Assessments

What are assessments?

Authors of the report assess various aspects of the environment and rate their status, the impact of pressures, the effectiveness of management, and the impact on our wellbeing. Assessments are based on the current science and literature and expert opinion, and authors also rate their confidence in the strength of the evidence that supports the assessment. 

Showing results 1 - 10 of 16
Assessment Climate and extreme events

Assessments of state are poor
Assessments of trend are deteriorating

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How was this assessment made
For more information, go toClimate
Assessment Climate
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Extreme events
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Landscapes and seascapes
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in good condition, resulting in stable environmental values, but the situation is deteriorating.

Assessments of state range from very poor to very good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable

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How was this assessment made
For more information, go toLandscapes and seascapes
Assessment Land and soil
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Inland water
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Coasts
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Marine
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in good condition, resulting in stable environmental values, but the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Air
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing that air quality is very good, and air pollution poses little or no risk, but the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Urban
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in good condition, resulting in stable environmental values, and the situation is stable.

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

Assessment Antarctica
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in good condition, resulting in stable environmental values, but the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Ecosystems
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

Assessments of state range from poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable

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For more information, go toEcosystems
Assessment Terrestrial ecosystems and native vegetation
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Freshwater ecosystems
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Marine and coastal ecosystems
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in good condition, resulting in stable environmental values, and the situation is stable.

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

Assessment Biodiversity
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

Assessments of state range from very poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to unclear

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How was this assessment made
For more information, go toBiodiversity
Assessment Threatened species
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Threatened ecological communities
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Migratory species
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Human society and wellbeing
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in good condition, resulting in stable environmental values, but the situation is deteriorating.

Assessments of state range from very poor to good
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable

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For more information, go toHuman society and wellbeing
Assessment Food, water and air quality
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in good condition, resulting in stable environmental values, but the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Impacts of climate change and extreme events
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in poor condition, resulting in diminished environmental values, and the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Livability
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in good condition, resulting in stable environmental values, and the situation is stable.

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

Assessment Indigenous wellbeing and heritage
2021
2021 Assessment graphic for an assessment conducted by Indigenous community members, showing the environment is in very poor condition, resulting in heavily degraded environmental values, but the situation is improving.

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

Assessment Historic and natural heritage
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing the environment is in good condition, resulting in stable environmental values, but the situation is deteriorating.

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

Assessment Climate change
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing that pressures are high, meaning they moderately degrade the state of the environment, over a moderate extent and/or with moderate severity. The situation is deteriorating.

There is a general shift across Australia towards higher land, air and sea temperatures; more acidic oceans; rising sea levels; and less rainfall in southern Australia. Bushfires and heatwaves (both land and sea) are increasing in frequency and intensity. Other extreme events are changing in their frequency, intensity and distribution. It is anticipated that pressure from climate change will continue to increase.
Assessments of impact range from high to very high
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 6.1, 6.5, 7.2, 11.4, 11.b, 13.1, 13.2, 14.3, 15.5

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How was this assessment made
For more information, go toClimate change and extreme events
Assessment People-related pressures
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing that pressures are high, meaning they moderately degrade the state of the environment, over a moderate extent and/or with moderate severity. The situation is stable.

Population growth (despite reductions due to COVID-19), urban expansion, and associated land clearing and pollution continue to impact our environment, particularly in coastal areas where most Australians live. Habitat modification such as construction of seawalls, and recreational activities such as tourism and fishing can also have substantial negative effects on species and ecosystems.
Assessments of impact range from low to very high
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to stable
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 6.3, 8.4, 8.9, 11.3, 11.4, 11.6, 11.a, 12.1, 12.4, 14.1, 14.4, 15.1, 15.2, 15.5, 15.8

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How was this assessment made
For more information, go toPeople
Assessment Industry
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing that pressures are low, meaning they minimally degrade state of the environment, over a small extent and/or with low severity. The situation is stable.

Industrial pressures, such as resource use, production of waste, pollution and habitat loss, all impact ecosystems and biodiversity. Land clearing and grazing for agriculture have some of the greatest impacts. Across Australia, however, industrial pressures are generally low, but can be very high at local scales.
Assessments of impact range from low to very high
Assessments of trend range from deteriorating to improving
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 6.3, 8.9, 11.3, 11.4, 11.6, 12.1, 12.2, 12.4, 13.2, 14.1, 14.2, 14.4, 14.6, 15.3, 15.8

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How was this assessment made
For more information, go toIndustry
Assessment Invasive species and range shifts
2021
2021 Assessment graphic showing that pressures are high, meaning they moderately degrade the state of the environment, over a moderate extent and/or with moderate severity. The situation is deteriorating.

Invasive species are one of the most prevalent threats to Australia’s ecosystems and biodiversity. The number of invasive species continues to climb. Some species benefit from background trends pressures such as climate and habitat change. These pressures are also driving changes in the distribution of native species, many of which are moving southwards, resulting in changes to community composition.
Assessments of impact range from low to high
Assessments of trend are deteriorating
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 13.1, 15.8

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How was this assessment made
For more information, go toInvasive species and range shifts
Assessment Governance, rights, and access to Country for Indigenous people
2021
2021 Assessment graphic for an assessment conducted by Indigenous community members, showing that pressures are very high, meaning they strongly degrade the state of the environment, over a large extent and with a high degree of severity. The situation is deteriorating.

Changes in native title, land rights, Indigenous Protected Areas and co-management are positive; however, overall environmental management and governance arrangements do not adequately incorporate Indigenous knowledge, practices, culture and rights, and do not ensure equitable access to natural resources. Indigenous people continue to be impacted by poor access to water, constraints on cultural food collection and burning practices, and inadequate protection of Indigenous cultural and intellectual property.
Assessments of impact are very high
Assessments of trend are deteriorating
Related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets 11.4, 15.6

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How was this assessment made
For more information, go toIndigenous governance, rights and access