Overview

• The assessment concludes no community is immune to climate hazards that will become cascading, compounding and concurrent under 1.5°C–3°C warming scenarios.
• Coastal exposure could place about 1.5 million people at risk by 2050 and roughly 3 million by 2090, with Queensland containing 18 of the 20 most‑exposed regions and sea levels continuing to rise for centuries at varying rates.
• Under 3°C, heat‑related deaths are projected to jump by about 444% in Sydney and 423% in Darwin, with health systems facing heavier strain even at lower warming levels.
• Direct disaster costs could exceed A$40 billion per year by 2050, while property value losses are estimated at A$611 billion by 2050 and A$770 billion by 2090, threatening insurance affordability in high‑risk areas.
• The release is paired with a National Adaptation Plan and comes as the government prepares to set a 2035 emissions target, intensifying scrutiny of ongoing fossil‑fuel approvals such as the North West Shelf extension.