Landmark climate reports finally released. It’s time for action 📣

After months of delay, the Federal Government have finally released two major climate reports: the National Climate Risk Assessment and the National Adaptation Plan. 

The reports are alarming. They show what our communities already know: climate change is bringing more extreme heat, straining hospitals and infrastructure, reducing worker safety, and putting lives at risk.

We welcome the release of the reports but it’s now time that the research and plans are transformed into real, fully-funded action. This includes safe and healthy homes with cooling and insulation, strong workplace protections during extreme heat, and support for community organisations building local resilience.

In just a few days, the government will release Australia’s climate targets to 2035. A stronger target will keep our community safer, while weaker target means more disasters, more damage and more danger. 

Keep reading for a breakdown into the reports:

National Climate Risk Assessment 

The National Climate Risk Assessment is a scientific assessment of the key risks to Australia driven by climate change. It finds that no Australian community will be immune to climate risk.

Here are some other facts that stood out to us:

• Dramatic increase in heat-related deaths. This includes a 440% increase in Sydney and a 420% increase in Darwin. 
• Sea level rise putting 1.5 million Australians at risk.
• Heat exposure harming worker productivity, especially for agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. 
• High risk to Northern Australia from multiple hazards, including extreme heat.
• Remote communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly vulnerable to climate hazards due to isolation, limited infrastructure, and systemic disadvantage.

Concerningly, the report also lays out how climate impacts will overlap and intensify each other. For example, extreme heat during a bushfire can drive dangerous increases in air pollution.

we’ve posted a breakdown of the climate reports – share it around!

National Adaptation Plan 

Now that we know the climate risks facing Australia, how does the government plan to respond?  The National Adaptation Plan is meant to guide that work.

It sets out priorities like updating building codes, improving energy standards in rental homes, rolling out a national health adaptation plan, and boosting local adaptation efforts.

But guidelines aren’t enough. In just a few days, we’ll see Australia’s 2035 climate targets. It’s time for the government to respond to the reports and make sure the targets are as strong as possible.

With your support, Sweltering Cities will continue pushing for:

• Workplace protections. No worker should have to choose between their income and safety during extreme heat.
• Protections for renters, lower income households and communities at greatest risk through minimum rental standards, updating our building code and funding retrofitting homes. 
• Accelerated support for community organisations and local governments to scale up their projects on community resilience.

Since the launch of the two reports, we’ve been speaking to the media, including the ABC, about building safer and healthier community spaces. Thank you for being part of the community voice calling for urgent heat action!

Take care, The Sweltering Cities team