State of the Environment South Australia 2013

Gemmell, C. and Hanshin, M. (2013) State of the Environment South Australia 2013. Project Report. Environment Protection Authority, Adelaide.

Abstract

Bushfires, storms, floods and extreme temperatures are tangible and often traumatic events that remind us of the close interrelationship between people and the natural environment. There are also less visible but important changes in the environment that escape attention because they develop over a long time or because they occur in remote areas, under the ground, in water, out in the ocean or up in the atmosphere. Some environmental changes may be overlooked because of inadequate data, and their significance may only become clear with the collection of long-term information. Because of the strong relationships between the natural environment, human wellbeing and economic progress, it is important to have good information about the health of our natural resources and trends in environmental quality. One important source of environmental information for government, business and the community is the state of the environment report produced by the Environment Protection Authority at least every five years, under the Environment Protection Act 1993. These reports assess the condition of South Australian environmental resources, identify significant trends in environmental quality, and review the effects of programs and activities by public authorities to protect, restore and improve the environment. The 2013 report reveals mixed results in the condition of the state’s natural assets and trends in environmental quality over the last five years. There is good news—such as sustained growth in generation of renewable energy, more efficient use of water and electricity, and continued increases in recycling. There is also cause for concern— such as further decline of already poor biodiversity, increased use of natural resources, increased average temperatures, increased development and industrial activity in sensitive areas such as the coastal zone, increased use of private motor vehicles, reduced water flows for the natural environment from the River Murray, and changes in the acidity, salinity and temperature of the marine environment. Reporting approach: The report’s assessments have been prepared based on the driving forces, pressures, state, impact, response, outlook (DPSIRO) reporting framework (see Figure 6 in the Introduction). In this framework the state of the environment (S) is the result of specific drivers (D) and pressures (P), which impact (I) on the environment. The response (R) represents the policies, programs and projects of government agencies to improve or maintain the state, while the outlook (O) considers what is expected to happen to the environment into the future. The report examines what is happening overall in South Australia, and in the key themes of people and places, climate change, water, biodiversity, and the coastal and marine environment.

• Item Type: Research Reports or Papers (Project Report)
• Additional Information: ISBN: 9781921495465
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gemmell, Professor James Campbell
• Authors: Gemmell, C., and Hanshin, M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering
• Publisher: Environment Protection Authority