BAMOS November 2025
14 Article
Is this Australia’ s climate wake-up call? Official report reveals a hotter, harder future if we don’ t act now
Andrew B. Watkins, Monash University( andrew. watkins1 @ monash. edu) Lucas Walsh, Monash University( Lucas. Walsh @ monash. edu) Tas van Ommen, University of Tasmania( Tas. VanOmmen @ utas. edu. au)
This article has been republished from The Conversation under a Creative Common license. Read the original article here.
Climate shocks threaten to devastate communities, overwhelm emergency services and strain health, housing, food and energy systems according to a federal government assessment released today.
The report, Australia’ s first National Climate Risk Assessment, confirms the devastating consequences of climate change have arrived. It also reveals the worsening effects of extreme heat, fires, floods, droughts, marine heatwaves and coastal inundation in coming decades.
The sobering assessment is a major step forward in Australia’ s understanding of who and what is in harm’ s way from climate change. It is also a national call to action. The sooner Australia mitigates and adapts, the safer and more resilient we will be.
Earth has already warmed by 1.2 ° C since pre-industrial times, and remains on track for 2.7 ° C by the end of the century if no action is taken. The assessment considers the impacts on Australia at 1.5 ° C, 2 ° C and 3 ° C of global warming.
Graphic showing climate risks to Australia’ s key systems. National Climate Risk Assessment
The report confirms the devastating consequences of climate change have arrived. Pictured: buildings in Collaroy, Sydney, after a storm in 2016. Dean Lewins / AAP
Australia’ s climate risk revealed
The assessment involved more than 250 climate experts, including the authors of this article, and contributions from more than 2,000 specialists. It was also informed by data and modelling from the Australian Climate Service, CSIRO, Bureau of Meteorology, the Australia Bureau of Statistics and Geoscience Australia, among other major institutions.
The report provides the vital evidence base to inform Australia’ s first National Adaptation Plan, also released today.
1. Health and social support
Climate hazards will severely impact physical and mental health. The most vulnerable communities include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the elderly, the very young and those with pre-existing health conditions, as well as outdoor workers.
At 3 ° C global warming, heat-related deaths increase by 444 % for Sydney and 423 % for Darwin, compared to current conditions.
Deaths from increased disease transmission are expected to rise. Vector borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever may spread in the tropics.
Attracting health care workers to remote areas will be increasingly hard, and services will be strained by rising demand and disrupted supply chains.