Rising seas may threaten 1.5m Australians by mid-century as heat deaths quadruple, report finds
Three million Australians at risk from rising sea levels by 2090
- Australia's first national climate risk assessment warns that nearly 1.5 million coastal residents could be at risk from rising sea levels by 2050, and by 2090, that figure could exceed three million.
- The report projects a 440 per cent increase in heat-related deaths in Sydney and over 420 per cent in Darwin if global temperatures continue to rise by 3C.
- Direct costs from floods, bushfires, storms, and cyclones could reach A$40bn (£19.6bn) annually by 2050, even under a lower-warming scenario.
- The assessment highlights that warming across Australia has already reached approximately 1.5C, leading to more intense heatwaves and the increased likelihood of significant economic impacts, including productivity losses and property value depreciation.
- Experts and ministers emphasise the urgency of rapid emissions cuts and adaptation strategies, stating that the cost of inaction will far exceed the cost of addressing climate change.