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What is climate change?

Past and present climate

Importance of climate >

Australia’s climate affects the safety and prosperity of coastal communities and their environment.

Australia's current climate >

Australia's climate is very variable from year to year and place to place, linked to changes in large-scale circulation systems such as El Niño

Recent climate change >

Temperature and sea levels have risen across Australia since regular observations began in the early 20^th century.

Long-term climate change >

Climate and sea levels change over timescales from decades to millions of years, in response to a number of forcings of which anthropogenic climate change is one.

Present-day climate data

Present-day
climate data sources >

Here we provide information on available data and mapping of present-day climate for coastal regions around Australia, including links to where the data can be accessed.

Understanding
climate trends >

Australia’s climate is changing and national mapping products can provide useful information on recent trends.

Understanding
climate risks >

Australia has many readily-available and free sources of present-day and historical climate information and observations. These can be used to make a preliminary assessment of exposure and risk and to determine if further analysis is required.

CoastAdapt datasets:
present-day >

The Shoreline Explorer contains data for exploring the characteristics of the Australian coast at the present-day. These characteristics are a guide to the sensitivity and vulnerability of the coast to inundation and erosion now and in the future.

Future climate

Causes of climate change >

CoastAdapt focusses on present-day and future climate change caused by the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from human activities such as industrialisation and land clearance.

Global climate change >

Climate and sea levels are changing as a result of human activity and will continue to change into the future.

Climate change in Australia >

Future climate change over Australia will track global trends, causing warmer temperatures, changes to rainfall regimes, rising sea levels and more acidic ocean waters.

Unexpected/abrupt
climate change >

Although unlikely, it is possible that rates of climate change and sea-level rise will exceed likely estimates. This low probability but high-consequence risk needs to be borne in mind by coastal managers seeking to adapt to climate change.

Future climate data

Understanding
climate scenarios >

Scenarios are plausible climate futures, taking into account increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, and usually constructed from computer-based models of the Earth-Ocean-Atmosphere system. They should not be treated as predictions.

Accessing
climate scenarios >

Scenarios of future climate change for use in impact and adaptation studies are available from a number of national and state-level providers.

Using
climate scenarios >

Scenarios of future climate change, from simple maps and graphs to complex datasets, are an important component of impacts analysis and adaptation planning.

Communicating global
climate scenarios >

Scenarios of future climate change are useful tools for engaging with stakeholders about the topic of climate change adaptation. The choices that need to be made in building these scenarios will affect the final result and hence the adaptation decisions that may be made.

CoastAdapt datasets:
future >

Sea-Level Rise and You contains data at the local council level on future risks from sea-level rise and inundation.