Photo: tiimta · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 07 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Australia: Environment & Sustainability
How much pressure does a country put on the natural world?
Australia is placed 80th of 186 countries on environment & sustainability in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: CO₂ Emissions per Capita 14.48 (2024); Water Stress 4.22 (2023).
Share
Environment & Sustainability
80th
of 186 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Australia on environment & sustainability — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
14.48
Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)
Lower is better
Australia: 14.48. Across the 210 countries in this edition, values run from 0.054 (DR Congo) to 41.27 (Qatar); the world median is 3.21.
- World median
- 3.21
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 6.229 New Zealand
Key 2 of 4
Water Stress
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 4.0
4.22
Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%)
Lower is better
Australia: 4.22. Across the 177 countries in this edition, values run from 0.03 (Republic of the Congo) to 3,851 (Kuwait); the world median is 10.
- World median
- 10
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 4.22 Australia
Key 3 of 4
Organic Agricultural Area
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
14.58
Organic share of agricultural land (%)
Higher is better
Australia: 14.58. Across the 156 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Afghanistan) to 86.38 (Samoa); the world median is 0.725.
- World median
- 0.725
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 14.58 Australia
No reading
Ecological Footprint (global hectares per person)
Lower is better
Global Footprint Network publishes no 2025 figure for Australia, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 0.514 (Yemen) to 11.73 (Qatar); the world median is 2.296.
- World median
- 2.296
02Over time
Which way Australia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
CO₂ Emissions per Capita
Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person) · lower is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia fell from 18.29 in 2000 to 14.48 in 2024; the world median went from 2.662 to 3.21.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2024 14.477 3.210 2023 14.529 3.145 2022 14.659 3.162 2021 14.966 3.087 2020 15.481 2.903 2019 16.283 3.273 2018 16.512 3.036 2017 16.716 3.049 2016 16.838 2.894 2015 16.727 2.846 2014 16.639 2.919 2013 17.122 2.779 2012 17.722 2.770 2011 17.966 2.748 2010 18.293 2.812 2009 18.683 2.799 2008 18.918 2.979 2007 19.036 2.593 2006 19.007 2.865 2005 18.975 2.885 2004 19.056 2.802 2003 18.708 2.918 2002 18.495 2.785 2001 18.469 2.726 2000 18.288 2.662 Water Stress
Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%) · lower is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia fell from 8.71 in 2000 to 4.22 in 2023; the world median went from 10.07 to 10.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2023 4.22 10.000 2022 4.67 10.190 2021 4.45 10.460 2020 3.37 10.460 2019 4.25 10.890 2018 4.96 10.460 2017 4.85 10.460 2016 4.27 10.460 2015 3.71 10.190 2014 7.42 10.460 2013 7.70 10.460 2012 6.38 10.460 2011 5.31 10.460 2010 5.30 10.710 2009 5.64 10.960 2008 6.11 10.815 2007 6.59 11.180 2006 7.06 10.430 2005 7.53 10.250 2004 7.81 10.715 2003 8.10 10.370 2002 8.38 10.180 2001 8.66 10.130 2000 8.71 10.070 Organic Agricultural Area
Organic share of agricultural land (%) · higher is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia rose from 2.86 in 2005 to 14.58 in 2024; the world median went from 0.345 to 0.725.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2024 14.58 0.725 2023 14.58 0.780 2022 9.82 0.740 2021 9.82 0.710 2020 10.03 0.665 2019 9.85 0.550 2018 9.94 0.490 2017 9.59 0.630 2016 7.92 0.545 2015 6.52 0.540 2014 4.90 0.470 2013 2.62 0.440 2012 3.10 0.480 2011 2.83 0.460 2010 3.09 0.330 2009 3.12 0.335 2008 3.08 0.290 2007 3.01 0.370 2006 3.00 0.305 2005 2.86 0.345
03In context
Australia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 186 countries on environment & sustainability, never a place within the region.
Australia and Australia and New Zealand
Australia has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 186; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | CO₂ Emissions per CapitaFossil CO₂ (tonnes per person) | Water StressFreshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%) | Organic Agricultural AreaOrganic share of agricultural land (%) | Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint (global hectares per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 80th | 14.48 | 4.22 | 14.58 | — |
 New Zealandcompare | 129th | 6.229 | 8.05 | 0.92 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Australia and New Zealand
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 186.
- Australia80th
- New Zealand129th
Placed either side on environment & sustainability
The countries immediately above and below Australia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Australia is ahead of the world, and behind
41 more statistics filed under environment & sustainability, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median10
Statistics on which Australia does better than the middle country measured.
Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.450.30.45▲ Improved since 2014
Australia: 0.3 · world median 0.45 · ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.263 to 0.655; lower is better.
Ranked 7th of 190 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
ND-GAIN Country IndexNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 47.4467.9247.44No real change since 2014
Australia: 67.92 · world median 47.44 · ND-GAIN Index (0–100, where 100 is best placed to adapt). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.42 to 71.85; higher is better.
Ranked 10th of 190 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.455.814.45No real change since 2013
Australia: 5.8 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 195th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per CapitaFAO · 2022 · world median 2,52818,9092,528No real change since 2012
Australia: 18,909 · world median 2,528 · Renewable internal freshwater (cubic metres per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 445,023; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 181 · derived.
Water-Use EfficiencyFAO · 2023 · world median 16.181.8416.1▲ Improved since 2013
Australia: 81.84 · world median 16.1 · Value added per cubic metre of freshwater withdrawn (constant US$ per m³). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 1,378; higher is better.
World Energy Trilemma IndexWorld Energy Council · 2023 · world median 63.875.763.8No earlier reading
Australia: 75.7 · world median 63.8 · Trilemma score (0–100). World Energy Council, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 27.7 to 83.2; higher is better.
Ranked 22nd of 99 by World Energy Council.
Children's Climate Risk IndexUNICEF · 2020 · world median 53.65No earlier reading
Australia: 3.6 · world median 5 · Children's Climate Risk Index (0–10, higher is more risk). UNICEF, 2021 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 8.7; lower is better.
Ranked 121st of 163 by UNICEF (1st = worst).
Annual Forest Area Change RateFAO · 2025 · world median 00.080▲ Improved since 2015
Australia: 0.08 · world median 0 · Compound annual change in forest area over the interval ending that year (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.29 to 12.3; higher is better.
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)FAO · 2024 · world median 3.143.53.14▲ Improved since 2015
Australia: 3.5 · world median 3.14 · Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.67 to 4.57; higher is better.
Position 59th of 186 · derived.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.70.678▲ Improved since 2013
Australia: 0.7 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 66th of 156 · derived.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Australia does worse than the middle country measured.
Forest Area within Legally Established Protected AreasFAO · 2025 · world median 18.1818.0918.18No real change since 2015
Australia: 18.09 · world median 18.18 · Forest within legally established protected areas, as a share of the country's 2015 forest area (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Adjusted Net SavingsWorld Bank Group · 2021 · world median 8.3896.4188.389▼ Worsened since 2011
Australia: 6.418 · world median 8.389 · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from -81.62 to 32.18; higher is better.
Position 69th of 118 · derived.
Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 1.6632.9071.663No earlier reading
Australia: 2.907 · world median 1.663 · Baseline water stress score (0–5). World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; lower is better.
Municipal Solid Waste GenerationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 0.9661.480.966No earlier reading
Australia: 1.48 · world median 0.966 · Municipal solid waste generated (kg per person per day). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.058 to 4.176; lower is better.
Position 44th of 201 · derived, 1st = worst.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7384.3272.738No real change since 2014
Australia: 4.327 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
Agricultural Emissions IntensityFAO · 2023 · world median 1.5654.091.565▼ Worsened since 2013
Australia: 4.09 · world median 1.565 · Greenhouse gases from farming per value of agricultural output (kg CO₂eq per international dollar). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 28.2; lower is better.
Position 26th of 190 · derived, 1st = worst.
World Risk IndexInstitute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum · 2025 · world median 4.1721.94.17▼ Worsened since 2015
Australia: 21.9 · world median 4.17 · WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk). Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.18 to 46.56; lower is better.
Position 23rd of 193 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end24
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Burned AreaGWIS · 2025 · world median 13,82450,562,03513,824No real change since 2015
Australia: 50,562,035 · world median 13,824 · Burned area (hectares). European Commission Joint Research Centre — Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50,562,035.
Arable Land per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 0.1091.1620.109No real change since 2013
Australia: 1.162 · world median 0.109 · Arable land (hectares per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1.459.
Position 2nd of 206 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Mangrove AreaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy) · 2025 · world median 8,9271,069,0968,927No real change since 2015
Australia: 1,069,096 · world median 8,927 · Mangrove forest area (hectares). Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.524 to 3,146,544.
Agricultural EmissionsFAO · 2023 · world median 8,635226,9068,635No real change since 2013
Australia: 226,906 · world median 8,635 · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,044,508.
Position 7th of 193 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.14438.470.144No real change since 2014
Australia: 38.47 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.83116.7857.83Moved since 2013
Australia: 116.78 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Tree Cover LossWorld Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland) · 2025 · world median 3,775384,1053,775No real change since 2015
Australia: 384,105 · world median 3,775 · Tree cover loss (hectares, where canopy cover exceeded 30% in 2000). World Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 6,225,187.
Land Under Cereal ProductionFAO · 2023 · world median 689,27816,024,469689,278Moved since 2013
Australia: 16,024,469 · world median 689,278 · Land under cereal production (hectares). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 103,715,108.
Position 10th of 179 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Methane EmissionsEDGAR · 2025 · world median 325.695,028325.69No real change since 2015
Australia: 5,028 · world median 325.69 · Methane emissions (gigagrams of CH₄). European Commission, Joint Research Centre (EDGAR), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.048 to 51,093.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 10014,252100No earlier reading
Australia: 14,252 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.
Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 52522,629525No earlier reading
Australia: 22,629 · world median 525 · Coal-fired capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,263,101.
Consumption-Based CO₂ EmissionsGlobal Carbon Project · 2023 · world median 12.79101.5712.79No real change since 2013
Australia: 101.57 · world median 12.79 · Consumption-based fossil CO₂ (million tonnes of carbon). Global Carbon Project, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.882 to 2,963.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.70813.361.708Moved since 2011
Australia: 13.36 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 35th of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 2024 · world median 52,375294,46952,375No real change since 2014
Australia: 294,469 · world median 52,375 · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 70,500,841.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.9647.2237.96Moved since 2013
Australia: 47.22 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 69th of 209 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.36102.6987.36Moved since 2013
Australia: 102.69 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 82nd of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · 2015 · world median 2.9543.6012.954No real change since 1990
Australia: 3.601 · world median 2.954 · Population living below 5 m elevation (% of total population). Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University, 2015 edition, data for 2015.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 78.48.
Water Withdrawal by SectorFAO · 2022 · world median 62.1466.8962.14Moved since 2012
Australia: 66.89 · world median 62.14 · Freshwater withdrawn for agriculture (% of total). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.48.
Position 80th of 171 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Tropical Moist Forest DeforestationJRC · 2025 · world median 0.00100.001Moved since 2015
Australia: 0 · world median 0.001 · Tropical moist forest deforested in the year (million hectares). European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.708.
Temperature Change on LandFAO · 2025 · world median 1.4741.3971.474Moved since 2015
Australia: 1.397 · world median 1.474 · Change in mean land-surface temperature against the country's own 1951–1980 average, °C. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.34 to 3.294.
Forest AreaFAO · 2023 · world median 31.0817.4231.08No real change since 2013
Australia: 17.42 · world median 31.08 · Forest area (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 94.45.
Position 137th of 210 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cropland Nitrogen BalanceFAO · 2023 · world median 37.6315.3237.63No real change since 2013
Australia: 15.32 · world median 37.63 · Nitrogen surplus (+) or deficit (−) on cropland, kg per hectare. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -555.52 to 1,199.
Agricultural Irrigated LandFAO · 2023 · world median 3.660.5353.66No earlier reading
Australia: 0.535 · world median 3.66 · Irrigated share of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 89.04.
Position 98th of 121 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5350.10.535No real change since 2013
Australia: 0.1 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 176th of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Australia
Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Coal Share of Electricity Generation, Ecological Footprint, Environmentally Related Tax Revenue (last 2023), Low-Carbon Share of Electricity Generation, Pesticide Use per Hectare (last 2017), Renewable Share of Electricity Generation, Solar Share of Electricity Generation and Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generation. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Environment & Sustainability among Australia’s 15 topics
Environment & Sustainability is Australia’s 15th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labourjoint 4th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions7th of 1944/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital11th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge18th of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality23rd of 1834/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade23rd of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties27th of 1984/4 keys
- Digital & Technology30th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation27th of 1764/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing38th of 2003/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience38th of 1934/4 keys
- Peace & Security51st of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture54th of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 49th of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability80th of 1863/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on environment & sustainability
The three countries placed highest of 186, and the leaders Australia can most readily be measured against.
1
AngolaMiddle Africa
1st of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk · CC0, greyscale
- 2
São Tomé and PríncipeMiddle Africa
2nd of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
3
Sierra LeoneWestern Africa
3rd of 186 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Solomon Islands7th2/4 keysHighest in Australia and New Zealand
Australia80th3/4 keys
Positions out of 186 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Australia on environment & sustainability: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Australia rank on environment & sustainability?
Australia is placed 80th of 186 countries on Environment & Sustainability in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (CO₂ Emissions per Capita, Water Stress and Organic Agricultural Area). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest CO₂ Emissions per Capita figure for Australia?
14.48 in 2024 (fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)), according to Global Carbon Project. The world median in the same edition was 3.21.
What is the latest Water Stress figure for Australia?
4.22 in 2023 (freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%)), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 10.
How have Australia’s environment & sustainability figures changed?
CO₂ Emissions per Capita fell from 18.29 in 2000 to 14.48 in 2024; Water Stress fell from 8.71 in 2000 to 4.22 in 2023; Organic Agricultural Area rose from 2.86 in 2005 to 14.58 in 2024.
Which environment & sustainability statistics are missing for Australia?
No current reading is published for Australia on Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Coal Share of Electricity Generation, Ecological Footprint, Environmentally Related Tax Revenue, Low-Carbon Share of Electricity Generation, Pesticide Use per Hectare, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation, Solar Share of Electricity Generation and Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generation. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Air quality and biodiversity are not keys, because the site does not yet hold data for them that passes every test. Forest cover, farmland, farm emissions and the renewable share of electricity are published here as context. Exposure to natural hazards belongs to Risk & Resilience.
How the Environment & Sustainability standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The environment & sustainability method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- CO₂ Emissions per Capita — Global Carbon Project, CC BY 4.0
- Water Stress — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Organic Agricultural Area — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Ecological Footprint — Global Footprint Network, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 41 statistics on this page come from 18 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Australia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Australia (banner) — tiimta, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Angola — Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk, CC0
- Sierra Leone — Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Australia: Environment & Sustainability — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/australia/environment