Is Australia going to be the next, big victim of climate change? New report explains
Low lying coastal areas are the most prone to be affected by the vagaries of climate change. Australia is one such place, and a new assessment confirms that it will 'continue to experience climate hazards – like floods, cyclones, heatwaves, droughts and bushfires – more frequently, more severely, and often at the same time'.
New Delhi: A new major government report from Australia has come out with some worrying news, especially in terms of the risks associated with climate change. The study warns that millions of Australians are currently at risk from rising sea levels and that associated heat deaths could soar. National climate risk assessment report finds heat-related deaths will surge by 450 per cent in Sydney if global heating surpasses 3 degrees Celsius.
The landmark report talks of the "cascading, compounding and concurrent” risks of climate change and explains how no Australian community would be immune from the effects of global warming. The report also talks about the heightened risk from rising sea levels on Australia’s coastal communities, one of the most vulnerable sections that might soon be affected by floodings, erosion and inundation. It finds that by 2050, 1.5 million coastal residents would be at risk, the number which would then rise to more than 3 million by 2090.
Worrying signs
The Australian government on Monday released the long-awaited national climate risk assessment.
The report provides one of the most detailed assessments of the social and economic impact of the climate crisis for Australia. Released and brought forward by the Australian Climate Service and the climate change department, the first of its kind report modelled the impact of climate-related hazards such as heatwaves, drought and floods, on different parts of Australia's community, economy and environment. This it did under three warming scenarios, that is above 1.5 degree Celsius, above 2 degree Celsius and above 3 degree Celsius.
The Assessment confirmed that Australia will continue to see more frequent climate hazards like floods, cyclones, heatwaves and droughts. The events would not just be more frequent, but more severe as well.
It further went on to point out that northern Australia, remote communities and outer suburbs will be particularly susceptible. Australia’s underlying natural ecosystems and biodiversity will also come under significant challenges.
The report also picked up on the economic impacts of the changes. It estimates that the direct cost of floods, bushfires, storms and cyclones across the states and territories could reach $40bn a year in 2050. This would worryingly be true even under a 1.5 degree Celsius case.
"Australians are already living with the consequences of climate change today but it’s clear every degree of warming we prevent now will help future generations avoid the worst impacts in years to come,” the climate change minister, Chris Bowen, said. The government also released a national adaptation framework to help prepare communities for managing a changing climate.