Australia faces cascading climate risks, government report says

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FILE PHOTO: The remains of a burnt down house, destroyed during the bushfire season are pictured in the community of Wytaliba, New South Wales, Australia January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

CANBERRA/SYDNEY - Australia will suffer extreme climate events more frequently - and often simultaneously - putting severe strains on health and emergency services, critical infrastructure and primary industries, a government climate report said on Monday.

No Australian community will be immune from climate risks that will be cascading, compounding and concurrent, the National Climate Risk Assessment report said, with the government warning natural ecosystems and biodiversity will face major challenges.

While we can no longer avoid climate impacts, every action we take today towards our goal of net zero by 2050 will help avoid the worst impacts on Australian communities and businesses, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said in a statement.

The report, the first comprehensive assessment of risks posed by climate change across Australia, shows the northern parts of the country, remote communities and outer suburbs of major cities will be particularly susceptible, Bowen said.

Australians are already living with the consequences of climate change today but its clear every degree of warming we prevent now will help future generations avoid the worst impacts in years to come, Bowen said.

A national adaptation plan was also released by Bowen, which he said would guide Australias response to the reports findings. It would set out a framework for federal, state and local governments to better coordinate action, he added.