Title: Re-imagining the future for desert Australia: designing an integrated pathway for enhancing liveability

Authors: Digby Race; Alfred Michael Dockery; Lisa Havas; Catherine Joyce; Supriya Mathew; Bruno Spandonide

Addresses: Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia; The Fenner School, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia ' Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia; Curtin Business School, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia ' Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia; Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia ' Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia; Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia ' Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia; The Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia ' Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia; Transport Research Group, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia

Abstract: The desert regions of the world comprise about 25% of the world's land surface and are home to 500 million people, yet are often portrayed as extreme places with resident communities marginalised from mainstream development. Australia has a relatively vast desert region, covering about 70% of the continent and home to about 200,000 people. As in most desert regions around the world, perceptions of hardship and isolation are enduring images with communities seen to be stoic yet in need of subsidies from the 'mainstream' economy. The multi-dimensional nature of the debate about the future of Australia's desert region often leaves policy makers with little overarching synthesis to guide public policy. This article draws together research on climate change, energy, housing and transport to provide a transdisciplinary analysis of how the desert region could become a highly liveable and prosperous area for existing and new residents.

Keywords: Aboriginal peoples; remote communities; climate change; energy systems; housing comfort; liveability; transport; Australia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2017.083492

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2017 Vol.20 No.1/2, pp.146 - 165

Received: 22 Dec 2015
Accepted: 16 Feb 2016

Published online: 08 Apr 2017 *

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