Australia’s environment is facing a critical turning point. A recent report warns that without increased investment in environmental monitoring, the country’s ecosystems are at serious risk.
Over the past 25 years, Australia’s average land temperatures have risen by 0.81 degrees Celsius. This significant rise has been accompanied by a surge of more than 50% in the number of threatened species.
The report, produced by the Australian National University (ANU) in collaboration with the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, highlights the urgent need for action. Professor Albert Van Dijk, the lead author, emphasized the challenges the nation faces.
“Our ability to monitor environmental changes is increasingly at risk,” said Van Dijk. “We rely heavily on satellite data from U.S. agencies, but proposed funding cuts could disrupt this critical access.”
Australia’s own on-ground monitoring infrastructure is aging and underfunded. Essential tools like weather stations and stream gauges are being decommissioned or left unrepaired. Groundwater and soil-moisture networks are inconsistent, leaving many regional areas as “data deserts.”
Without robust, sovereign monitoring systems, Australia may be unable to track environmental changes or respond effectively if international data streams are disrupted.
The report revealed alarming trends: a 22% rise in extreme heat days, repeated mass coral bleaching events, and a 53% increase in threatened species since 2000. Some wildlife populations have declined by over 60% due to habitat loss, invasive species, and climate stress.
“The signs are clear,” Van Dijk stated. “We must invest in our environmental monitoring and protection to secure Australia’s ecological future.”
