Population, sustainability, climate change, water and the future of our cities

What will our lives be like in the year 2020? Will most of us still be living in cities? Will those cities be easy to get around, safe, and friendly? Or will they be huge, hot, polluted and hostile?

What will our houses be like, and how we will we power them? Will efficient and affordable public transport and road systems be easing travel around our cities? Or will they be choked with cars and trucks?

How hot will our weather be? How will we defend against the effects of more tropical cyclones, bushfires, and other extreme events?

How will we secure our water supply? What sort of land management techniques will be required to keep farms viable? How will climate change affect our ability to enjoy the same huge range of fresh food we do now?

And what of the natural places and spaces that play such important roles in our health, culture and national identity: our rivers, coasts, mountains, lakes and other wild places? What will be left of them for our children and their children?

How will all these things affect Australia's prosperity in the year 2020?

The first step in getting a clear idea of where we are headed in the future is to understand where we are now:

There are increasingly more of us. Since 1998, Australia's population has grown at 1.3% per year, with some resource states recently growing much faster.

A relatively large number of us are recent immigrants. Our population is diverse, comprising a higher percentage of immigrants than many other countries including New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.

We are getting older. Compared to 20 years ago, many more of us are above the age of 30.

Our households are getting smaller, and most of us live in cities - which are growing at a rapid rate.

There's a high demand for housing and our cities are sprawling.

Our country is getting hotter - 16 of the last 18 years have been warmer than the long term average in Australia.

It rains less here than in most other developed nations - and rainfall has decreased noticeably around all major population centres.

We produce more carbon per person than any other OECD country except the United States and Luxembourg - and our emissions are projected to rise.

These conditions pose significant challenges, as well as opportunities for Australians heading towards 2020. We have a unique chance now to take the immediate action that is required to create a sustainable future.

Background paper

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