Australia Warned of Cascading Climate Risks Ahead of 2035 Target

Australia’s government report revealed that the nation faced increasingly frequent and extreme climate events, often occurring simultaneously. The findings highlighted how heatwaves had become deadlier, sea levels continued to rise, and ecosystems were under severe strain, forcing plants and animals to move, adapt, or face extinction. The report further noted that no community had been immune, with northern regions, remote areas, and outer suburbs particularly vulnerable. It projected that a 3°C rise in temperature could multiply extreme heatwave days and put more than 3 million coastal residents at high risk of flooding, while also driving up rebuilding costs, straining health services, and damaging agriculture. Ahead of the announcement of a new 2035 emissions target, Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen stressed that every degree of warming prevented would help future generations avoid the worst impacts. The government also released a national adaptation plan to guide Australia’s response to the escalating risks.