State of the Environment (SoE) reporting themes
Drivers
This theme explains the three main factors that underpin the major pressures acting on environmental systems: climate change, population growth and economic growth, and looks at the trends in these.
Drivers is a new chapter for the SoE in 2011.
The condition, trend and outlook for the Australian environment are subject to some major drivers of change. Understanding and quantifying these drivers is fundamental to understanding the past, present and future state of our environment. (SoE 2011, 2 Drivers - 1 Introduction)
Key findings
SoE 2011:
- The principal drivers of pressures on Australia's environment – and its future condition – are climate variability and change, population growth and economic growth.
- Climate variability and climate change have a direct impact on the condition of Australia's environment.
- Australia's exposure to climate change is dependent on global greenhouse gas emissions.
- It is likely that we are already seeing the effects of climate change in Australia.
- The Australian economy is projected to grow by 2.7% per year until 2050.
- Under the base scenario, Australia's population of 22.2 million people in 2010 is projected to grow to 35.9 million by 2050.
- We have opportunities to decouple population and economic growth from pressure on our environment.
For more details see SoE 2011 - Drivers: Key findings
Related information
SoE 2011:
- Australia State of the Environment 2011: Chapter 2 Drivers
- Australia State of the Environment 2011: In Brief
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