A new national climate risk assessment has revealed that 1.5 million Australians are at risk from rising sea levels by 2050 if climate change is not mitigated. The report indicates that under a scenario of 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, sea levels could rise by 0.14 meters. However, if temperatures increase by 3 degrees Celsius, the rise could reach 0.54 meters. Queensland is particularly vulnerable, with 18 of the 20 regions most at risk located there.

The assessment highlights that by 2030, approximately 597,000 people will be living in areas that will be exposed to rising sea levels. This report is considered the most significant climate work produced by the Australian government to date. It comes just days before the federal government is set to announce its emissions target for 2035 and ahead of a United Nations meeting where countries will update their climate commitments.

The National Climate Risk Assessment evaluated impacts under three warming scenarios: 1.5 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees Celsius, and 3 degrees Celsius. According to the Climate Change Authority, current global commitments suggest the world is on track for a temperature increase of 2.9 degrees Celsius this decade.

The assessment also points out that Northern Australia will face heightened risks, affecting population health, critical infrastructure, and natural species. However, the impacts of climate change are expected to be felt across the entire country. For instance, heat-related deaths in Sydney could increase by more than 400 percent under a 3-degree scenario, and even under a 1.5-degree scenario, the number of deaths could still double.