Explore historical and projected climate data, climate data by sector, impacts, key vulnerabilities and what adaptation measures are being taken. Explore the overview for a general context of how climate change is affecting Australia.
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, with a land area of 7.7 million km2 and the third largest marine jurisdiction. Australia’s population is 24 million people. Most people live in urban areas along the eastern and western coastal regions. Over 85%of Australians live within 50 km of the coastline. Australia has a strong and open economy that has grown continuously for over 25 consecutive years. For the 2015 - 2016, Australia’s real GDP grew by 2.6% and real GDP per capita was approximately $69,421, an increase of 1.37% from the previous year. Australia has a service-based economy with services accounting for 61% GDP in 2015–2016. The country is an exporter of natural resources, energy and food. Although the share of renewable electricity generation grew to 16% of Australia’s total electricity generation in 2016, energy consumption is dominated by fossil fuels.
The Australian continent covers a large range of climate zones, from the tropics in the north to the arid interior and temperate regions in the south. Overall, Australia is the driest of all inhabited continents, with considerable rainfall and temperature variability both across the country and from year to year. Australia’s geography, coastal population concentrations and biodiversity render it particularly vulnerable to small variations in climate. Australia submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution to the UNFCCC in 2015, and its Seventh National Communication in 2018.
The section provides access to historical climate datasets for both temperature and precipitation from 1900 to 2016.
The section provides access to future climate datasets for both temperature and precipitation and their statistical derivatives for various timeframes and emission scenarios from 2020 to 2099.
The section provides access to future climate datasets for both temperature and precipitation and their statistical derivatives for various timeframes and emission scenarios from 2020 to 2099.
This section contains information from multiple climate indicators and indices relevant for key economic sectors. Simple narratives can help you interpret and extract summaries of potential climate change impacts at the sector level.
Explore furtherThis section allows you to explore the susceptibility of livelihoods and natural systems to impacts from climate variability and change and facilitate the exploration of socioeconomic and development data and its relationships with natural hazards vulnerable areas.
Explore furtherThis section allows you to explore the climate information from multiple climate indicators and present them with simple, embedded interpretation for an informative, high-level summary of the potential for future climate change impacts on key socioeconomic sectors.
Explore furtherThis section helps you grasp key national adaptation policies and reports, explore options for key sectors, and understand current adaptation gaps and needs for enhanced climate smart planning.
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