Leslie Massey
Australia's environment is in a 'poor state and it is deteriorating in the face of amplifying threats. The State of the Environment Report is a comprehensive national assessment of the state of the country's environment, produced every five years. The 2021 report addresses climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution, and extreme weather events. It found that emissions had increased by 0.4 percentage points since 2014, despite Australia's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. The report also highlights the impact of extreme weather events, such as bushfires, on the environment and the importance of Indigenous fire management. Australia's environmental health has been examined in recent reports, which have identified major environmental issues and provided guidance for addressing challenges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of report publication | Every 5 years |
| Year of latest report | 2023 |
| Environmental issues addressed | Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, mining, water security, land clearing, and more |
| Australia's ranking in Climate Change Performance Index | Poor |
| Number of threatened species | Increased by 8% since 2016 |
| Condition of waterways, beaches, and shorelines | Poor in areas near urban centers |
| Condition of broader marine environment | Better than terrestrial environment |
| Area of land and sea under conservation protection | Increased |
| Level of protection within reserves | Declining |
| Number of Indigenous rangers | Over 2,000 |
| Level of investment in addressing environmental issues | Inadequate |
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Climate change
Australia's climate has warmed by an average of 1.51 ±0.23 °C since national records began in 1910. Sea surface temperatures have increased by an average of 1.08 °C since 1900. The warming has led to an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events over land and in the oceans. Climate change is a major contributor to the increase in extreme fire weather across large parts of Australia, especially in the south, where there has been an increase in the annual number of extreme fire danger days.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that even if global warming is restricted to below 2 °C, there could still be a substantial increase in the occurrence of deadly heatwaves in cities. This will have a significant impact on urban areas, particularly those in northern Australia and some inland urban areas, such as Canberra airport. By 2090, the number of days above 35 °C is expected to increase significantly for most cities.
Changing climates can lead to shifting habitat zones and breakdowns in ecological cycles, impacting the health of animals and plants in the natural environment. Increased heat can also affect household pets. By 2070, 14% of all public trees in Australian cities are at high risk from increased temperatures in the emissions-limited climate change scenario, rising to 24% in the business-as-usual emissions scenario.
The Torres Strait is a region of national and international significance for its cultural and environmental values, but it faces a number of climate change risks, most notably the impacts of progressive sea level rise, coastal erosion, and inundation.
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Water management
Water supply and sanitation are crucial issues in Australia, given its high water consumption per capita. Effective water infrastructure is vital for regional Australia, supporting communities and the economy. The NWGF funds projects to increase water security, improve efficiency, and build resilience to droughts and water scarcity. Australia has introduced water management strategies such as water conservation, tradeable water rights, and desalination. However, groundwater levels have fallen due to overuse, and irrigation is essential for agriculture in arid regions.
The Murray-Darling Basin has experienced dramatic changes in environmental water flows due to water diversion for irrigation. The Basin Plan and a $A13 billion investment aim to ensure the Basin's sustainability. Australia's State of the Environment Report 2021 addresses water-related issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The report highlights inconsistent progress across states in managing water resources and reducing pollution.
To enhance water security, Australia is exploring new local water supply sources, such as recycled water, desalinated water, and greywater. The country is also working to provide essential town water infrastructure to support First Nations and remote communities. Drawing on the knowledge of First Nations communities is crucial for water projects. Australia's environmental health is closely examined in reports like the State of the Environment Report 2021 and Australia's Environment 2023 Report, which guide future actions and policies.
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Land and wildlife
Australia is home to around 600,000 native species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Half of the world's marsupials are found in Australia. The country has a diverse range of tropical, temperate and subantarctic ecosystems along its 33,000 km of coastline. The distribution of climates, topography, and soils has produced the zones and ecological variation of Australian vegetation, which is also reflected in the distribution of animal life.
However, the state of the environment report found that Australia's list of threatened species would get longer after the impact of the Black Summer bushfires became clearer. The report found that there was not enough funding dedicated to the environment and a lack of coordination across jurisdictions to properly address the cumulative impact of the threats. The health of Australia's environment is poor and has deteriorated over the past five years due to pressures from climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, and mining.
Habitat loss and degradation is the most dominant cause of species loss, followed by invasive species and diseases, pollution, adverse fire regimes, and climate change, all influenced by human activities. Urban expansion also contributes to habitat loss, exacerbating the situation. Australia has had a primary environmental law since 1999, but it has not prevented the decline of natural systems. Inadequate planning and insufficient funding are significant issues.
Indigenous people have dealt with environmental change for millennia, and their continued stewardship is crucial. Indigenous Ranger Programs enable Indigenous people to take a leading role in protecting the land and sea. Under the Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) program, over 87 million hectares are managed by Indigenous rangers, representing half of the National Reserve System. These programs also contribute to biodiversity protection through the application of Indigenous methods.
The broader marine environment is generally in better shape than the terrestrial environment, with 86% of populations classified as not overfished.
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Pollution
Australia's environment is in a "poor state and is deteriorating in the face of amplifying threats". The State of the Environment Report 2021 and Australia's Environment 2023 Report highlight major environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Air Pollution
Australia generally experiences good air quality. However, air quality can be reduced by specific events (which release pollutants for a short period) or specific industries (which affect the local area). Since the 2016 State of the Environment Report, various events have had significant short-term impacts on Australia's air quality, especially the bushfires of the 2019-20 summer. The ambient air quality standards of the National Environmental Protection Measures (NEPMs) are set for the protection of human health (e.g. to prevent respiratory and cardiovascular diseases), but there is evidence that, for some pollutants, there is no 'safe' level, and health effects are observed even at low exposures. In April 2021, NEPM limits were reduced for ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. However, reducing the NEPM limits alone will not improve air quality without a targeted program to reduce pollution sources and minimize the exposure of the Australian population. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is one of the pollutants of most concern in terms of human health. Although all cities have maintained a 'very good' assessment for PM2.5 since 2016, peak reported levels of PM2.5 in each year remain above the air quality NEPM standard in all capital cities in Australia. PM2.5 levels are stable in Darwin, Hobart, and Melbourne, but increasing elsewhere. Understanding the main sources of these smaller particles, including how they can form in the atmosphere from precursor pollutants, is key to their regulation.
Water Pollution
Australia is the second driest continent (after Antarctica), and frequent droughts have led to the introduction of water restrictions in all parts of the country. This has led to concerns about water security in Australia by environmentalists, irrigators, and state and federal governments. Diversion and capture of natural water flows for irrigation in Australia have been responsible for dramatic changes in environmental water flows, particularly in the Murray-Darling basin. The major part of Snowy River flows was diverted by the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Australia's urban areas use wastewater treatment plants. Both stormwater and treated sewerage flow into rivers, estuaries, nearshore waters, and beaches.
Marine Pollution
Intensive agriculture is affecting Australia's coasts and oceans, particularly estuaries and environments near the shore. Modelling predictions estimate that each year almost 19,000 tonnes of phosphorus and 141,000 tonnes of nitrogen are discharged to rivers flowing to the coast.
Soil Pollution
When forests are cut, the salinity of the soil can greatly increase. As a result, saline water draining from such areas can affect downstream or downslope water quality. It is estimated that around 7% of the agricultural area of western Australia is suffering from this problem following deforestation. Moreover, studies in Australia's wet tropics show that soils have limited capacity to recover from deforestation.
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Indigenous heritage
Australia's Indigenous peoples have lived on the country's vast lands for tens of thousands of years. They are the world's oldest living culture, and their unique identity and spirit continue to exist in every corner of the country. During the early period of colonisation, from 1788, known as the period of "First Contact", there were between 350 and 750 distinct Australian social groupings, and a similar number of languages. Every part of Australia is considered Aboriginal land, and Indigenous people have cared for Country for thousands of years.
The State of the Environment (SoE) report is a comprehensive national assessment of the state of Australia's environment. It is produced every five years and guides policy and action. The 2021 report addresses climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution. It found that emissions had increased by 0.4 percentage points since 2014, despite Australia's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. The report also includes a chapter on Indigenous fire management and how fire regimes are changing.
Australia's Indigenous cultural heritage is rich but remains hidden and under threat. More than 2 million square kilometres of Australia’s continental landmass was drowned by sea-level rise over the last 20,000 years. This land was once home to thousands of generations of Indigenous peoples. Despite this, Australia has fallen behind international best practices in locating, recording, and protecting submerged Indigenous cultural places.
There is a need to integrate Indigenous perspectives and traditional knowledge into marine science research. Divers recently discovered an ancient archaeological site that included stone tools used for grinding. Indigenous underwater cultural heritage is threatened by a variety of activities, including dredging, offshore cables and pipelines, seabed mining, and oil and gas exploration.
The 2023 Australia's Environment report introduces new perspectives by incorporating Aboriginal peoples' views on the environment. It includes three expert papers on biodiversity, managing plastics, and involving Indigenous people, providing a comprehensive overview of the environmental challenges faced by the country.
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Frequently asked questions
The State of the Environment report is a comprehensive national assessment of the state of Australia's environment, produced every five years. The report covers the Australian continent, surrounding seas, and external territories.
The report includes various chapters, each with five key sections and supporting information. The 2021 report included chapters on coasts, extreme events, heritage, inland water, land, and the marine environment.
The 2021 report found that emissions had increased by 0.4 percentage points since 2014, despite Australia's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. It also found that the number of threatened species rose by 8% since 2016, and that Australia has more foreign plant species than native ones.
The report provides vital information for policymakers, industry, NGOs, educational institutions, and the public. It guides policy and action on environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and water management. The report also highlights the need for improved environmental protection and conservation efforts.
