One and a half million Australians are at risk from sea levels rising by 2050 unless climate change can be limited, Australia’s first national climate risk assessment has warned. Source: ABC News.
It found that under 1.5 degrees of warming, sea levels would rise by 0.14m, but would rise by 0.54m under a 3 degrees scenario – with Queensland home to 18 of the 20 most-exposed regions.
The assessment, which is the single most-significant body of climate work by the federal Government, also warns that 597,000 people are living in areas that will become exposed to sea level rise by 2030.
The grim document has been released days ahead of the Albanese Government committing to its emissions target for 2035, and a meeting at the United Nations where countries will update their commitments.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said the assessment was an honest warning of the cost of failing to act.
“I think many Australians will find this report confronting … I would say to people, let’s be clear-eyed about the challenges, let’s be realistic about the threats, but let’s be optimistic for the future,” Mr Bowen said.
“One thing that is very clear from this climate assessment is that our whole country has a lot at stake.
“The cost of inaction will always outweigh the cost of action.”
The National Climate Risk Assessment modelled impacts under three scenarios: 1.5, 2 and 3 degrees of warming.
The Climate Change Authority says that, based on current global commitments, the world is on track to see 2.9 degrees of warming this century.
“Even if emissions fell immediately tomorrow, there would still be impacts of climate change on our country. The report makes that clear. So, yes, the world needs to keep working on emissions reduction,” Mr Bowen said.
Mr Bowen confirmed he had received the Climate Change Authority’s advice on Australia’s 2035 target, and said he was confident it would be a target that could be achieved and that Australians could have “pride” in.
FULL STORY
First climate risk assessment finds 1.5m Australians at risk from sea level rise by 2050 (By Jake Evans, ABC News)
RELATED COVERAGE
Ambitious emissions target ‘will make Australians proud’, Chris Bowen declares (The Australian)
