jobs in Australia, and the country is working to make sure tourism helps rather than harms the environment.
Nature-based tourism is booming: 75% of travelers want to travel more sustainably, and Australia is ready!
From 2014 to 2023, visiting national parks grew by 73% and bushwalking grew by 81%
Ecotourism Australia certification: Businesses must prove they protect the environment and support local communities to get certified
Indigenous tourism: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guides share traditional knowledge about caring for country
Reef restoration tours: Visitors can help plant coral and learn about marine conservation on the Great Barrier Reef
Carbon-neutral travel: Some tour companies plant trees to offset the carbon from flights and tours
SUNx Malta is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to Climate Friendly Travel (Paris 1.5, SDGs, and Nature Positive tourism). Dodo4Kids is one of our educational initiatives, inspiring young travelers to explore the world responsibly through stories, activities, and gamified learning.
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