272
Australia is facing serious threats from climate change as rising oceans, flooding, and extreme heat are expected to endanger homes, lives, and livelihoods across the country in the coming decades. A new national climate risk assessment released on Monday revealed that more than one million people living in coastal areas could be directly at risk by 2050.
The report, which comes ahead of the federal government’s announcement of new emission reduction targets this week, painted a grim picture of Australia’s future. It said rising temperatures would bring “cascading, compounding, concurrent” impacts, touching almost every part of life for the nation’s 27 million people.
Australia’s Minister for Climate Change, Chris Bowen, said the reality of global warming was no longer distant. “We are living in climate change now. It’s no longer a forecast, a projection or prediction — it is a live reality, and it’s too late to avoid any impacts,” he said.
According to the report, around 1.5 million Australians living along the coast will be at risk of sea level rise and flooding within the next 25 years. That number could double to three million by 2090 if global emissions are not drastically reduced. Rising seas are also expected to hit the Torres Strait Islands hardest, with water levels there rising much faster than the global average.
The Torres Strait Islands, which lie in the northernmost part of the country, are home to small communities with deep cultural connections to their lands and waters. Indigenous leaders and activists have expressed fears that their homes, traditions, and way of life could disappear if urgent action is not taken. Joanne Hill, a community engagement coordinator at Edith Cowan University and an Indigenous woman, called for an immediate response. “We cannot delay this emergency response anymore. Our coastal and island communities, particularly the Torres Strait Islands, are at immediate risk of losing their homes, their cultural practices and traditions if we do not do anything now,” she said.
The financial impact is also expected to be devastating. The report estimates that property value losses linked to flooding and rising seas could reach Aus$611 billion (US$406 billion) by 2050 and rise further to Aus$770 billion by 2090. Meanwhile, rising heat will put more lives at risk. If average global temperatures rise by three degrees Celsius, heat-related deaths in Sydney, Australia’s most populated city, could increase by more than 400 percent.
Australia’s unique wildlife is also under pressure, with many species expected to either migrate, adapt to the changing conditions, or face extinction as climate change intensifies. Amanda McKenzie, chief executive of the Climate Council, described the findings as “terrifying.” She urged stronger action from the government. “We can choose a better future by cutting climate pollution harder and faster now. The first step is legislating the strongest possible 2035 climate target and stopping new polluting projects,” she said.
Australia has often been criticised for its slow approach to tackling climate change. The country is one of the world’s largest fossil fuel exporters and has a history of political battles, known as “climate wars,” over emissions policy. These disputes have slowed progress on cutting carbon pollution over the years.
The current centre-left Labour government has promised stronger climate action and is pushing investments in renewable energy. However, it has also continued to approve fossil fuel projects, including a controversial 40-year extension for the North West Shelf liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. The project, which produces over 10 million tonnes of LNG and petroleum each year, has faced backlash from Indigenous and environmental groups.
Bowen admitted that the transition to clean energy is “complicated and complex,” noting that natural gas will continue to play a role as a backup in Australia’s energy system. However, he stressed that the country is well-positioned to lead the global transition. “We also face that challenge from a position of strength, because we have the best renewable resources in the world,” he said.
The release of the report and the upcoming emission reduction targets are seen as a critical moment for Australia. Many experts and activists hope that the government will commit to stronger, clearer targets to align with the Paris climate agreement and set the nation on a faster path to reducing carbon emissions.
For many Australians, the findings serve as a stark reminder that climate change is no longer a distant issue but an urgent national crisis demanding immediate and bold action.
