Leslie Massey
Climate change is a critical issue in Australia, with the country experiencing record-breaking temperatures, unprecedented wildfires, and more frequent extreme weather events. The increase in global temperatures is causing ice sheets and glaciers to melt, resulting in rising sea levels and reduced inhabitable land. Human activities, such as the emission of greenhouse gases, land use changes, and deforestation, are the primary drivers of these changes. Australia has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources, but the impacts of climate change continue to affect the country's environment, ecosystems, and human health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate change in Australia | Real and ongoing |
| Human influence | The biggest driver of climate change |
| Greenhouse gases | Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide |
| Carbon dioxide increase since pre-industrial times | 40% |
| Carbon dioxide sources | Fossil fuel emissions, land use change emissions, transport, electricity, mining, burning fossil fuels, wood |
| Methane sources | Agriculture, fossil fuels, decomposing landfill |
| Other factors | Natural variability, El Niño-Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole |
| Effects | Extreme weather, droughts, floods, heatwaves, cyclones, bushfires, rising sea levels, erosion, health issues, ecological changes, water supply issues, etc. |
| Action required | Substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, phase out of fossil fuels, investment in renewable energy, support for vulnerable communities |
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What You'll Learn
Greenhouse gas emissions
In Australia, the energy sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. While emissions from electricity generation have been declining due to the integration of renewable energy sources, liquefied natural gas production is driving an increase in stationary energy emissions. The transportation and agriculture sectors are also major sources of emissions, with transport currently being the highest emitter.
The Australian government has acknowledged the urgency of addressing climate change and has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the Paris Agreement, Australia has pledged to decrease emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This aligns with the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's warning to prevent a global temperature rise of more than 1.5°C.
The effects of climate change in Australia are already evident. The country has experienced a notable increase in average annual temperatures, with a rise of over 1.5°C since the beginning of the 20th century. This has contributed to extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, bushfires or wildfires, and floods, which have had devastating impacts on ecosystems, human health, and the economy. The megafires in 2019-2020, which burned vast territories and caused the loss of a billion animals, have been attributed to climate change-induced dry and hot weather conditions.
To mitigate climate change and its consequences, Australia must continue to transition to renewable energy sources and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. This includes phasing out fossil fuels, investing in renewable energy infrastructure, and supporting climate change adaptation in low-income countries. By taking these actions, Australia can contribute to global efforts to combat climate change and protect vulnerable communities worldwide.
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Human influence on the climate system
Human activity is the primary driver of climate change in Australia. The burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and agricultural practices have led to increased greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide and methane. These gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in global warming and climate change. The consequences include rising temperatures, melting ice sheets and glaciers, sea level rise, and more frequent and intense extreme weather events.
In Australia, the impact of human-induced climate change is evident in the increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves, bushfires, droughts, and floods. The country has experienced a significant increase in average annual temperatures, with the rate of warming doubling in the past 50 years compared to the previous 50 years. This warming trend has contributed to the drying trends in southern Australia, with rainfall in the southwest decreasing by 10-20% since the 1970s and a moderate decline in the southeast since the 1990s.
The human influence on the climate system is further evident in the reduction of polar ice sheets, global sea ice extent, and glacier volumes. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 40% since pre-industrial times, primarily due to fossil fuel emissions and land-use changes. The ocean has absorbed about 30% of the emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide, leading to ocean acidification.
Australia's energy sector, particularly electricity generation, is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. However, there has been a downward trend in emissions since 2016 due to the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources. South Australia, for example, has made significant progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through investments in renewable energy.
To mitigate the impacts of climate change, Australia has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. The country has signed the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty aimed at limiting global temperature rise to below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels. Australia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.
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Rising temperatures
Since the start of the 20th century, Australia has witnessed an average annual temperature increase of over 1.5 °C, with the rate of warming accelerating in recent decades. The summer of 2013-2014 serves as a stark example of this warming trend, ranking as the third-hottest on record for Victoria, fifth-warmest for New South Wales, and sixth-warmest for South Australia. Melbourne, specifically, endured six days with temperatures surpassing 40 °C during that season, while nighttime temperatures also remained unusually high.
This trend of rising temperatures continued, with 2015 marking Australia's fifth-hottest year on record. Notably, January 2019 stood out as the hottest month ever recorded in Australia, with average temperatures surpassing 30 °C. This warming pattern has had a profound impact on ecosystems, water resources, and human health across the country.
The primary driver of rising temperatures in Australia is the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide and methane. These gases, released into the atmosphere through human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture, and land use changes, act as a blanket, trapping heat and leading to global warming. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 40% since pre-industrial times, and it is projected that temperatures could rise by up to 1.5 °C by 2030.
While human activities play a significant role, natural variability also contributes to temperature fluctuations in Australia. For instance, the record rainfall observed in southeastern Australia from October 2011 to March 2012 was attributed to natural variability associated with La Niña, although human influences on the climate system were also found to have a minor impact.
To address the pressing issue of rising temperatures, Australia has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in renewable energy sources. The country has signed the Paris Agreement, aiming to limit the increase in global temperatures to below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, with an ambitious goal of limiting the increase to 1.5 °C. This commitment underscores the urgency and importance of mitigating the impacts of rising temperatures on Australia's environment and communities.
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Extreme weather events
Australia has been experiencing more frequent and intense extreme weather events due to climate change. The country has witnessed heatwaves, bushfires, droughts, floods, and storms, all of which have had devastating impacts on its unique natural ecosystems and human populations.
Heatwaves
Heatwaves have become more frequent and intense across Australia, with the average number of days per year when temperatures reach 45°C increasing significantly in Victoria. The summer of 2013-2014 was exceptionally hot, with Melbourne recording six days over 40°C and nighttime temperatures remaining unusually warm. This heatwave was directly linked to climate change. The trend of record-breaking temperatures continued in subsequent years, with 2015 being the fifth-hottest year on record, and 2017 seeing Australia's warmest winter in terms of average maximum temperatures. January 2019 was the hottest month ever recorded in Australia, with average temperatures exceeding 30°C.
Bushfires
Climate change has increased the likelihood of wildfires in Australia. The megafires in 2019-2020 burned a territory of approximately 100,000 square kilometres, killed one billion animals, and caused significant economic damage. Researchers attributed these fires to the impact of climate change on weather patterns, creating unusually dry and hot conditions. The Indian Ocean Dipole, influenced by rising temperatures, has also contributed to drier weather, increasing the risk of fires.
Droughts
Rainfall in southwestern Australia has decreased by 10-20% since the 1970s, and southeastern Australia has seen a moderate decline since the 1990s. This reduction in rainfall is associated with fewer rain-bearing systems and less rainfall from those systems that do cross the region. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are believed to influence these rainfall patterns.
Floods
While some areas of Australia experience droughts, others face extensive flooding. In early 2019, northern Australia experienced massive rainfall that caused social and economic costs in Queensland, estimated at $5.68 billion. Floods can trigger pulse-breeding responses in wildlife, such as birds, freshwater fish, and frogs.
Cyclones and Storms
The CSIRO and BOM predicted in 2020 that tropical cyclones and east coast lows would become less frequent but potentially more intense. With the increase in global temperatures, the energy in the atmosphere and oceans is leading to more extreme and unpredictable weather, including more intense cyclones and storms.
Overall, climate change is causing a rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Australia, impacting both the environment and human populations.
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Impact on human health
Climate change is causing a range of issues for Australia, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. These changes have a significant impact on human health and wellbeing in Australia.
Heatwaves in Australia have caused more human deaths than any other single extreme weather event. The average number of days per year when Victoria's temperature has reached 45°C increased from 0.3 in 1961-2000 to 2.6 in 2011-2020. The summer of 2013-2014 was the third-hottest on record for Victoria, with Melbourne recording six days over 40°C. The health impacts of heatwaves include increased mortality, as well as respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
Climate change is also causing more infectious disease transmission in Australia. Higher temperatures are causing more food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases. The incidence and geographic distribution of arbovirus diseases are expected to increase. Climate change is further impacting pathogen development, increasing vector growth rates, and shortening the extrinsic incubation period.
The 2019-2020 bushfires burned approximately 100,000 square kilometres, killed one billion animals, and caused significant economic damage. The total smoke-related physical health costs during this period were estimated at AUD 1.95 billion. Bushfires have severe impacts on human health, and the smoke causes respiratory issues.
Droughts are becoming more frequent and intense due to reduced rainfall in southern Australia. The CSIRO predicted that a temperature rise of 1-2°C would cause a 12-25% reduction in water flow in the Murray and Darling River basins. Droughts have a significant impact on mental health and increase healthcare utilisation.
Floods are another climate extreme that poses a significant threat to human health in Australia. Floods associated with massive rainfall in northern Australia in early 2019 caused extensive social and economic costs, estimated at $5.68 billion.
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Frequently asked questions
Climate change in Australia is caused by human activity, specifically the emission of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane. These gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.
Australia has experienced record-breaking temperatures, heatwaves, droughts, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Climate change has also impacted water supply, ecosystems, and the health and well-being of Australians.
Australia has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in renewable energy. The Australian government has signed the Paris Agreement, aiming to limit global temperature rise and reduce emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Individuals can play a role by reducing their carbon footprint, conserving energy, and supporting initiatives for renewable energy and climate change adaptation. Educating oneself and others about climate change and its impacts is also crucial.
