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We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the sovereign Traditional Owners of Australia and thank them for their stewardship of this Country, its lands, waters and skies. We respectfully acknowledge their culture and customary practices, and pay respect to their Ancestors, Elders and future leaders.

For the first time, the State of the Environment report includes a strong Indigenous narrative across all 12 thematic chapters, a narrative crafted through recognising the leadership, collaboration and authorship of Indigenous Australians who continue their connection as Traditional Owners to their lands, waters and skies.

Click to view the State of the Environment report

 

On 28 March 2025 the government assumed a Caretaker role. Information on websites maintained by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the conclusion of the caretaker period.

Due to technical issues, graphs, maps and tables are currently not displaying within the main content, however, are available via the chapter resources navigation bar. We are working on a solution to resolve the issue.

Urban

Written by Dr Sarah Hill, Zena Cumpston and Gabriela Quintana Vigiola

Baranyiin baribugu  

From yesterday to tomorrow

Yura Ngurrayin bulbulwul 

The people of Country are strong

Dharug/Eora Nation
The structure, form and function of our urban environments significantly influence our cultural connection, enjoyment and access to goods, services and opportunities. How we live in our urban environment in turn affects the state of our natural environment, including the extent of our biodiversity, the sustainability and quality of our natural resources and the scale of waste and pollution generated.
On the Periphery by Jeffrey Smart
Key Findings
Find out the main messages of the report. Each chapter has 10 key points that summarise the findings of the chapter.
Start with Key findings
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Outlook and impacts
Where are we headed? Understand the outlook of our urban environments, based on how they are tracking now and how we are managing them. Also find out how recent changes will affect our health and wellbeing.
Start with Outlook and impacts
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Environment
How are the different aspects of our urban environment tracking? Explore our urban populations, buildings, liveability, and resource availability and security.
Start with Environment
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Pressures
What are the pressures on our urban environment? Identify the main climate, human and industry pressures on our cities and towns and find out how they are affecting urban liveability, our environment, and our own wellbeing.
Start with Pressures
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Management
How effective is our management of the urban environment? Discover the main planning and management interventions, and how well they protect our environment and minimise the impact of pressures.
Start with Management
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Chapter resources
Find out about the chapter authors and their analysis approach, the artwork appearing in the chapter, and the available supplementary material.
Explore Authors and acknowledgements
Explore Assessments
Explore Graphs, maps and tables
Explore Case studies
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Explore findings from Urban
Growing populations, resource demand and travel are the main pressures on our urban areas
The COVID-19 pandemic affected our urban environments in both positive and negative ways
Liveability varies between different urban areas and within different parts of our cities and towns
A nationwide approach to urban growth and resilience is needed
Infographic showing that urban areas not only affect the health of the people in the area – for example through poor air quality, urban heating, noise and so on – but they also affect surrounding areas, because they are sources of pollution and waste, create contaminated water runoff, and use resources unsustainably. Integrated management of urban spaces is essential if the urban environment and human population is not to put an undue strain on all the other environments.