Climate change is already affecting communities in Australia and globally. Global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions are gaining momentum, but they still fall short of what is needed to avoid serious climate impacts.

The UN Environment Programme’s latest Emissions Gap Report (2024) shows that current national pledges under the Paris Agreement put the world on track for a temperature rise of 2.6-3.1°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. This suggests that limiting warming to the current target of 1.5°C is increasingly unlikely unless mitigation efforts are drastically ramped up. Strong mitigation remains critical.

However, some level of climate impact is now unavoidable. Planning for adaptation is essential to protect communities, ecosystems, infrastructure, the economy to support long-term health, security and prosperity.

Adaptation is a shared responsibility that requires sustained and ongoing action across governments, businesses and communities.

Climate change impacts are already being experienced across Australia, including more frequent and intense heatwaves, bushfires and floods. Impacts are not evenly distributed, with some regions and communities already experiencing greater exposure and vulnerability.

Climate impacts are also felt far beyond the immediate disaster zone: they have a strong social, economic and emotion reach.

Australia’s coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Around 80% of the population lives near the coast, alongside critical infrastructure, industries and ecosystems.

Sea levels are rising. And along parts of the southeast coast, they are rising faster than the global average due to changes in ocean circulation such as the East Australian Current, reports the 2024 State of the Climate.

Rising sea levels, combined with more frequent and/or intense extreme weather events, will increase risks for coastal communities, ecosystems, infrastructure, and economic assets, and the services these provide.

Globally, adaptation in the coastal zone is progressing, but not fast enough. A 2023 study suggests that in coastal areas there remains a substantial gap between current efforts and what is needed to effectively reduce risks.

Evidence is growing that the Australian community is now aware of the risks of climate change. Consideration of climate change impacts is now both expected by the community and increasingly reflection in regulation.

Multiple surveys and reports show a clear majority of Australians believe the federal government should be doing more to address climate change, both through reducing emissions and planning to adapt (Ipsos 2025; Climate of the Nation 2024; UNDP People’s Climate Vote 2024).

However, while many Australians call for stronger climate action by government, the reality is more complex. Despite high community concern about climate change, it competes with other pressing priorities including rising cost of living, housing affordability, healthcare.

Research shows that although a majority of the population support climate action in principle, fewer are willing to bear higher costs or lifestyle changes to achieve it.

This tension means that while climate remains an important issue, it does not always take precedence in political or personal decision-making, especially during times of economic or social stress.

Adapting sooner rather than later helps reduce long-term risks, avoid costly damage, and preserve a wider range of options for responding to climate impacts. Early action allows governments, businesses and communities to plan strategically, rather than reacting in crisis conditions when choices are limited and more expensive.

Research suggests there is a narrowing window for effective adaptation. As climate risks increase, some options become more difficult, costly or no longer feasible (Haasnoot et al. 2021). While early action helps keep options open by allowing decisions to be staged over time - known as adaptive pathways - for example, identifying what actions are needed now and what can be delayed (Haasnoot et al. 2021).

Climate change does not affect everyone equally. Communities that are already vulnerable are often more exposed and have less capacity to respond. Ensuring adaptation is fair and inclusive is critical to avoid worsening existing inequalities.

Adaptation is often portrayed as a defensive strategy, however, it also brings opportunities to improve liveability, strengthen communities, and protect cultural and environmental values.

Proactive adaptation can drive innovation, support new industries, and create jobs. For example, investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, nature-based strategies, and improved planning systems can stimulate economic activity while reducing future risks.

Adaptation can help to safeguard what people and communities value most, such as their homes, livelihoods, cultural heritage, ecosystems, and ways of life.

Effective adaptation requires careful consideration of these values, ensuring that decisions reflect community priorities and support long-term wellbeing.

In some cases, this may involve difficult trade-offs, including decisions about whether to protect, accommodate, or retreat from high-risk areas.

There is a strong economic case for early adaptation. Investing in resilience now can significantly reduce the costs of future damage and recovery.

Delayed action often leads to higher expenses, as infrastructure must be repaired or replaced more frequently and emergency responses become more costly.

Across Australia, natural disasters are projected to cost at least $73 billion annually by 2060 even under lower emissions scenarios, highlighting the scale of growing economic risk. These costs include damage to infrastructure, lost productivity, and long-term social impacts.

For example, the Insurance Council of Australia (2022) has identified that one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce future losses from flooding is through improved land-use planning and resilience measures such as avoiding development in flood-prone areas.