State of Environment highlights environmental and human emergency

Sydney, 19 July 2022 — IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) Oceania Regional Director Rebecca Keeble said:

“The highly anticipated State of Environment report paints a grim picture of Australia’s biodiversity, wildlife and future.

This is not just an environmental emergency but a human emergency as well. Without concerted and urgent action to address and reduce the impacts of climate change and loss of habitat and biodiversity, the survival of all species including our own is at risk.

Australia continues to boast the world’s worst mammal extinction rate. In the past six months, we have seen two iconic endemic species — the koala and greater glider —move one step closer to joining that shameful list. This is a huge wake up call for us all.

The millions of hectares of land deliberately cleared is unacceptable, the consequences of which have been exacerbated by the huge losses suffered during the Black Summer fires.

Over the past two years, Australia’s environment, communities and wildlife have felt the relentless impacts of climate change with disasters increasing in intensity and frequency.

We welcome the new Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s commitments in her National Press Club address today, including reforming national environment laws. These must address land-clearing and combating climate change as a priority.

Until we all value the benefits nature provides to humans, including regulating our climate, we will continue to abuse and degrade ecosystems that both people and animals rely on.

IFAW is encouraged by the minister’s pledges to put the environment firmly back on the agenda. However, actions speak louder than words and the proof will be in implementation. We look forward to working with the government on reversing the state of the environment so that people and animals can thrive long into the future. The time is now.”

ENDS

Read the State of the Environment report.

Press Contact

IFAW Australia
Dominica Mack
m: 0460 432 901
e: dmack@ifaw.org

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) - IFAW is a global non-profit helping animal and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org