Australia's grim environment report a collective call to action, says Indigenous author and lawyer

A lead author of Australia's latest environmental report says its findings are unequivocal: the country's ecosystems are in shocking decline, and everyone has a role in mitigating the crisis.

"I hope that the report speaks to everybody, because everybody has a part to play," said Indigenous Australian lawyer Terri Janke. 

Australia's State of the Environment report, which was established in 1995 and is released every five years, analyzes various aspects of Australia's ecosystems, from air quality and extreme weather to biodiversity and urban development.

This year's 2,000-page report described collapsing ecosystems, disappearing wildlife and deadly bouts of extreme weather that will only become more common in the future. 

It also underscored the importance of Indigenous knowledge, and how it could be used to help "safeguard our future."

"There is a deep interconnection between the health of Country and the health of Indigenous people," reads one of the key findings.

Janke, who is of Wuthathi and Meriam heritage, is one of the Indigenous authors who have contributed to this year's report. Here is part of her conversation with As It Happens guest host David Cochrane. 

This report is released every five years, but this year's report has been described as shocking. What are the most shocking findings to you?

Well, the overall state of the environment is deteriorating. And that's a result of increasing pressures from climate change [and] habitat loss, which is leading to the increased number of species on our threatened species lists. We have more invasive species than native species. Increasing pollution and resource extraction — all of these are combining and giving cumulative impact to Australia's environment. 

The report also talks specifically about how the ecosystem decline will affect people in Australia. How bad can things get there for the people of Australia?

As our Indigenous people say, "If we look after the country, it will look after us." The wellbeing of Australians is impacted by the environment. So we've had increasing extreme events like the bushfires in the 2019-2020 summer, and that's actually caused more than 400 deaths in Australia. So we have direct impacts on the health of our people in that way. 

But if we look at our First Nations people, who have the obligation to care for Country, the stewardship obligation — that spirituality and connection to Country that is also being eradicated by not being able to access Country.

We've had major things like the blowing up of important heritage sites, which has contributed to the trauma of those Indigenous groups who are the heritage custodians. 

The report speaks to the role that Indigenous people and Indigenous knowledge can play in helping to restore the environment. What does it say about that?

The report is unique this year in including Indigenous voices. Thirty-seven authors contributed to the report, [including] scientists and researchers — and 10 of them were Indigenous people from all around the country. So it's the first time ever an Indigenous lens that's been put in there with Western science. 

And that's recognizing that Indigenous people, First Nations people, have over 65,000 years of caring for Country and stewardship of Country. So the report is saying that there needs to be more recognition of traditional knowledge and Indigenous people's stewardship.

Do you think the current government is listening to that advice and listening to the concerns of Indigenous people?

One of the things the report did find was the Indigenous-protected areas is a bit of a success story. And we've seen already in the responses given by [Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek] that she's committed to more Indigenous-protected areas in saltwater and freshwater and land Country, and that will be expected to increase. 

And the other thing that the minister's committed to is looking to increase the numbers of Indigenous Rangers to about 3,800. But I'd like to see also more Indigenous people involved at all levels of managing our country, and that can include decision making in how the environment's managed. 

When you pull back though, and you look at the global climate story this week — with wildfires burning in Europe, in the United Kingdom, heat waves practically everywhere — and then these dire findings in these reports in Australia, do you find any hope in the face of catastrophic reports like this one? 

I hope that the report speaks to everybody, because everybody has a part to play. So yes, governments at all levels can have a part to play in the way that they manage and regulate. But it's also people. 

And the report also found that there's actually been an increase of citizen science, people monitoring of our environment and organizations that go out on Country and clean the country. 

So it just takes people to value the beautiful environment that we have. I mean, Australia is such a beautiful country. It's an ancient country. We have rainforests and deserts and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. 

So if people can connect with that and really understand that these are not just for us, not just for business or, you know, the short-term objectives, but think much more long-term, we can work together to turn it around and improve the outlook of the environment.

Written by Olsy Sorokina. Produced by Ashley Fraser. Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.