Dear Readers,
Welcome to the final Economic Perspective for 2024! As we prepare to step into 2025, let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the most exciting and challenging themes set to define the year ahead. Resilience takes centre stage, offering opportunities and complexities as we tackle pressing environmental and economic challenges.
In Western Australia, the proposed WA Resilience & Recovery Agency (WARRA) promises to revolutionise disaster recovery in the Central Wheatbelt, ensuring communities rebuild faster and stronger after events like bushfires and floods. Meanwhile, urban cooling initiatives like reflective materials on roofs and footpaths highlight how clever design can reduce deadly heatwaves in cities—though, as always, there’s a twist. These materials also reflect ultraviolet rays, giving us yet another puzzle to solve as we balance climate adaptation and public health.
Nature, too, demands our attention. Eastern Australia’s waterbird populations have plummeted by 50% since 2023 due to drier conditions, reminding us of the critical need for sustainable water management and biodiversity conservation. These themes underscore how interconnected our environmental and economic systems genuinely are.
As BGA gears up for 2025, we remain dedicated to helping communities and organisations become more resilient. Let’s take on the challenges ahead with optimism and determination!
Wishing you all a joyful and restful holiday season. See you next year for more insights, opportunities, and of course, the next edition of EP!
Warm regards,
Shima Madani
Balmoral Group Australia
The Latest Trending Economic News Curated for You by Balmoral Group Australia
WA resilience and recovery agency setting central Wheatbelt up for the future
In Western Australia, the proposed establishment of the WA Resilience & Recovery Agency (WARRA) exemplifies a proactive approach to disaster management. By centralizing recovery efforts, this initiative aims to strengthen communities in the Central Wheatbelt, ensuring faster rebuilding and improved long-term resilience against bushfires, cyclones, and floods. Read about it here.
Increasingly worried: more than a quarter of a million waterbirds disappear from eastern Australia
Drier conditions in eastern Australia have led to a staggering 50% decline in waterbird populations compared to 2023. This alarming trend, revealed by one of the world’s longest-running wildlife surveys, serves as a stark reminder of the interconnected challenges of water management, climate change, and habitat conservation. Read more here.
A push to cool Australian cities may inadvertently increase our skin cancer risk, unless we act
Efforts to cool Australian cities by incorporating reflective materials in construction, such as light-colored roofs and footpaths, represent innovative solutions to combat extreme heat events. Yet, these measures bring attention to the complexity of climate adaptation; while they help reduce heat, they may inadvertently increase exposure to ultraviolet radiation, highlighting the necessity of thoughtful implementation that prioritizes public health alongside cooling benefits. Read more here.
Key climate and sustainability themes for 2025
The 2020s have often been referred to as the “decisive decade” for climate action—a pivotal time to make the necessary strides towards a sustainable future. As we move through 2025, progress remains uneven, shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, economic inequality, and financial shortfalls. There are reasons for optimism, however. Read more here.
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