Rainfall has declined significantly across SA and there have been more days above 40 degrees Celsius, according to 38 new environment trend report cards released last week.

The environment trend report cards cover climate, air quality, water resources, native vegetation and soil, as well key pressures that impact on the landscape.

They track statewide changes over time, drawing on more than 30 years of data.

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs says the release of the new report cards provide a comprehensive picture on South Australia’s long-term environmental trends to 2020.

“As stewards of our state’s environment, we are faced with complex challenges and changing conditions that require leadership and policy-making based on good information and strong understanding,” he says.

“These report cards provide us with important insights into trends to help us better understand changes in condition over time for key components of our environment, such as the River Murray ecosystems, including birds, fish and vegetation.

“The latest River Murray report cards show the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is working, with positive improvements in a number of ecological indicators, but more work is still required to achieve all of the objectives of the plan.”

The report cards highlight where the state is facing complex challenges, with the latest data showing a decline in biodiversity and worsening climate measures including rainfall, temperature and sea level.

For the first time new report cards have been included on fire danger weather in response to the summer bushfires of 2019. This includes tracking changes in air quality due to smoke.

“The new fire danger weather report card showed that December 2019 recorded the highest monthly Forest Fire Danger Index value on record, 24 per cent higher than the previous highest,” Minister Speirs says.

“This data will now enable us to track the trend and condition of indicators relating to bushfire, as bushfire events become more frequent and severe in response to a changing climate. This will better support fire management decisions now and into the future.

Minister Speirs says the state’s Climate Change Action Plan includes 68 practical actions to deal with a changing climate, build a strong green economy and further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Released late last year, its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The 2020 report cards were developed in consultation with the Environment Protection Authority, Department for Primary Industries and Regions, regional Landscape Boards, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the Country Fire Service.