

Outlook
In general, the outlook for Australia’s environment depends on our ability to effectively address the complex mix of drivers, pressures and risks discussed in this report. This mix can be addressed through:
- leadership
- effective engagement of the community and private sector
- continued improvements in data and understanding
- further development and use of adaptive management tools and approaches
- decoupling of the economy from environmental harm
- mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.
In this section, we discuss the outlook for Australia’s environment under a no-change scenario—that is, assuming that current trends continue, residual risks are not resolved, and there are no significant changes to management and governance arrangements.
We examine some tools, mechanisms and resources that are starting to be used to address the drivers, pressures and risks affecting our environment, and to improve management and governance arrangements so that they more effectively support sustainable development. We then explore what our environment could look like under an improved future scenario.