Chris Gartner, Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Canberra provides the benefits of an eco-friendly lifestyle in Canberra

Affectionately known as the ‘bush capital’ because the city is nestled amongst the trees and gardens, Australia’s capital is a breath of fresh air and a leader in sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region.

When Canberra was designed in 1911 by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion Mahony Griffin, they worked as a team to ensure buildings, roads and gardens were laid out to create both a picturesque and liveable city. Their smart use of the existing landscape with a vision to create an international capital “not like any other city” laid the foundations for sustainability a century before it became an urgent global challenge. 

Fast forward to 2023 and this city of almost 500,000 people is at the forefront of sustainability — powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, generated through wind and solar initiatives. 

Those who already call Canberra home ride bikes and e-scooters around the lakes and town centres. Light rail connects inner city suburbs to the central business district. More and more electric vehicles are being adopted by road users, and electric buses will be rolled out in 2023.

Bush trails brimming with native wildlife weave through suburban landscapes and green spaces are maintained to offer respite in the heat of summer and a place to soak up the sun in the crisp Canberra winters.

Canberra is Australia’s largest inland city that earned the title of the world’s most sustainable city in 2021 by UK comparison company Uswitch. But how does Canberra leverage the synergies between the environment and the economy, creating a desirable place for people to live, work and study? 

Making sustainability a priority has unlocked work and study opportunities 

 Canberra is recognised as a global leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has some of the most ambitious emission reduction targets in the world, thanks to a progressive local government. 

The government aims to achieve zero net emissions by 2045. This ambition has opened the door to a host of work and business opportunities in cleantech and renewable energy. There’s also strong collaboration between the tertiary education sector, industry, and government. This is driving innovation, research and development, employment, and sustainable economic growth.

Canberra has commenced one of the world’s largest rollouts of home battery storage for rooftop solar and is leading the nation in the number of electric vehicle charging stations. This ties in with a plan to phase out new fossil fuel-powered vehicles from 2035.

Canberra is a hub for students, researchers and entrepreneurs who want to live in and contribute to a place that prioritizes sustainability. The city’s tertiary institutions are heavily involved in the research and development of new technologies in this area. Through this research and industry partnerships, students can get hands-on experience with industry experts and, in turn, help with the transition to a renewable future.

Many companies are realizing that relocating to sustainable cities can help them attract a smart and diverse workforce. They are acutely aware that the people they seek prefer living and working in vibrant, accessible neighborhoods that enhance their quality of life.

A sustainable outlook leads to an improved quality of life

Canberra has seemingly achieved the ultimate work-life balance. 

Unlike the relentless hustle and bustle of larger Australian cities, Canberra is a place where work, study, socialising and recreation can be seamlessly enjoyed. 

As the city grows, planning decisions take into account what is important to the lives of current and future generations. It’s a place where career-focused individuals thrive in the workplace and yet still find time to focus on physical and mental wellbeing. There is ample space around the city’s lakes, parks and nature reserves, where sustainability practices extend to the preservation of the region’s wildlife. Sanctuaries you can explore in the outer suburbs have seen the reintroduction of several vulnerable or endangered species, creating a biodiverse future. 

Live, work, and study while helping to save the planet 

Living in a city at the forefront of sustainability will lead to exciting employment opportunities and a quality of life that weaves in wide open spaces and a vibrant urban centre to sustain your career, social and wellbeing goals. 

Canberra ticks all the boxes when it comes to a higher quality of life that encompasses sustainable living. Are you ready to make the smart choice?