Download Sample Table answers for Atmosphere

Australian State of the Environment Report 2011
Table Task: Evaluate the contemporary state of Australian outdoor environments
theme
Positive aspects
Atmosphere Australia has met its targets in
controlling ODSs.
Concentrations are decreasing
but many are long lived
Levels of carbon monoxide,
nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
dioxide and lead in urban air
have decreased over the past
two decades
Ambient air quality in
Australia's major urban centers
is generally good. Air
standards are rarely exceeded
for prolonged periods, and
very high levels of
pollution are usually associated
with short-lived extreme
events such as bushfires and
dust storms
Management of pollution
affecting our air quality is
generally good – fuel quality
standards, filters for coal
burners, dust suppressors for
waste treatment
Negative changes
why they have occurred
What can be done to help the
situation
Evaluate the contemporary
state of the environment
Large scale changes to Australia’s
variable climate
temperatures are increasing
rainfall distribution patterns are
changing.
The planet is warming
mean global temperatures
have risen compared with preindustrial levels in 1750
Major reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions are necessary
Although Aus air quality is
generally good further
improvements need to be aimed
for and achieved such as lowering
our contributions to greenhouse
gases
the decade ending in 2010 was
the hottest 10-year period on
record for Australia
unprecedented severity and
duration of drought
record-breaking rains
ozone and particle levels have
not declined
key pollutants such as particles,
ozone and sulfur dioxide may
affect sensitive individuals, such
as asthmatics and people with
respiratory or cardiovascular
disease, even when air quality
standards are met.
Diffuse emissions now constitute
the major source of pollutants in
urban areas.
Motor vehicles are the single
most important source - carbon
monoxide, particles, various
toxic volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and nitrogen oxides
diesel vehicles-source of particles
Levels of carbon dioxide, the
most important greenhouse
gas (GHG), have increased by
around 39% above pre
industrial levels, principally
due to burning fossil fuels.
This has
led to a clearly defined trend
of increasing average global
temperatures, and that
human emissions of
greenhouse gases are the
primary cause
Per person, Australia’s
emissions are the largest of
any OECD country
Diffuse pollution caused by
vehicles and also by
Commercial premises
centres dominated by large
industrial facilities
domestic premises with use of
wood heaters
Planned burning
Policies, plans and programs at
all levels of government
implemented
Securing a Clean Energy Future,
the Australian Government’s
climate change plan July 2011,
a price on carbon
Aim: a reduction of 5%- 15% on
2000 levels by 2020.
legislated 20% Renewable
Energy Target
energy efficiency
Carbon Farming Initiative
Sequester carbon.
improved vehicle technology
national emission standards for
new vehicles, emissions control
technology
fuel quality standards
low-density suburban
development reliable public
transport
$15 billion to climate change
initiatives.
Early action to reduce emissions
and to deploy targeted adaptation
strategies will be less costly than
delayed action.
even if national and international
mitigation efforts were to increase
dramatically over the next decade
or two and emissions were
stabilised, temperatures will
remain at elevated levels for
centuries to come, making
adaptation to change
essential.
There is no reason for
complacency or for delaying
urgent action