Scientists warn that although Australia’s environment has begun to recover from record-breaking heat waves, droughts and catastrophic bushfires in recent times, biodiversity has suffered.
According to the 2021 Australia Environment Report (EAR), lower temperatures and more rainfall have helped the environment greatly recover.
All states and territories experienced improvements in conditions, with the strongest recovery occurring in Western Australia (and Tasmania).
Overall, Australia’s environment score was 6.9/10. This is more than twice the score of 2020, when Australia’s environment score was given a 3/10 after the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and 2020.
Albert van Dijk, a hydrologist, said that the “above-average rainfall and lower temperatures not seen in eight years” had contributed to the increase in rainfall.
Low fire activity, reduced drought conditions, and good rains have all contributed to better growing conditions.
Despite the recovery, the nation’s biodiversity – or variety – continued to decline.
According to the Australian government 12 Australian species were declared endangered in 2021, and 34 more were added as threatened species.
Shoshanarapley, an ecologist, said that “the two most recent extinctions were a little bat (last seen on Christmas Island in 2009) and a tiny skink (last seen on Christmas Island 2010).”
“It is a wake up call that endangered species conservation must be taken more seriously.”
The report shows that Australia’s carbon dioxide emissions fell by almost two percent due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
Prof van Dijk stated, “Australia contributed 1.4% to global emission in 2021, as opposed to 1.5% in 2020.”
Due to high individual energy consumption, continued use of polluting coke, and large non-carbon dioxide emissions, the nation’s per capita emissions are still among the highest in the world.
Researchers also discovered that 2021 was the sixth-warmest year ever recorded, with some regions of inland Australia reporting record-breaking July temperatures.
Prof van Dijk stated, “But the number days exceeding 35C was lowest since 2011, so it wasn’t generally more hot last Year.”
In 2021, sixteen new species were discovered, including a spider, a frog, and an octopus.
Ms Rapley stated that this does not mean that biodiversity is improving, as species are already present.
Prof van Dijk warned climate change impacts such as droughts, heat waves, and bushfires will continue to degrade the environment for decades to come.
He stated that “decisive action to actively decrease global carbon emissions and improve ecosystem governance can prevent these impacts from getting worse than they need to be.”
“Both of these are possible, but only if we take the necessary steps.”
The Australian National University researchers prepare the annual report.
Australian Associated Press
