State of the Environment

2006

Australia State of the Environment 2006

Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Beeton RJS (Bob), Buckley Kristal I, Jones Gary J, Morgan Denise, Reichelt Russell E, Trewin Dennis
(2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee), 2006

List of figures

Figure 1: Projected population for Australia
Figure 2: Projected age and number of Australian farmers 1996–2021 using fast and slow adjustment scenarios
Figure 3: Urban development along the Perth coast
Figure 4: Energy end-use use by source and by sector Australia, 2001–02
Figure 5: Quarterly average retail price of petrol in Australia’s eight capital cities, 1982–2006
Figure 6: Australian electricity consumption
Figure 7: Volume of used oil recycled under the Product Stewardship for Oil programme, 2000–01 to 2004–05
Figure 8: Availability of medical practitioners in regional and remote areas compared with availability in Australia’s major cities
Figure 9: Levels of Internet use across Australia, 2001
Figure 10: Trends in annual total rainfall for three time periods, 1900–2005, 1950–2005 and 1970–2005
Figure 11: Australia’s variable rainfall
Figure 12: Rainfall deficiencies, August 2002 to July 2005
Figure 13: Season quality in Australia, based on a comparison of years of Normalised Vegetation Difference Index anomalies
Figure 14: Trend in mean temperature, 1910–2005 (°C/10 yrs)
Figure 15: Trends in temperatures, as shown in annual mean temperature anomalies, 1910–2005
Figure 16: Greenhouse gas emissions from major Australian sectors (net carbon dioxide equivalents), 1990–2004
Figure 17: Total ozone levels over the southern hemisphere in spring (average over 1–15 October)
Figure 18: Maximum ozone hole area (area within the 220 Dobson Unit contour)
Figure 19: Number of days in capital cities with daily maximum one-hour ozone concentrations above the National Environment Protection Measure Standard
Figure 20: Highest daily average of PM_2.5 for Australia's capital cities
Figure 21: Climate change projections for Australia, 2001 (latest available data)
Figure 22: Trends in sea surface temperature for the Australian region, 1950–2002 and 1970–2002 (°C/10 yrs)
Figure 23: Area of forest burnt in Australia due to bushfires and fuel reduction burns, 1995–2004
Figure 24: Distribution (1935 to 2004) and predicted spread of Cane Toads in Australia
Figure 25: Extent of urban development along Australia’s coastline
Figure 26: Trends in Commonwealth-managed fish stocks
Figure 27: Increase in area of Commonwealth marine protected areas, 1982–2006
Figure 28: Per cent capacities of selected storages in eastern Australia, 2001–03
Figure 29: Number of artesian bores controlled under the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative
Figure 30: Forested stream length in all drainage divisions of the intensive land use zone
Figure 31: Estimates of numbers of waterbirds and numbers of species of up to 50 different taxa counted during aerial surveys in October each year 1983–2004 at Macquarie Marshes
Figure 32: Net forest change in Australia (using forest regrowth and deforestation data) 1973–2004
Figure 33: Area of deforestation and forest regrowth in Australia, by state and territory 2001 to 2004
Figure 34: Change in area of hardwood and softwood plantation 1995–2004
Figure 35: Previous land use of commercial forestry plantations
Figure 36: Total annual Dust Storm Index in relation to total annual rainfall at 46 stations across Australia
Figure 37: Change in the extent of sea ice, 1850–2000
Figure 38: Estimated Australian Government environment-related expenditure, from budgets 2001–07
Figure 39: Government expenditure on the environment 2002–03
Figure 40: Local government capacity for natural resource management planning