Water has been a topic at the top of mind all summer, but beyond the headlines around mismanagement of the Murray Darling, threats to the Great Artesian Basin, dramatic flood photos and Sydney desalination plant being switched on are some issues that cut to the crux of how we live in this country.

Sydney’s nightlife has suffered dreadful and high profile setbacks after the lockout laws came into play, but the NSW government and councils are now pulling out all stops to revive it. Integral to this campaign is reorienting the night time economy so that it’s about more than just drinking and nightclubbing.

When the 202020 Vision started in 2013, it set out to achieve 20 per cent canopy cover in Australia’s urban areas by 2020.

A medieval disdain for evidence… fetid swamps of arrogant stupidity, up from which deranged buffoons now bubble up to be leaders.

First celebrity couple Beyoncé and Jay Z showed their support for veganism, promising a lifetime supply of free tickets to fans who adopted a plant-based lifestyle.

Ten years ago, on February 7, 2009, I sat down in my apartment in central Melbourne to write a job application. All of the blinds were down, and the windows tightly closed. Outside it was 47?. We had no air conditioning. The heat seeped through the walls.

Australians cherish their neighbourhoods and want a say in how their communities evolve. Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Cities Anthony Albanese believes he has a way to make that happen.

Councils such as the City of Fremantle are pushing hard for residents to turn the nature strips outside their homes into an oasis of green.

What if customers can choose the cleanest greenest shipping lines?

The contest for air space is heating up with American aerospace company Bell revealing its hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft this month and Boeing Co landing the first test flight of its autonomous passenger air vehicle last week.

Public libraries are staying open longer to help communities deal with heat stress and we might need school shut downs as well and meanwhile we get a more sedentary lifestyle.

Life on the land has always been tough in Australia and things are only expected to get harder as climate change leads to drier conditions and other weather-related challenges. 

We need multi-partnered relationships of trust and collaboration – equal to the very best marriages – to achieve the outperformance that will give us a sustainable built environment.

New leaders are emerging to meet the climate challenge. Cities and towns in Australia and across the world are taking charge of their future and moving swiftly to reduce their climate impact and secure a clean energy future for their residents.

Spending on transport infrastructure remains huge and according to Arcadis managing director infrastructure Australia-Pacific Phil Kajewski, we likely haven’t even reached the peak.