Rising seas will threaten 1.5 million Australians by 2050, landmark climate report warns

A million and a half Australian living in coastal areas are threatened by the rise in sea level by 2050, a historic climate ratio warned.

The first national assessment of climate risks of Australia predicted more frequent and more serious climate risks such as floods, cyclones, heat waves, droughts and bush fires.

“Australians are already living with the consequences of climate change today,” said the Minister of Climate Change, Chris Bowen, “but it is clear that each degree of warming that we now prevent will help future generations to avoid the worst impacts in the years to come.”

The report examined three climate warming scenarios-above 1.5 ° C, above 2C and more than 3C.

Australia – one of the largest polluters in the world per capita – has already reached warming greater than 1.5 ° C, according to the report, noting that at 3C, heat -related deaths in Sydney can increase by more than 400% and almost triple in Melbourne.

The 72 pages Report – published a few days before the Government announced its programs reduction objectives for 2035 – noted that no Australian community will be immune to climatic risks which will be “in cascade, by composing and simultaneously”.

He warned of more deaths related to heat waves, lower water quality due to serious floods and bush fires and the value of the properties to be dropped by $ 611 billion ($ 406 billion; 300 billion pounds sterling).

By 2050, the report has revealed that the number of coastal communities located in “high and very high risk areas” in Australia would increase and if population levels remain at current levels, this means that more than 1.5 million people will be in danger.

The regions of northern Australia, as well as the distant communities and the external suburbs of large cities, were particularly at risk, according to the report.

“This will exert pressure on health, critical infrastructure, natural species and ecosystems and primary industries,” warned the report, as well as to put additional challenges for emergency stakeholders.

The report also found that coral reefs such as the Grand Barrier Reef in Queensland and Ningalo Reef in Australia -Western – both already affected by record laundering events – will be faced with higher risks of “laundering and loss of biodiversity” due to the warmer oceans.

“One thing that is very clear of this climate assessment is that our whole country has a lot of them,” said Bowen. “The cost of inaction will always prevail over the cost of action.”

In response to the report, the government has published a national adaptation plan that detailed how federal, state and local governments can work together to tackle climate problems, according to Bowen.

“We will also set an ambitious and achievable objective of 2035, informed by the advice of the independent Climate Change Authority,” he said, referring to the organization that provides advice on climate policy.

Australia has committed to reducing 43% emissions by 2030, but it is criticized for its strong continuous dependence on fossil fuels.

The director general of the climate climate council, Amanda McKenzie, said that the report’s conclusions were terrifying and called on the government to engage in higher emission reductions.

“Australia cannot afford a shy 2035 target when our own government data show the catastrophic costs of inaction,” said non -profit organization.

“The more we delay the deep and supported cuts of the climate pollution we need, the more difficult it becomes to protect communities from the climbing of heat waves, floods and bad weather.”