The 2026 State of the Environment Indicators and Assessments

The 2026 SoE (SoE26) Report uses a clear and consistent assessment framework to evaluate the condition of Australia’s environment, identify pressures, and​ highlight changes and why they are important.​ This framework ensures the report is evidence-based, transparent, and​ comparable across different themes and reporting years.​

At the heart of the report is the internationally recognised Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model, which looks at: ​

• Pressure: the natural and human-driven factors affecting the environment (such as land clearing, fire, climate change & events, or pollution)​
• State: the current condition and trend of ecosystems, species and environmental systems​
• Response: potential actions that could reduce pressures or restore the environment.​

Independent assessors with subject matter expertise will use this framework to assess 4 interconnected themes:​

• Coastal environments
• Freshwater environments ​
• Land environments​
• Marine environments.​

Each theme will include a set of indicators, and​ contributing state and trend measures. These will be underpinned by high-quality national data, and​ informed by First Nations knowledge.​

This structured and repeatable method enables consistent tracking over time. It helps decision-makers, researchers and the public better understand what’s working​, what’s not, and​ where attention is needed to protect Australia’s environment for future generations.

SoE26 assessment and review model

Rather than chapters authored by individual contributors, SoE26 comprises of 38 assessments prepared by independent assessors with subject‑matter expertise.

Each assessment:

• describes environmental condition and pressure trends across the four themes,
• identifies areas of significant change in environmental condition,
• outlines increases or decreases in contributing pressures,
• provides a narrative explaining underlying causes and effects
• identifies why the changes are important to people and the economy.

All assessments will be reviewed by both subject matter experts and the Indigenous Advisory Panel. These assessments will underpin a series of synthesis reports, which together form the final report.

This assessment-based approach enables stronger tracking of environmental change over time.