G08: I&S Where are all the People?: Sustainable Resources

Resource library

We are a university research institute that has been creating change towards sustainable futures by conducting independent project based research for Australian and international clients since 1997.

Our researchers and professional staff come from varied backgrounds, including engineering, architecture, management, economics, science, the social sciences, international studies and political studies.

Our Approach to Tackling the World’s Greatest Challenges
Count It, Change It, Scale It

It's the question of our generation: Can we find sustainable solutions for energy, water, food, stuff? In these TED talks, scientists and inventors offer visionary solutions for a greener future.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities.

ATTRA is a program developed and managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). The majority of funding for ATTRA is through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service. We are committed to providing high-value information and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.

AeroFarms is at the cutting-edge line in agricultural science, but are its green credentials undermined by high electricity use?

EDITT Tower (“Ecological Design In The Tropics”) is being built in Singapore with the financial support of the National University. The 26 story tower will have over half its surface area covered by organic local vegetation. Solar panels will generate up to 40% of the building’s energy demands, and human waste will also be converted into an energy source via an on-site bio-gas facility. The Architecture firm TR Hamzah & Yeang is constructing the building using recycled and recyclable materials when possible!

The fact that substantial amounts of food are produced but not eaten by humans has substantial negative impacts: environmentally, socially and economically. Estimates suggest that 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed.

A leading provider of early warning and analysis on acute food insecurity around the world.

Created in 1985 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in response to devastating famines in East and West Africa, FEWS NET provides unbiased, evidence-based analysis to governments and relief agencies who plan for and respond to humanitarian crises.

Speak up and choose environmentally sustainable seafood — it’s the most powerful action you can take.
When you choose to buy sustainable seafood, you push suppliers to source more environmentally responsible products, driving significant improvements throughout the industry. Ultimately, your choices have an impact on the health of the ocean.

Transforming the building and construction sector across three strategic areas—climate action, health & wellbeing, and resources & circularity—we are a global action network comprised of around 70 Green Building Councils around the globe.

On Earth Day, look through CNN Style's round-up of 18 noteworthy green buildings from around the world.

WRI analysis finds that across locations and regulatory environments, there are many achievable policy pathways to zero carbon buildings

According to data from the United Nations (UN), in 2050 around 68% of humanity will live in cities. These represent only 3% of the planet's surface, but consume 78% of energy and produce 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. For this reason, in 2016 the UN itself improved the New Urban Agenda to advise countries on their urbanisation processes and make cities more habitable, inclusive, healthy, resilient and sustainable.

As our transport system grows in capacity and usage, it becomes increasingly important to manage its environmental footprint. This footprint is a sizeable one - the transport sector currently accounts for nearly half of the fine particles (also known as PM2.5) in the air.
Under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint, we have set out to achieve a cleaner and greener transport system by 2030.

EV prices are on track to reach parity with fossil fuel-powered cars in the next four to six years, at which point annual sales will start to skyrocket, reaching 25 million in 2030

In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sustainable transport is mainstreamed across several SDGs and targets, especially those related to food security, health, energy, economic growth, infrastructure, and cities and human settlements.

Various types of sustainable land, air, sea and space transport are described and illustrated with links to further information.

H2O Conserve Water Footprint Calculator. The program has since grown into a significant source of tools, tips and information that help make water conservation a daily part of our lives. Focus on how water is used in energy production, agriculture and consumer products, and on improved management of our water resources and systems is also provided.

One of UN-Water’s key objectives is to provide coherent and reliable data and information on key water trends and management issues. During past decades, several initiatives, mechanisms and programmes, both within and outside the United Nations family, have been collecting information on the various components of the water cycle.

The World Water Council is an international multistakeholder platform organization whose mission is to mobilize action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, by engaging people in debate and challenging conventional thinking. The Council focuses on the political dimensions of water security, adaptation and sustainability.

A platform for collaboration between companies, organizations and individuals to solve the world’s water crises by advancing fair and smart water use. We are a dynamic, global network that drives innovation and inspires the changes we must all make to share fresh water fairly amongst all people to sustain thriving communities and nature’s diversity.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations and leaders in government, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society and philanthropies to drive faster action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 – in line with the Paris Agreement on climate.

Energy is more than electricity. Access to clean, affordable and reliable power is essential for human health, education and economic prosperity, in addition to reducing emissions.

Yet the world’s energy systems are in desperate need of modernization. More than 750 million people — 10% of the global population — still lack access to electricity. Those who do have power often get it through polluting fossil fuels. Energy is already responsible for 73% of global emissions, while energy demand is slated to rise nearly 10% by 2030.

Light your home using the same amount of light for less money. An average household dedicates about 5% of its energy budget to lighting. Switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills.

Solid waste management is a universal issue that matters to every single person in the world. And with over 90% of waste openly dumped or burned in low-income countries, it is the poor and most vulnerable who are disproportionately affected.

Poorly managed waste is contaminating the world’s oceans, clogging drains and causing flooding, transmitting diseases, increasing respiratory problems from burning, harming animals that consume waste unknowingly, and affecting economic development such as through tourism.

Engineers and environmentalists support a circular economy that designs waste into the loop.

documented statistics by the United Nations University show that only 20% of e-waste is collected and recycled while the fate of the other 80% is unknown, but very likely dumped, illegally traded or recycled under uncontrolled conditions.

In 2019, nearly 153 million smartphones were sold according to Gartner, and in 2018, users were keeping their phones for about 2 years, but that time period is likely to drop as folks upgrade to 5G-capable phones.