China News Agency, Beijing, July 19. Melbourne News: The Australian government released a report on the 19th that between 2016 and 2021, Australia's natural environment has deteriorated rapidly and the number of endangered species has increased.
Tanya Plibersek, Australia's Minister of Environment and Water Resources, released the report, titled "The State of Australia's Environment 2021" on the same day.
The report, completed by more than 30 scientists, tracked the situation in 12 areas including biodiversity, climate change, inland water bodies, land, ocean and cities in Australia between 2016 and 2021.
The report said that due to the combined effects of climate change, habitat loss, species invasion, environmental pollution and overexploitation of resources, Australia's environment is rapidly deteriorating, and the ecosystem is under tremendous pressure.
Australia's biodiversity faces clear threats.
Australia has more extinct mammal species than any other continent, and the rate of species extinction is "one of the highest" among developed countries, the report said.
Between 2016 and 2021, the number of species listed on Australia's endangered species list increased by 8 per cent, with invertebrates increasing the most at around 22 per cent, followed by frogs at around 21 per cent.
The widespread wildfires of 2019-2020 killed an estimated 1 billion to 3 billion animals and will also lead to a marked increase in endangered species in the coming years.
On climate change, the report said Australia's average land temperature was 1.4 degrees Celsius warmer than it was at the start of the 20th century.
The country is one of the world's largest carbon-emitting economies and one of the highest per capita carbon emitters.
On current trends, scientists are unsure whether Australia will be able to meet its 26-28 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
The report calls on Australia to increase investment, take comprehensive measures to reverse the trend of environmental degradation, and make recommendations on issues such as legislation, policy, and international cooperation.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Priebusek said on the same day that Australia's environmental laws were not working, and that the government lacked sufficient data on the scale of the environmental problem and what measures needed to be taken.
She said she would push parliament to revise environmental laws and set up a special environmental protection department after extensive consultation.
The Guardian said the report was presented to Sussan Ley, who was the environment minister in the Morrison government at the time, in December 2021, but Ley insisted it would not be released before the 2022 federal parliamentary election.
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