Assessments

Australia’s lands and seas are warming, and much of the south has experienced reduced winter rainfall and severe drought in recent years. Rainfall is increasing in the north-west. Sea levels continue to rise faster than the global average and threaten coastal communities.
Assessments of state are poor
Assessments of trend are deteriorating
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 11.5, 13.2, 15.3

The impacts of climate-related extreme events on the Australian environment are mixed, with heatwaves having a negative impact on land and in the oceans, but floods and bushfires having a mixture of negative and positive impacts depending on location and context. The combined impacts of all extreme events are increasing as they change in frequency, intensity, duration and distribution.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 15.3

Soil and land condition is generally poor as a result of high overall loss of soil organic carbon. The trend in condition is deteriorating as a result of land clearing, unsustainable agricultural practices and erosion, and climate change, although there are some recent improvements in soil under forests.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend are deteriorating
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 2.4, 12.4, 13.2, 15.3

Low levels of rainfall in southern Australia, combined with demand for town water and irrigation, have reduced both groundwater and surface water levels, particularly in the south-east. Similarly, in northern Australia, water resources were reduced by the late onset of the monsoon seasons in 2017–19, with associated poor rainfall during the wet season over consecutive years.
Assessments of state are poor
Assessments of trend are deteriorating
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 6.1, 6.5, 6.6

Waterways, beaches and shorelines are generally in poor condition in areas near urban centres, due to coastal development and climate change, but in good condition in more remote areas. Rocky shorelines, mudflats and sandbars are vulnerable to ongoing pressures.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 14.2

The marine environment is predominantly in good condition overall, but nearshore reefs are in poor condition and deteriorating as a result of the effects of climate change and cumulative pressures. Also, many habitats and communities that are in good condition overall are highly impacted in some locations. Climate change continues to warm and acidify the ocean, and we have experienced several major marine heatwaves over the past 5 years, resulting in an overall deteriorating trend.
Assessments of state range from very poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to improving
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 14.1, 14.2, 14.4, 14.5

Air quality in Australian cities is generally within national standards, although particulate matter and ozone are increasing in several capital cities. Measurements are taken only at a limited number of places. There were substantial impacts from bushfires in 2019–20.
Assessments of state range from good to very good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 3.9, 11.6, 12.4

Australia’s urban environments are in good, livable condition; however, housing affordability and accessibility of services are an issue in some areas. Livability is lower in smaller urban communities than in larger cities. Continuing urban growth, climate change and waste processing are ongoing challenges.
Assessments of state are good
Assessments of trend are stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 9.4, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3

Although the state of Antarctica is generally good, signals of change and variability are continuing to emerge. Most significantly, the ice sheet is providing an increasing contribution to global sea level rise; sea ice is showing large regional variability; and changes are occurring in the acidity, salinity and temperature of the Southern Ocean.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to unclear
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 11.4, 12.4, 12.5, 13.2, 14.2, 14.a, 14.c

Environmental values of terrestrial ecosystems continue to decline as native vegetation and above-ground carbon stocks are lost through human pressures such as land-use practices and clearing.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend are deteriorating
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 13.2

Freshwater ecosystems have been significantly impacted by human activity, generally in the south; habitats have degraded; and breeding grounds and refuges have declined. Drought has had significant impacts on water-dependent ecosystems and culturally significant sites.
Assessments of state are poor
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 6.6, 15.1, 15.6

Most marine habitats and communities are in a good and stable condition; however, seamounts and reef ecosystems are in poor condition, reefs are deteriorating, and the reorganisation of communities and disruption of ecological connectivity as a result of climate change and cumulative impacts is increasingly apparent. Coastal ecosystems are generally in poor and deteriorating condition in the south-east. Traditional Owners assessed marine habitats and communities as generally in poor and deteriorating condition.
Assessments of state range from poor to very good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 14.1, 14.2, 14.4, 14.5

Threatened plants and animals are generally in a poor and deteriorating state due to increased land clearing, urban expansion and invasive species. The positive exceptions are crocodiles, and some marine mammals and fish in northern and central Australia.
Assessments of state range from very poor to poor
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to improving
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 14.4, 14.5, 15.1, 15.2, 15.4, 15.5

The number of nationally listed threatened ecological communities has been increasing. Approximately half are Critically Endangered, and most of the new listings since 2016 are Critically Endangered.
Assessments of state range from very poor to poor
Assessments of trend are deteriorating
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 13.1, 14.2, 14.5, 15.1, 15.5

Populations of many migratory species, including most migratory shorebirds, have been declining for several decades, with a complex range of pressures affecting them both within Australia and in other parts of the world. Most migratory shorebirds are threatened. Seabirds and marine mammals are assumed to be in good condition, with some known improvements in focal species, but population data are unavailable for many species.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to unclear
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 14.2, 14.5, 15.1, 15.5

Most urban residents experience high wellbeing in built environments. Regional and remote areas have lower access to services, including water supplies, which are impacted by drought. Air quality is generally good but declining in cities, and has limited numbers of monitoring stations.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 1.4, 1.5, 2.4, 3.9, 6.1, 6.6, 6.b, 14.2, 15.1

Many of the effects of extreme events on wellbeing can currently be managed. However, bushfires, drought and heatwaves are all impacting negatively on wellbeing. Impacts are increasing in all cases under the influence of climate change.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend are deteriorating
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 1.5, 2.4, 11.5, 13.1, 13.3

Livability is good in large urban areas but decreases in peri-urban and smaller urban centres and remote communities. Livability factors, such as access to jobs and public transport, are highly variable across towns and cities. Inequities in access to resources continue, especially for Indigenous people and communities, and some essential supplies such as water are further impacted by climate change and lack of rights.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 6.1, 6.5, 6.b, 7.1, 11.7, 13.1

Barriers exist to Indigenous wellbeing in terms of involvement in decision-making, connection with Country, disempowerment and adequacy of support. Some aspects of Indigenous wellbeing are improving, such as recognition of languages, culture and rights, but perspectives vary across Indigenous groups. Regional variation is also high.
Assessments of state range from very poor to poor
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to improving
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 11.4, 15.6

Wellbeing outcomes from the management of natural heritage, historic heritage and World Heritage are generally good; however, management of cultural heritage, Indigenous heritage and geoheritage is inadequate.
Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 11.4, 14.5, 15.1, 15.5