Below are a few observations of changes taking place over the past few years in my location.
More cars on roads
· Removal of train level-crossings
· Upgrade of freeways
· Growth in number of electric vehicles
· Need for increase in infrastructure spending
More double story houses replacing older bungalows
More demolition of older houses on tram and main roads to be replaced by multi-story apartments
More internet use
· Electronic connections between people proliferating: Facebook etc
· Ready access to global events
· Decline in newspaper readership
· Proliferation of interest groups/networks/blogs
· Proliferation of information which may be difficult to verify
More mobile phone use (private and public)
More disconnect with the environment
· More CO2 being pumped into atmosphere
· More loss of habitat for fauna
More use of alternative energy sources (solar panels, battery storage, wind turbines)
· Coal powered electricity generators closing-implications for employees
· Gas fired generators can’t cope with cost of gas (most gas exported at higher prices)
· More difficult to fund new coal powered generation
· Divestment by financial institutions of CO2 producing investments e.g. coal powered generation
· No clear direction in politics for a national energy policy – Australian States leading the way in terms of moving towards targets for near to medium future
More extreme weather conditions (floods, storms, droughts)
· Greater scientific understanding of causes
More percentage of population ageing
· Implications for work force and government receipts
· Implications for pension sustainability
· Need for development of policies to take this drift into account
More Developing Countries experiencing growth in Middle Class
More dissatisfaction with traditional political parties
· Growth in independent and or single interest parties
· Lack of vision for the medium to distant future by all parties
· Distrust of politicians
More part-time work as distinct from full time employment
More opportunities/environment for individual inspired enterprises to develop
More flexible work arrangements
More street side coffee places
More mega shopping complexes
More opportunities (particularly the Middle Class) for travel overseas
More divisions between those with a comfortable living standard and those who don’t
More issues around acceptance of diverse religious and ethnic groups
More fluctuations in Australian economy
· Moving from resource base economy to service economy