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.

Topics

Overview

Outlook under a business-as-usual scenario

It is clear from SoE 2016 that some parts of Australia’s environment are not yet being managed sustainably.
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Policies, tools and approaches that are potentially changing the outlook

The outlook described above has both positive and negative components, although the negative tends to dominate. 
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Overview

Outlook under an 'improved future' scenario

An ‘improved future’ scenario for Australia’s environment would see innovation in policy, technical and associated management approaches to:
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Conclusion

Our natural environment makes human life possible. It is therefore essential that our population and economic growth are environmentally sustainable.
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Jackson WJ, Argent RM, Bax NJ, Bui E, Clark GF, Coleman S, Cresswell ID, Emmerson KM, Evans K, Hibberd MF, Johnston EL, Keywood MD, Klekociuk A, Mackay R, Metcalfe D, Murphy H, Rankin A, Smith DC, Wienecke B (2016). Overview: Outlook. In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/theme/overview/framework/outlook, DOI 10.4226/94/58b65510c633b