The greatest ocean warming in the Australian region has occurred in the Coral Sea and off southeast Australia and Tasmania – Image: Great Barrier Reef/Tourism Australia
The Albanese Government has welcomed the release of Australia’s State of the Climate Report 2024. The report, prepared every two years by CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology, reveals Australia’s emissions have declined over the past 15 years. However, Australia is projected to see continued warming over the coming decades, with more extremely hot days and fewer extremely cool days. The report also noted a continuation of long-term trends identified in 2022, including an increase in extreme heat events, longer fire seasons, more intense heavy rainfall and sea level rise.
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are at the highest levels seen on Earth in at least two million years, the report says. This is causing Australia’s climate to warm and 8 of the 9 warmest years on record in Australia have occurred since 2013. The report also documents the continuing acidification of the oceans around Australia, which have also warmed by an average of 1.08°C since 1900.
The greatest ocean warming in the Australian region has occurred in the Coral Sea and off southeast Australia and Tasmania, where more rapid warming trends have occurred over the past 4 decades.
The warming of our oceans is contributing to longer and more frequent marine heatwaves, and this trend is expected to continue, according to the report.
“The latest State of the Climate Report reiterates the urgent need to act on climate change”, said the Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen MP. “The experts could not be clearer – we are seeing more extreme heat events, longer fire seasons, more intense rainfall and sea level rise – and this will only get worse without real, actionable plans to drive down emissions.”
Tanya Plibersek MP and Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water, said: “This report confirms what we already knew – that there are huge challenges facing Australia from a changing climate. That’s why the Albanese Government has done more on climate and environment than any government in Australian history”.
“As environment minister I’m approving renewable energy projects at record rates – I’ve ticked off over 60 renewable energy projects which produce enough energy to power over 7 million homes, with record numbers in the pipeline”.
“This report is difficult reading, particularly the longer-term climate trend lines”, said a concerned Ed Husic, MP and Minister for Industry and Science. “It’s why scaling up wind, battery and solar power has never been more important. Our world-class scientists continue to work on climate solutions which will create sustainable Aussie industries and more well-paid secure jobs. “
“We are embracing Australia’s abundant natural resources, including some of the best solar and wind in the world, to deliver our Reliable Renewables Plan – the only plan supported by experts to provide the clean, cheap, reliable and resilient energy system that Australians deserve”, according to the above Ministers in a joint media release.
Key findings in the Australian Climate Report 2024
- Australia’s climate has warmed by an average of 1.51 ± 0.23 °C since national records began in 1910
- Sea surface temperatures have increased by an average of 1.08 °C since 1900
- The warming has led to an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events over land and in the oceans
- In the south-west of Australia there has been a decrease of around 16% in April to October (growing season) rainfall since 1970. Across the same region, May to July rainfall has seen the largest reduction, by around 20% since 1970
- In the south-east of Australia, there has been a decrease of around 9% in April to October rainfall since 1994
- Heavy short-term rainfall events are becoming more intense
- There has been an increase in extreme fire weather, and a longer fire season, across large parts of the country since the 1950s
- There has been an increase in rainfall and streamflow across parts of northern Australia since the 1970s
- There has been a decrease in the number of tropical cyclones observed in the Australian region since at least 1982
- Sea levels are rising around Australia, including more frequent extreme high levels that increase the risk of inundation and damage to coastal infrastructure and communities. Global mean sea level is increasing, having risen by around 22 cm’s since 1900. Half of this rise has occurred since 1970
- Oceans around Australia are becoming more acidic, with changes happening faster in recent decades
- The ice sheets and ice shelves of Antarctica and Greenland are losing ice due to a warmer climate, which is contributing to global sea level rise
- There has been an abrupt decrease in Antarctic sea-ice extent since 2015, after a small increase over the period from 1979 to 2014
- Globally, 2023 was the warmest year on record. Australia’s warmest year was in 2019
Future climate in Australia:
- Sea level rise to continue, coastal floods to become more frequent
- Marine heatwaves to be more frequent and intense
- Climate to become warmer, more heatwaves, fewer cool days
- Impacts from storms to be amplified by higher sea levels and heavier rainfall
- Cool season rainfall decline in southern and eastern Australia to continue in most places
- Heavy rainfall to become more intense, particularly hourly and sub-hourly downpours
- Longer fire season and more dangerous fire weather
Fresh air-trekking in Zweitälerland, Baden Würtemberg/Germany – Image: Zweitälerland Tourismus/Patrick Kunkel
EU greenhouse gas emissions see significant drop in 2023 – EEA
Total net greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union dropped by 8% last year, marking significant progress towards climate neutrality for the EU. The huge drop was led by a significant decline in coal use and growth of renewable energy sources and supported by reduced energy consumption across Europe, according to estimated figures included in the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) ‘Trends and Projections’ report published this week. The annual EEA check-up on EU progress on its energy and climate targets stresses that EU Member States will need to sustain this rate of progress to achieve Europe’s climate and energy targets.
Leena Ylä-Mononen, EEA Executive Director – Image: European Environmental Agency
“As our recent European climate risk assessment revealed, the impact of climate change is accelerating. This leaves us no choice but to strengthen our resilience to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s Trends and Projections Report calls for comprehensive action across all sectors to achieve our shared goal of balancing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon removals within the next two and a half decades”, said Leena Ylä-Mononen, EEA Executive Director. (NAN – 1-11-24)
