52,432 research outputs found
Climate change 2015: growing risks, critical choices
No full textThis latest Climate Council report provides an update of climate change science, impacts and risks. This report draws from the massive body of evidence that human activities - primarily from the burning of coal, oil and gas - are driving dramatic changes in our climate system. The report outlines how the changing climate poses substantial and escalating risks for health, property, infrastructure, agriculture and natural ecosystems in Australia. Compared to our understanding when the last Critical Decade report was published, the risks of climate change for our well-being now look more serious at lower levels of climate change, strengthening the case for urgent action. Finally, the report describes why it is in Australia’s national interest to play a leadership role in the global move for strong climate action leading up to the Paris climate conference at the end of 2015
Thirsty country: climate change and drought in Australia
No full textThis report argues that climate change is likely making drought worse in the southeast and southwest of Australia, which are some of our most populous regions.
Introduction
Drought has deeply affected Australia throughout its history. The Millennium Drought from 1996-2010 serves as a recent reminder of the wide-reaching impacts that drought can have on Australia’s people and environment.
Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth and drought is an important feature of Australia’s climate. Whilst Australians have always lived with drought and its consequences, it is likely that climate change is making drought worse in the southeast and southwest, some of our most populous regions.
We begin this report by describing what a drought is, before considering its consequences for health, the economy, ecosystems and urban water supplies. We then outline the changing drought conditions and increasing drying trends in Australia and explore recent dry conditions in various parts of the country. We conclude by exploring how climate change is influencing drought conditions in the southeast and southwest of the continent as well as drying trends globally
The hottest year on record (again)
No full text2015 was the hottest year on record globally. Climate change was a major factor in driving the record-breaking heat in 2015 world wide, according to this report.
Key Findings
1. 2015 was the hottest year on record globally. Climate change was a major factor in driving the record-breaking heat in 2015 worldwide.
The global average temperature for 2015 was 0.90°C above the 20th century average, eclipsing the previous record set in 2014 by 0.16°C.
The record global warmth of 2015 is part of a long-term trend. All of the world’s 10 warmest years have occurred since 1998. 2015 is the 39th consecutive year with above-average global temperatures.
No one aged under 40 has lived in a year with global average temperatures at or below the global 20th century average.
2. Climate change is a major factor in extreme heat and fire in Australia.
Averaged across Australia, temperatures for nine of the 12 months of 2015 were above-average.
Australia recorded its hottest ever October in 2015 and recent research has found that global warming increased the chance of these record-breaking temperatures by a factor of at least six.
Severe bushfires across Australia over the 2015/2016 summer have been made worse by climate change, particularly by the extreme hot weather.
The Great Barrier Reef and other marine ecosystems are under threat from rising ocean temperatures and increasing ocean acidity.
3. Temperature records are being smashed across many regions of the world, largely through the influence of climate change.
Nine months in 2015 broke global heat records with July 2015 the hottest month ever on Earth since records began in 1850.
The emission of greenhouse gases is driving record global heat. Countries must drastically reduce their emissions from coal, oil and gas to slow and then halt the escalating impacts of extreme heat and severe fires.
 
Climate adaptation manual for local government: embedding resilience to climate change
No full textThis manual highlights leading case studies and practical resources from Australian municipalities and overseas, and includes a step-by-step framework for effectively embedding climate risk into council operations.
The resource will be useful for council staff involved in climate risk assessment and planning such as asset managers, strategic planners, and corporate and community services staff.
This ACELG Research Partnership Scheme project was undertaken with local councils from all Australian states: City of Canada Bay (NSW), City of Randwick (NSW), Pittwater Council (NSW), City of Greater Geelong (VIC), City of Port Phillip (VIC), City of Melbourne (VIC), City of Townsville (QLD), City of Onkaparinga (SA), City of Clarence (Tas) and City of Greater Geraldton (WA)
The critical decade: global action building on climate change
No full textThis report presents an overview of progress in international action on climate change since August 2012, with a particular focus on China and the US.Key findings: 1. The energy giants China and the United States are accelerating action. China and the United States (US) are the world’s two largest economies and together produce approximately 37% of world emissions. Both nations are on track to meet their international commitments to tackle climate change. In recent months they have each signalled they will be strengthening their efforts and in April they reached an historic agreement to tackle climate change together.Increasing action from the global energy giants can re-energise the global effort to tackle climate change. While China and the US cannot solve the problem alone, they are acting as significant drivers of change.Only a few years ago some commentators pointed to insufficient action in China and the United States to delay action in Australia. Today the energy giants are undoubtedly on the move, which will fuel global momentum. 2. China’s efforts demonstrate accelerating global leadership in tackling climate change. China is reducing its emissions growth. In 2012 China reduced the carbon intensity of its economy more than expected and almost halved its growth in electricity demand. After years of strong growth in coal use, the rate of growth has declined substantially.China will begin introducing seven emissions trading schemes this year that cover a quarter of a billion people. A national trading scheme is planned, based on these models.China has emerged as the world’s renewable energy powerhouse, taking ambitious strides to add renewable energy to its mix. 2012 was another year of extraordinary growth: Between 2005 and 2012 China increased its wind power generation capacity by almost 50 times. The amount of electricity generated from wind in 2012 was about 36 per cent higher than in 2011.New solar power capacity expanded by 75% in 2012. Solar power capacity is expected to triple to more than 21,000 megawatts by 2015.In 2012 China invested US35.6 billion in 2012, second only to China. 4. Global momentum to tackle climate change is growing. Every major economy is tackling climate change, setting in place policies to drive down emissions and increase investment and capacity of renewable energy. Ninety-eight countries have committed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions.The number of countries pricing carbon is increasing, with four new schemes starting so far this year. Emissions trading schemes are now operating in 35 countries and 13 states, provinces and cities. These 48 schemes, together with the 7 Chinese schemes, are expected to involve 880 million people and about 20% of global emissions.Global renewable energy capacity is growing quickly; in 2012 alone capacity rose 15%. The capacity of solar photovoltaic panels increased by 42% and wind capacity 21%. Total global renewable energy power generation is expected to increase by more than 40% from 2011 to 2017.Policy support has been central to driving investment and growth in installed renewable energy capacity in many countries. Conversely, declining support, or policy uncertainty, has stifled investment in other countries.The global pressure to reduce emissions is only likely to increase as the climate shifts and global action accelerates. 5. Australia is a major player and is important in shaping the global response to climate change. Australia is one of the most vulnerable developed countries to climate change and is already experiencing the impacts of more frequent and severe extreme weather. For instance, during the most recent Australian summer more than 123 heat, flood and rainfall records were broken. Australia’s global influence in averting these risks will depend on how effectively we implement policy solutions at home.Australia is the 15th largest emitter, larger than 180 other countries. This means that Australia has a responsibility to play its part and that Australian actions have a global influence.There have been significant developments in Australia, including: Greenhouse gas emissions have declined. Greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation in the period from June to December 2012 were the lowest since 2001-02.Australia’s renewable energy capacity almost doubled from 2001 to 2012. This year a significant milestone of one million households having installed solar photovoltaic panels was reached. 6. This is the critical decade for action. While significant progress is being made, it is not enough. Globally emissions are continuing to rise strongly, posing serious risks for our society.This decade must set the foundations to reduce emissions rapidly to nearly zero by 2050. The earlier such action is under way the less disruptive and costly it will be. This is the critical decade for accelerating action. All countries, particularly the major emitters like China, the United States and Australia, must move beyond their current commitments to reduce their emissions more deeply and swiftly. This is the critical decade to turn the global emissions trend downwards and to set the global foundations for accelerating reductions in decades to come
Be prepared: climate change and the Victorian bushfire threat
No full textFirefighters, emergency services and communities need to prepare for much greater bushfire risk from climate change, argues this report.
Key findings
1. Climate change is increasing the risk of bushfires in Victoria and lengthening the fire season.
Extreme fire weather has increased over the last 30 years in Victoria. The fire season in Victoria is starting earlier and lasting longer. Fire weather has been extending into October and into March.
Australia is a fire prone country and Victoria has always experienced bushfires. Today climate change is making hot days hotter, and heatwaves longer and more frequent, with increasing drought conditions in Australia’s southeast.
Record breaking heat and hotter weather over the long term in Victoria has worsened fire weather and contributed to an increase in the frequency and severity of bushfires.
2. Victoria is the state most affected by bushfires and is on the frontline of increasing bushfire risk.
Over half of known fatalities due to bushfires in Australia have occurred in Victoria.
Victoria has sustained around 50% of the economic damage from bushfires despite covering only 3% of Australia.
Victoria’s 2014–15 bushfire season outlook has been upgraded from an “above normal” fire season to a “major” fire season following record October warmth and expected ongoing hot, dry conditions.
3.Recent severe fires in Victoria have been influenced by record hot, dry conditions.
The 2009 Black Saturday fires in Victoria were preceded by a record breaking decade-long drought with a string of record hot years, coupled with a severe heatwave in the preceding week.
In the lead up to the bushfires on Saturday 7th 2009, maximum temperatures were up to 23°C above the February average in Victoria and record high temperatures for February were set in over 87% of the state.
4. In Victoria the economic cost of bushfires, including loss of life, livelihoods, property damage and emergency services responses, is very high.
The total economic costs of bushfires in Victoria in 2014 are projected to be more than $172 million. By around the middle of the century these costs will more than double.
These projections do not incorporate increased bushfire incident rates due to climate change and so could potentially be much higher.
These projections do not incorporate increased bushfire incident rates due to climate change and so could potentially be much higher.
5. In the future, Victoria is very likely to experience an increased number of days with extreme fire danger. Communities, emergency services and health services across Victoria must prepare.
Fire severity and intensity is expected to increase substantially in coming decades in Victoria. The fire season will continue to lengthen, further reducing the opportunities for safe hazard reduction burning.
Increasing severity, frequency and the lengthening fire season will strain Victoria’s existing resources for fighting and managing fires.
By 2030, it has been estimated that the number of professional firefighters in Victoria will need to approximately double (compared to 2010) to keep pace with increased population, asset value, and fire danger weather.
Australia must cut its emissions rapidly and deeply to join global efforts to stabilise the world’s climate and to reduce the risk of even more extreme events, including bushfires
Renewable Energy Target review
No full textSUMMARY
This is the Climate Change Authority\u27s second review of the Renewable Energy Target (RET). The RET targets reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector and thereby contributes significantly to reducing Australia\u27s overall emissions.
In its 2012 review of the RET, the Authority found that the RET was stimulating considerable investment in renewable energy and argued that a stable and predictable policy was essential to sustain this investment. It concluded that no major changes were warranted to the overall RET design, but suggested some minor operational changes.
The uncertain future of the Authority until recently has limited the time available to conduct this review. Largely for that reason, the Authority has focused on what, it its view, are the most important issues. The Authority has also drawn on both its 2012 Authority review, and on the review conducted this year by a panel headed by Mr Dick Warburton AO LVO.
The RET and Australia\u27s emissions reduction goals
In 2010, when the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) was set at 41,000 GWh, it was estimated that this contribution, with contributions from the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) and other pre-existing renewables (notably hydro), would together represent at least 20 per cent of Australia’s (then) projected total electricity demand in 2020. Given that electricity accounts for approximately one-third of Australia’s emissions of greenhouse gases, renewable sources were seen as making a significant contribution to Australia’s broader emissions reduction goals.
Reducing emissions in the electricity sector plays a pivotal role in climate change policies around the world. Unchecked climate change is widely seen as posing serious risks for the Australian community and its economy. Together with the broader international community, Australia has agreed to a goal of limiting global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. This requires concerted action by all countries— including Australia—to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The RET, as currently legislated, is a significant part of Australia’s policy response to that challenge.
The RET arrangements were envisaged to deliver ‘at least 20 per cent’ of Australia’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and are projected to reduce Australia\u27s emissions by 58 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e) over 2015–20, and by much larger amounts in later periods.
The RET arrangements are not perfect but, in the Authority’s view, they are effective in reducing emissions (at reasonable cost) in the centrally important electricity sector. Given the absence of effective alternative measures bearing upon this sector, the Authority does not favour any significant scaling back of the 2020 LRET target of 41,000 GWh
Australian Climate Roundtable: joint principles for climate policy
No full textThis document sets out principles to guide the development of sound long term policy to address climate change. These principles reflect extensive discussions between the diverse organisations participating in the Australian Climate Roundtable, encompassing business groups, unions, institutional investors, environmental groups, research organisations and social policy organisations.
The principles address the goals of climate change policy and the ideal characteristics of policies to meet the goals.
The principles spring from the considerable common ground between the existing policy approaches of each group, and have been revised and clarified to ensure that they cover areas of essential need and joint agreement. Each organisation maintains their own existing policy priorities, with which they have judged these principles to be compatible.
The following organisations have agreed to the joint principles:
Australian Aluminium Council
Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Council of Social Service
Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Industry Group
Business Council of Australia
Energy Supply Association of Australia
Investor Group on Climate Change
The Climate Institute WWF Australia
The Australian Climate Roundtable, is an alliance of major business, union, research, environment, investor and social groups that has come together to put the climate policy debate on common ground and offer a way forward.
Our broad coalition has come together because climate change and climate policy both impact our missions and members. We believe Australia should play its fair part in global efforts to avoid 2°C and the serious economic, social and environmental impacts that unconstrained climate change would have on Australia. Avoiding unconstrained climate change will provide important benefits and opportunities to Australia.
 
Opportunities for individual, household and community level climate change adaptation in Ireland
No full textAs recognised by the Climate Change Advisory Council in its 2020 annual review report (CCAC, 2020), the literature on climate change adaptation tends to focus on the role of government and state action, with less attention given to the potential role of individuals, households and local communities in adapting to climate change risks. However, this lacuna overlooks the necessity of a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to adaptation to complement a whole-of-government response to reduce exposure to climate change risks and to cope with vulnerability to further impacts. In this paper, we aim to provide a review of individual and household level adaptation. This will address risk factors at a household scale and the socio-economic dimensions of climate change vulnerability.Climate Change Advisory Counci
2020: Report of the Swedish Climate Policy Council
No full textThis report is the Climate Policy Council’s annual assessment of the Government’s overall work to achieve Sweden’s climate targets. It includes an update of developments in Sweden over the past year and an assessment of the Government’s Climate policy action plan, as required of the Council under our terms of reference. The Climate Policy Council would like to express its sincere thanks to the more than 100 organisations, researchers, experts and practitioners who contributed to this report. The conclusionsand recommendations presented here are the Climate Policy Council’s own
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