Today, 4 October 2021, is World Habitat Day. 

When you hear the term ‘habitat’ you most likely think of natural habitats with diverse plant and animal life, such as forests or oceans—but our towns and cities are also habitats! Yet while transport, buildings, energy and waste management make our lives easier and more comfortable, they also contribute to climate change. In fact, cities are responsible for more than 70% of global carbon emissions annually. Sustainable practices in our urban habitats are therefore crucial to the longevity of our planet. 

The theme for this year’s World Habitat Day is ‘Accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world’, which encourages us to critically examine the condition of our towns and cities and the actions we can take towards a more sustainable future. We have the power and the responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint. 

For information on how Griffith is addressing these issues, take a look at the work of the Cities Research Institute and the Australian Rivers Institute.  You can also read research on sustainable cities and communities from Griffith Business School academics, which advances Sustainable Development Goal 11. 

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