Environment & Climate
Rising sea levels threaten Australian coasts with billions in flood damage, report projects
The Guardian reports that research projects rising waters could inflict $855.1bn in damage across Australia by 2100.
The short version
- A Climate Council report projects that rising sea levels and coastal flooding will cause $855.1bn in economic losses across Australia by 2100.[The Guardian]
- More than 267,000 coastal properties and 2 million hectares of land are forecast to face flood damage by century's end.[The Guardian]
- Local agricultural impacts are already emerging, with farmers reporting repeated flood inundations alongside an anticipated 14cm sea level rise in Australia by 2050.[The Guardian]
- The total economic toll could be higher, as modelers note these estimates exclude coastal erosion and major ice sheet melting.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- A Climate Council report projects $855.1bn in nationwide economic losses from coastal flooding by 2100.[The Guardian]
- Flooding is forecast to damage over 267,000 coastal properties and 2 million hectares of Australian land by the end of the century.[The Guardian]
- Australia is expected to experience an additional 14cm of sea level rise by 2050, following an average global rise of over 22cm since 1900.[The Guardian]
- Regional agricultural areas are already feeling the strain, such as a Clarence Valley cattle farm that flooded five times since 2009.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The ultimate economic costs remain uncertain and are considered conservative because the modeling omitted coastal erosion and major ice sheet melting.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.