Green groups have raised concerns that the Albanese government has weakened its proposed national environmental standards, which are crucial for protecting threatened species and ecosystems in Australia. The latest draft, released on Thursday, permits developers to claim compliance with environmental objectives by adhering to certain processes, rather than proving they can achieve specific environmental outcomes. This change has drawn criticism from organizations such as the Wilderness Society and WWF-Australia, who argue that it undermines the original goal of reversing the decline of biodiversity. Melanie Audrey, a campaign manager at the Wilderness Society, described the draft as a step backward, stating it is filled with vague language and loopholes. The federal environment minister, Murray Watt, defended the draft, asserting that it sets enforceable expectations for protecting vital species and habitats. However, critics maintain that the revised standards do not raise the bar for environmental protection and may contribute to the ongoing decline of threatened species in Australia, which has seen an average population decrease of 50% over the past two decades. The government aims to finalize the first set of standards by mid-year, with further proposals expected in the coming weeks.