Australia is experiencing climate-related extreme weather events, including floods, fires, heatwaves, drought, and cyclones. Despite the federal government’s efforts to assess national climate risk, the report is delayed, raising concerns about outdated information. Former Defence chief Chris Barrie warns that the longer the wait, the higher the chance of an out-of-date report that fails to embed the latest science on warming. The delay is particularly concerning given that last year was the first to exceed pre-industrial temperatures by more than 1.5C.
Climate change and disaster researcher Rebecca McNaught notes that communities are taking proactive measures to build resilience, but investment in prevention is falling short. Only 3% of disaster-related funding is spent on preparedness and resilience building, compared to 97% on response and recovery. Experts argue that spending on prevention pays off, with a 10% return on investment anticipated for every dollar spent on disaster risk reduction. The government is under pressure to deliver on the climate risk assessment and adaptation plan, particularly as it bids to co-host the COP31 summit alongside Pacific nations.