What is 'State of Environment Reporting'?

SOE reports have traditionally been used to highlight the condition of the biophysical environment. Recently SOE reports have also included analysis of trends or changes in the environment, analysis of the causes of these changes, assessment and interpretation of the implications and impacts of these trends, and assessment of the actual and potential societal response(s) to environmental problems. The SOE report has also come to identify key driving forces that influence environmental change, and policies that influence environmental trends.

There are three main objectives in SOE reporting:

• To increase awareness and understanding of environmental trends and conditions, their causes and consequences;
• To provide a foundation for improved decision-making at all levels from individuals through to governments and international organisations; and
• To facilitate management of progress towards sustainability.

In trying to achieve these objectives, several basic questions are asked during the compilation of the SOE report:

• What is happening to the environment?
• Why is it happening?
• What are we doing about it and what can we do about it?
• What will happen if we don't act now?

SOE reporting can also be used to provide an early warning of emerging problems, it can help to identify knowledge and information deficiencies that are impeding our understanding and it can contribute to the evaluation of societal response(s). SOE reporting should encourage the incorporation of environmental considerations into policy and contribute to capacity building and reporting at other levels.

The SOE audience is likely to be government, parliament and politicians, members of the public, media, schools / universities, industry and business. They may use the information for various reasons including, decision-making, voting choices and policy setting.