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

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Box ANT4 Retreat of Stephenson Glacier on Heard Island

2016
Antarctic environment
State and trends
Case Study

A series of satellite images has highlighted the dramatic retreat of Stephenson Glacier on the eastern side of Heard Island from 1947 to 2014 (Figure ANT9). Comparing aerial surveys in 1947 with 1988 SPOT satellite imagery shows that Stephenson Glacier decreased by 4.6 square...

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Introduction 2016

2016
Antarctic environment
Introduction
At a glance

Antarctica is the southernmost continent. Including all islands and ice shelves, it covers an area of about 13.9 million square kilometres (km2)—nearly twice that of Australia. The sea ice that surrounds Antarctica adds about another 19 million km2 at its maximum extent in September–October...

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State and trends of the Antarctic atmosphere

2016, 2011
Antarctic environment
State and trends
Assessment summary

Antarctic environment State and trends The physical environment: The atmosphere—climate and weather patterns Antarctica...

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Figure BLT30 Average commuting distance, by place of residence, major cities, 2011

2016
Built environment
State and trends
Graph

Average commuting distance, by place of residence, selected cities, 2011 Average commuting distance, by place of residence, selected cities, 2011 Average Commuting Distance km Wollongong19.7 Mackay17.4 Sunshine Coast17.1 Gold Coast – Tweed Heads16.9...

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Marine environment: 2011–16 in context

2016
Marine environment
Introduction
Report Content

2016 Marine environment Introduction Tasmania Marine Temperate East Marine South West Great Barrier Reef East Coast...

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Environment protection systems

2016
Marine environment
Effectiveness of management
Report Content

2016 Marine environment Effectiveness of management Tasmania Marine Temperate East Marine South West Great Barrier Reef...

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Increased urban footprint

2016
Built environment
Pressures
Report Content

2016 Built environment Pressures South West Coast North East Coast Greater Brisbane Greater Darwin Greater Hobart...

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The physical environment: The cryosphere

2016
Antarctic environment
State and trends
Report Content

2016 Antarctic environment State and trends Antarctica The physical environment includes both the nonliving factors that characterise an ecosystem (e.g. weather patterns, ice coverage, the...

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State and trends of the Antarctic cryosphere

2016, 2011
Antarctic environment
State and trends
Assessment summary

Antarctic environment State and trends The physical environment: The cryosphere Antarctica...

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Australian Antarctic Territory

2016
Antarctic environment
Introduction
Report Content

2016 Antarctic environment Introduction Antarctica The AAT (Figure ANT1) comprises an area of approximately 5.9 million km2, and its coastline extends more than 11,200 kilometres (excluding...

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Climate change

2016
Ambient air quality
Risks
Report Content

2016 Ambient air quality Risks Climate change poses a threat to urban air quality and health through increases in particulate pollution (associated with more frequent bushfires and dust storms), and increases in the...

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Box BIO11 Caterpillars as big as a mountain: the role of spiritual beliefs about animals and plants

2016
Biodiversity
State and trends
Case Study

Certain caterpillars have cultural relationships with Indigenous Australians that highlight complex links between ecology and human ecology. These caterpillars are imbued with meanings, values and uses for Aboriginal people that are very different from how western science views...

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Global importance of Antarctica

2016
Antarctic environment
Introduction
Report Content

2016 Antarctic environment Introduction Marine South West Marine South East Antarctica Although isolated from other continents, Antarctica is...

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Approach - Marine environment 2016

2016
Marine environment
Report Content

2016 Marine environment Great Barrier Reef This report identifies the key pressures affecting the marine environment as a result of the social and economic drivers associated with population growth, energy production and...

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Dumped wastes

2016
Marine environment
Pressures
Report Content

2016 Marine environment Pressures Marine North West By volume, dredging contributes the largest pressure associated with dumped wastes (not including marine debris, toxins, pesticides and...

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Box LAN15 Developing the north

2016
Land
Outlook
Case Study

Strong engagement with Indigenous communities in developing northern Australia (Australian Government 2015c) is crucial, in light of the increasing number of formal agreements and rights these communities are establishing on land and water; their presence on, and connection and...

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Overview of state and trends of coasts

2016
Coasts
State and trends
Report Content

2016 Coasts State and trends South East Coast South West Coast North East Coast East Coast What has changed since 2011?...

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Overview of state and trends of the marine environment

2016
Marine environment
State and trends
Report Content

2016 Marine environment State and trends Great Barrier Reef Marine North Marine North West Marine South East Marine...

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Risks to Australia’s climate 2016

2016
Climate
Risks
At a glance

At a glanceAn understanding of the risks associated with Australia’s climate will lead to improved action plans to adapt to the changes predicted to occur. Our climate is a dynamic system; therefore, the risks need to be re-evaluated frequently. Recent climate change projections for...

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Terrestrial plant and animal species: Invertebrates

2016
Biodiversity
State and trends
Report Content

2016 Biodiversity State and trends Tasmania Invertebrates Most of Australia’s estimated 500,000 species are invertebrates, and half are insects. Invertebrates are the ecological glue that holds...

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Climate and system variability

2016
Marine environment
Pressures
Report Content

2016 Marine environment Pressures Tasmania Marine Temperate East Marine South West Great Barrier Reef Marine North...

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The living environment: Marine and terrestrial

2016
Antarctic environment
State and trends
Report Content

2016 Antarctic environment State and trends Antarctica Given its extreme conditions, the Antarctic has a surprising diversity of ecosystems. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, driest and...

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Biodiversity: Threatened species

2016
Coasts
State and trends
Report Content

2016 Coasts State and trends South West Coast North East Coast Tasmania Greater Brisbane Greater Darwin...

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Pressures affecting Antarctic marine species

2016, 2011
Antarctic environment
Pressures
Assessment summary

Antarctic environment Pressures Pressures on the marine environment Antarctica Year...

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State and trends of the Southern Ocean

2016, 2011
Antarctic environment
State and trends
Assessment summary

Antarctic environment State and trends The physical environment: The Southern Ocean Antarctica...

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Human influences on Antarctica

2016
Antarctic environment
Pressures
Report Content

2016 Antarctic environment Pressures Antarctica As detailed in the Drivers report, the key drivers of environmental change are population and economic growth. Antarctica, as the only continent...

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Heritage values

2016
Antarctic environment
State and trends
Report Content

2016 Antarctic environment State and trends Antarctica Antarctica’s unique environment is internationally recognised, and a wide range of its heritage values are protected under the Madrid...

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Marine debris

2016
Marine environment
Pressures
Report Content

2016 Marine environment Pressures Within the marine environment, marine debris is sourced from both the land (rubbish flushed out to sea; see further detail on coastal pollution in the Coasts report) and marine...

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State and trends of habitats and communities

2016, 2011
Marine environment
State and trends
Assessment summary

The title of this assessment summary has changed from 2011. State and trends of quality of habitats for species Marine environment State and trends...

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Biodiversity: Habitat-forming species

2016
Coasts
State and trends
Report Content

2016 Coasts State and trends South West Coast South Australian Gulf North East Coast Tasmania Greater Darwin...

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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.

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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.

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