Skip to Content
Having difficulty reading?View site in high contrast×

Australia State of the Environment Report

Home
  • Overview
  • Drivers
  • Themes
  • Frameworks
  • Topics
  • Download
  • How & Why
  • About

Search form

Main menu

  • Overview
  • Drivers
  • Themes
  • Frameworks
  • Topics
  • Download
  • How & Why
  • About
Back to Home

Search

  • Advanced Site Search
  • Search by Region
  • Search Assessment Summaries
Show on map

Historic Content you are reading content from a previous reporting year.

Showing 30 of 240 results

Trends in emissions

2016
Climate
Pressures
Report Content
... 2015, Australia’s national GHG inventory suggested that emissions decreased 0.1 per cent ( Figure ATM10 ). ...
Read more

Australia’s emissions in context

2016
Climate
Pressures
Report Content
Although Australia’s emissions in 2015 of 541 megatonnes of carbon dioxide ...
Read more

Emissions continue to contribute to climate change

2016
Atmosphere
Key Finding

2016  Australia’s emissions of CO2 per person in 2013 were nearly twice the average of countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, reflecting Australia’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels as a primary energy source, particularly the use of coal in the production of...

Read more

Figure ATM26 Cumulative abatement challenge, emissions trajectory (2013–20) and cumulative emissions (2013–20) since 2008

2016
Climate
Graph

Cumulative abatement challenge, emissions trajectory (2013–20) and cumulative emissions (2013–20) since 2008 Cumulative abatement challenge, emissions trajectory (2013–20) and cumulative emissions (2013–20) since 2008 Graphing only space below...

Read more

Figure ATM4 Carbon dioxide emissions per person, 2013

2016
Climate
Graph

Carbon dioxide emissions per person, 2013 Carbon dioxide emissions per person, 2013 Tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per person, 2013 OECD average9.579592706 Australia16.80269756 Source: OECD (2015) Figure ATM4 Carbon...

Read more

Figure ATM7 Carbon dioxide emissions per US$1000, 2013

2016
Climate
Graph

Carbon dioxide emissions per US$1000, 2013 Carbon dioxide emissions per US$1000, 2013 Tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per US$1000, 2013 OECD average0.298623932 Australia0.43421713 Source: OECD (2015) Figure ATM7 Carbon...

Read more

Figure ATM13 Synthetic gas emissions by gas type, 2015

2016
Climate
Graph

Synthetic gas emissions by gas type, 2015 Synthetic gas emissions by gas type, 2015 Percentageofgreenhousegasemissions Hydrofluorocarbons97 Perfluorocarbons2 Sulfur hexafluoride1 Source: Australian Government (2015a); Australian...

Read more

The oceans have somewhat mitigated the effects of emissions

2016
Atmosphere
Key Finding

2016  The oceans absorb CO2 and heat, and thus limit the rate and immediate extent of changes in climate. In recent decades, the oceans have taken up around 25 per cent of the annual anthropogenic (human) CO2 emissions. However, the capacity of the oceans to absorb CO2 is limited, because...

Read more

Management outputs and outcomes

2016
Climate
Effectiveness of management
Report Content
Reductions in GHG emissions are essential to minimise the amount of global ... programs and actions put in place by governments to meet emissions reduction targets can be summarised by emissions projections, which the Australian Government ...
Read more

Motor vehicles

2016
Ambient air quality
Risks
Report Content
... significant source of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions in Australia, comprising some 90 per cent of transport CO 2 emissions, which made up 17 per cent of Australia’s net CO 2 -equivalent emissions in 2015 (see ‘Sectoral emissions’). However, ...
Read more

Figure ATM28 (bottom) resultant calculated savanna burning emissions in pre-project baseline period (1995–2004) and project period (2005–11), where horizontal lines represent mean emissions for respective periods

2016
Climate
Graph

Application of Australia's savanna burning emissions methodology to the West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Project area: emissions Application of Australia's savanna burning emissions methodology to the West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Project area: emissions...

Read more

Effectiveness of management 2016

2016
Climate
Effectiveness of management
At a glance

At a glanceClimate change is a global problem that will require coordinated international action by all countries. The Paris Agreement, to which 195 countries (including Australia) have agreed, aims to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-...

Read more

Figure ANT20 Annual estimated emissions of carbon dioxide for the Australian Antarctic Program, 2010–11 to 2014–15

2016
Antarctic environment
State and trends
Graph

Estimated annual emissions of carbon dioxide for the Australian Antarctic Program, 2010–11 to 2014–15 Estimated annual emissions of carbon dioxide for the Australian Antarctic Program, 2010–11 to 2014–15 StationsShippingAircraftTotal Antarctic emissionsTotal AAD...

Read more

Planning and strategy

2016
Climate
Effectiveness of management
Report Content

2016 Climate Effectiveness of management South Coast An important role of government is to develop effective policies, implemented through supporting strategies and plans. Emissions...

Read more

Overview of effectiveness of management of the atmosphere

2016
Atmosphere
Effectiveness of management
Report Content

2016 Atmosphere Effectiveness of management Australian Capital Territory Climate There has been a major development in international cooperation to address the global issue of climate change,...

Read more

Nonregulated diesel engines, including shipping and nonroad transport

2016
Ambient air quality
Pressures
Report Content
... there are no regulations or standards in place that limit emissions from nonroad diesel engines, but many of the ... these engines are sourced do have controls. Regulated emissions limits for nonroad engines have been in force in ... China, India, Japan and Canada also have regulated emissions limits for nonroad engines. ...
Read more

Management framework

2016
Ambient air quality
Effectiveness of management
Report Content
... of air pollution by preventing or minimising air pollutant emissions. For the key air quality standards, the Australian, ...
Read more

Effectiveness of management 2016

2016
Ambient air quality
Effectiveness of management
At a glance

At a glanceAustralia has had national standards and goals for ambient air quality for almost 20 years—the National Environment Protection Measure for Ambient Air Quality (Air NEPM). These are based on strong empirical evidence about the health impacts of major pollutants. However, revision...

Read more

Pollution sources

2016
Ambient air quality
Pressures
Report Content
... air quality, most of the concern is about anthropogenic emissions, because natural sources are generally not able to ... could reduce the frequency or intensity of smoke emissions from bushfires (natural). ...
Read more

Box ATM7 West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement project

2016
Climate
Resilience
Case Study
... 2–3 per cent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of these fires occur during the late ... dry-season burning would reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions because carbon stored in dead fuels increases, and ... can reduce the area burned by 30 per cent and reduce emissions by around 0.6 megatonnes of carbon dioxide ...
Read more

Figure ATM12 Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions by sector, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change accounting, 2015

2016
Climate
Graph

Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions by sector, 2015 Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions by sector, 2015 EnergyIndustrial processes and product useAgricultureWasteLand use, land use change and forestry Carbon dioxide 93.94.70.50...

Read more

Executive Summary - Atmosphere

2016
Atmosphere
Executive Summary

Atmosphere 2016Climate change is a global problem, and minimising its impact on the Australian environment will require coordinated international action by all countries. The Paris Agreement, to which 195 countries have agreed, aims to hold the increase in the...

Read more

Figure ATM8b Australia’s annual emissions (a) per person, and (b) per dollar of real gross domestic product

2016
Climate
Graph

b Annual emissions per dollar of real gross domestic product, Australia, 1990–2015 Annual emissions per dollar of real gross domestic product, Australia, 1990–2015 Emissions per dollar of real GDP (kg CO2-e) 19900.71 19910.69 19920.66 19930.62 19940.62...

Read more

Figure ATM11 Greenhouse gas emissions by gas and sector, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change accounting, 2015

2016
Climate
Graph

Greenhouse gas emissions by gas and sector, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change accounting, 2014–15 Greenhouse gas emissions by gas and sector, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change accounting, 2014–15 Carbon...

Read more

Outlook for Australia’s climate 2016

2016
Climate
Outlook
At a glance

At a glanceThe outlook for Australia’s climate depends on the effectiveness of international and national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Without mitigation, surface temperature increases of 3.7–4.8 °C above 1850–1900 temperatures are projected. To remain below 2 °C warming above...

Read more

Effectiveness of atmospheric management

2016, 2011
Ambient air quality
Effectiveness of management
Assessment summary

Ambient air quality Effectiveness of management Management of sources of pollutionManagement frameworkIndoor air quality...

Read more

Pressures affecting Australia’s climate 2016

2016
Climate
Pressures
At a glance

At a glanceGreenhouse gases (GHGs)—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, short-lived tropospheric and stratospheric ozone, nitrous oxide and synthetic GHGs—together with water vapour, and natural and industrial aerosols, influence Earth’s energy balance. Human activity, primarily the burning of...

Read more

Outlook for Australia's air quality

2016
Ambient air quality
Outlook
At a glance

At a glanceThe outlook for Australia’s urban air quality is generally good. However, there is strong evidence that periods of poor urban air quality can have serious adverse long-term and short-term impacts on human health (particularly on the health of susceptible individuals). Although...

Read more

Figure ATM10 Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions by sector, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change accounting, 1990 and 2000–15

2016
Climate
Graph

Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions by sector, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change accounting, 1990 and 2000–15 Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions by sector, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change accounting, 1990 and 2000...

Read more

Figure ATM24 Global surface air temperature changes, 2071–2100, relative to 1981–2010, using a low-emissions to moderate-emissions scenario

2016
Climate
Effectiveness of management
Map

Interact with mapDownload as pngDownload dataset Figure ATM24 Global surface air temperature changes, 2071–2100, relative to 1981–2010, using a low-emissions to moderate-emissions scenario Understanding and research

Read more

Footer logo

SoE 2016 logo

Australia State of the Environment 2016 has been prepared by independent experts using the best available information to support assessments of environmental condition, pressures, management effectiveness, resilience, risks and outlook.

This site is a major undertaking to improve the usability of SoE information. We are grateful for the support of users in our ongoing efforts to improve SoE reporting.  Please report problems with the site via our feedback page.

  • Abbreviations
  • Acknowledgements
  • Download
  • Drivers
  • Glossary
  • How & why
    • Reporting framework
    • Digital SoE
  • Overview
    • Headlines
  • Themes
    • Atmosphere
    • Built environment
    • Heritage
    • Biodiversity
    • Land
    • Inland water
    • Coasts
    • Marine environment
    • Antarctic environment
  • Accessibility
  • Contact us
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Help
  • Privacy

Acknowledgment of Country

We, the authors, acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community; we pay respect to them and their cultures and to their elders both past and present.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2017-2018

cc-by.png

Creative Commons logo