The 2026 SoE Report will be more accessible, focused, and responsive to today’s environmental challenges. It builds on the strengths of previous reports and introduces important updates based on expert recommendations, government priorities, and feedback from users of past reports.
One of the most significant changes is a sharper focus. The 2026 report will center around 4 interconnected themes:
- Terrestrial environments
- Freshwater environments
- Coastal environments, and
- Marine environments.
These themes are consistent with international frameworks, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology (GET) and United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (UN SEEA). The streamlined structure will make it easier to understand environment trends, and how different systems are connected.
The report will be data-driven. It will use consistent, national data and repeatable methods to track environment change over time.
The 2026 report will go further to embed First Nations perspectives and knowledge. The report will use two-way knowledge weaving to bring together First Nations knowledge systems and Western science. It will do this in a way that results in a stronger understanding of Australia’s environment.
Preparing the 2026 State of the Environment Report
What questions will the State of the Environment Report address?
A thematic approach to State of the Environment Reporting
First Nations People and the State of the Environment Report
The 2026 State of the Environment Indicators and Assessments
Understanding State and Trend Measures
Stay informed
If you would like to be added to our mailing list, receive updates, and learn about other potential opportunities to engage during the development of the next State of the Environment Report please use the Register button below.
How we use your data is outlined in our Privacy Statement.