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Letters | Australia should work with China and others to save the koala and preserve biodiversity
- Readers discuss the state of Australia’s response to climate change and environmental degradation as well as the sanctions against Russia
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On July 19, Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek released the 2021 State of the Environment report. The five-year findings – characterised by political inaction and deficient environmental protections at the federal, state and local levels – were described as shocking, disastrous and depressing.
Every report category except urban environments had deteriorated since 2016. Most were described as “poor and deteriorating” – climate, extreme weather, land and soil, inland water and coasts. Environmental degradation is considered a threat to societal collapse.
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Australia has one of the highest rates of species decline in the developed world and has lost more mammals than any other continent. Since 2016, 202 animal and plant species have been listed as threatened and only 21 species recorded improved trajectories.
Major causes of extinction were introduced invasive species, population growth, habitat loss and climate change. Since 1990, Australians have cleared more than 6.1 million hectares of native forest. Most of Australia’s salt marshes have been lost since European settlement and managed retreat from some coastal communities is forecast.
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The former Morrison government delivered just two of 450 gigalitres of water recommended under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to maintain environmental stability. Native fish populations in river catchments have declined by more than 90 per cent in the past 150 years. Marine heatwaves threaten the Great Barrier Reef.
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Animals rescued from Australia floods, thousands evacuated from Sydney
Animals rescued from Australia floods, thousands evacuated from Sydney
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