Although Australia is experienced at preparing for and responding to natural disasters, the influence of climate change on extreme weather will place pressure on our capacity to manage these events.For example, the changing frequency, magnitude and distribution of extreme weather may result in natural disasters occurring in new areas and where emergency management experience is limited. Climate change poses challenges to a range of publicly and privately-owned and managed assets.Primary industries, such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries, are highly sensitive to weather extremes and variations in climate. For example, increased extreme weather events, such as bushfires and floods, can affect water quality and water infrastructure. More than 85 per cent of Australians live within 50 km of the shoreline, and the coastal region generates most of the country’s economic activity.Climatically, coastal areas are exposed to sea-level fluctuations, coastal inundation and river flooding from short-term weather cycles and episodes of extreme events, even without climate change. A recent attribution study shows extremely high pressures as seen across southeast Australia in August 2014 are more likely to occur in the future due to climate change.There has been a net increase in summer rainfall across much of the continent over the past 30 years. Human health is linked with environmental factors such as temperature, and air and water quality. For example, increased extreme weather events, such as bushfires and floods, can affect water quality and water infrastructure. Over the coming decades, projected climate change is likely to increase productivity risks for agriculture, forestry and fisheries in different ways:Australia’s rainfall varies greatly from one year to the next and from one decade to the next, and is strongly influenced by large scale phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña. This trend is associated with a shift in large-scale weather patterns. Potential climate risks for groundwater include reduced groundwater recharge and supplies, seawater intrusion to coastal aquifers, reduction of freshwater availability on small islands, and increased demand from communities and industries.Supply from surface and groundwater is not the only risk to our water resources. The drying trend is dominant between May and July over southwest Western Australia, with rainfall since 1970 around 19% less than the long-term average. We are working to protect our agriculture and food industries, supply chains and environment during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our Climate Change content has moved Under the Administrative Arrangements Order made on 5 December 2019 with effect from 1 February 2020 climate change adaptation strategy and climate science activities fall under the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the …

More than 85 per cent of Australians live within 50 km of the shoreline, and the coastal region generates most of the country’s economic activity.Climatically, coastal areas are exposed to sea-level fluctuations, coastal inundation and river flooding from short-term weather cycles and episodes of extreme events, even without climate change. Heatwaves have caused more loss of life than The increasing frequency and intensity of other extreme weather events poses risks to human health, including injuries, disease and death, and disruption to health services.Drought has been linked to decreased mental health, particularly in rural communities.The duration, frequency and intensity of extreme heat events have increased across large parts of Australia. Since 1996, this decline from the long-term average has increased to around 25%.The recent decrease in rainfall across southern Australia, at an agriculturally and hydrologically important time of the year, is associated with a trend towards high atmospheric pressure (high mean sea level pressure) in the region. Once variability is accounted for, observations show that since 1982 (when high quality data became available) there has been a reduced number of tropical cyclones in the region which Australia is responsible for observing. This poses risks to households and settlements, businesses, infrastructure and essential services (water and energy) and industry such as fishing and tourism.Climate change exacerbates existing climate risks for our coasts and creates new risks:More than two thirds of Australia’s population are now living in a capital city.