Australian report reveals environmental decline

Australia’s environment continues to decline and degrade due to factors including climate change and resource exploitation, according to the State of the Environment. The report, which occurs every five years, found that the number of threatened species had increased by 8% since the last report in 2016. In response, the government has set a target to reduce carbon greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by the end of the 2020s. The government also would like to introduce new environment protection legislation, including a target of protecting 30 % of Australian land and territorial waters.

Read more at NBC News via The Associated Press.