South Australia's environmental trend and condition report cards

Summary of trend and condition

• South Australia has experienced a strong warming trend since the 1970s, with average temperatures currently 1.1°C warmer than in the 1970s.
• The frequency of days reaching 40°C in Adelaide in the past decade has been three times the average frequency of the preceding four decades.
• Climate projections forecast further temperature increases and more days above 40°C by 2050.
• Rainfall trends vary across the state, with summer rainfall increasing in the north.
• Fire danger weather conditions have become more frequent and severe since the late 1970s, particularly in eastern parts of the state.
• Sea levels along the coast of South Australia have been rising at an average rate of approximately 2 mm/year between 1966 and 2022.

View each report card for more detail and links to technical information:

Rainfall | Projected rainfall | Temperature | Projected temperature | Sea level | Projected sea level | Fire danger weather | Greenhouse gas emissions | Renewable energy

Summary of trend and condition

• The trend and condition of terrestrial species and ecosystems appear to be getting worse. 42% of terrestrial native plant species, and 44% of terrestrial native animal species, are declining, with these proportions increasing.
• Coastal and marine species and ecosystems present variable trends and conditions. The percentage of declining coastal and marine fauna species is stable, but declines in coastal and marine native flora species are getting worse.
• Inland aquatic flora and fauna indicate an overall stable trend, yet the proportion of declining species is getting worse across many regions.
• Aquatic ecosystem condition is showing evidence of recovery following the Millennium Drought, notably in the South Australian Murray–Darling Basin and the foothills of the Green Adelaide landscape region.

View each report card for more detail and links to technical information:

Terrestrial report cards:

Native vegetation: percentage cover | Native flora: percentage declining | Native fauna: percentage declining | Established invasive species abundance and distribution | New incursions of invasive species | Terrestrial protected areas: landscapes adequately protected

Coastal and marine report cards:

Mangrove vegetation: percentage cover | Coastal saltmarsh: percentage cover | Seagrass: cover within sampling sites | Subtidal macroalgae: percentage cover | Native flora: percentage declining | Native fauna: percentage declining | Established invasive species abundance and distribution | New incursions of invasive species | Proportion of fish stocks sustainable | Marine protected areas

Inland Waters report cards:

Wetlands: percentage cover | Aquatic ecosystem condition: EPA condition assessments | Native flora: percentage declining | Native fauna: percentage declining | Established invasive species abundance and distribution | New incursions of invasive species | Lower Lakes aquatic and littoral vegetation | Coorong waterbirds populations | CLLMM diadromous fish recruitment | River Murray flow dependent fish populations | River Murray floodplain trees condition

Summary of changing trend and condition

• The report cards highlight key findings such as stable or rising trends in groundwater levels, stable or decreasing salinity, and varying surface water salinity within historical ranges.
• However, declining streamflow trends and increasing zero flow days pose challenges, primarily due to climate variability and localised pressures from water resource development.
• River Murray flows to South Australia have reduced greatly from historic records, and necessitate the need to dredge the Murray Mouth during prolonged low flow conditions.
• Rainfall over the past few years has positively contributed to surface and groundwater resources across South Australian catchments, including increased River Murray flows.

View each report card for more detail and links to technical information:

Surface Water report cards:

River Murray: salinity | Murray Mouth barrage outflow and dredging | Streamflow | Flow regime (zero flow days)

Groundwater report cards:

Water level and salinity

Summary of changing trend and condition

• Soil erosion risk in the agricultural zone has a fair condition with a worsening trend, primarily influenced by below average rainfall. The trend and condition vary across districts based on rainfall levels.
• The adoption of no-till practices has a very good condition rating, with an adoption rate of approximately 80%, contributing to overall erosion risk reduction.
• Approximately 20% of agricultural land is affected by soil acidity, resulting in a production loss of $88 million annually.
• While the area affected by soil acidity is increasing, increased lime use in the past five years shows an improving trend and fair condition, especially in districts with naturally acidic soils.

View each report card for more detail and links to technical information:

Days at risk of soil erosion | Soil protection: adoption of no-till | Soil acidity

Summary of changing trend and condition

The South Australian Government reports on liveability with new trend and condition report cards. While the concept of liveability is broader than what is covered in the new report cards, they specifically address urban heat, air quality, and circular economy.

• Urban heat in metropolitan Adelaide is stable, but many localised areas are getting worse.
• South Australia is the highest ranked jurisdiction in Australia for resource recovery and recycling rates and the trend of the transition is getting better.
• There has been a 35% reduction in waste sent to landfill since 2003-04
• Air quality in two key measures (which are used to determine potential human health risks and risks to ecosystems and agriculture) is rated stable or getting better.

View each report card for more detail and links to technical information:

Urban report card:

Urban heat

Urban and rural report cards:

Circular economy: resource recovery

Air quality report cards:

Particles (PM₁₀) | Particles (PM₂.5) | Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)| Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) | Ground-level ozone (O₃)