Australia now more at risk from climate pollution

Australians remain dangerously exposed and ill-prepared for the risks outlined in the National Climate Risk Assessment a year ago, according to the Climate Council, with worsening floods, fires, heat and storms all being supercharged by climate pollution.

This comes as global pollution hits an all-time high, which, together with a record-strength El Niño, is pushing Australia towards hotter, drier and more dangerous conditions.

The 2025 assessment’s findings under a high pollution scenario were stark: heatwave deaths could quadruple, more than 1.5 million people could be hit by coastal impacts and $611 billion wiped from property values by 2050.

One year on from the National Climate Risk Assessment, the Climate Council states:

• Australia still has no national adaptation plan to better protect people from the climate risks identified.
• Despite significant progress on renewables, the federal government continues to approve new coal, oil and gas projects that add to the climate pollution fuelling extreme weather risks.
• The country’s biggest polluters are exploiting loopholes in our national industrial law to keep polluting, rather than make genuine cuts.
• The federal opposition wants to tear up Australia’s legislated pollution reduction targets altogether and let coal, oil and gas pollution rip.
• We face a dangerous double act of the highest global climate pollution levels and record-breaking temperatures (land and sea), combined with an El Niño that’s on track to be the strongest ever recorded.
   

“The risks to Australians are alarming and crystal clear: more climate-fuelled disasters, more often. With a record-breaking El Niño this year adding even more heat to our overheated climate, we could be in for a spring of extremes yet again,” said Climate Councillor and National Climate Risk Assessment lead author Adjunct Professor Andrew Watkins.

“The costs of climate change are already high, driving up our insurance premiums and food prices, upending lives and putting people in direct danger. It is heartbreaking to understand the climate risks we’re facing, and to see so very little being done about it to prepare Australians.”

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said, “One year on from this comprehensive climate risk assessment, where is the response? We need a clear, well-funded and coordinated plan to better prepare and protect communities at growing risk of climate-fuelled disasters. Without this, Australia is flying blind.

“Everyday Australians pay the price for worsening floods and fires via their insurance bill, council rates and at the supermarket checkout, while coal, oil and gas corporations are increasing their pollution and profits. More pollution means higher risks and costs for every Australian.

“The Albanese government must put a stop to new or extended coal, oil and gas projects and tighten the loopholes in our national industrial law that fossil fuel corporations are exploiting to avoid making genuine cuts to climate pollution while raking in eye-watering profits.”

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