Planning for changes in climate
Australia’s climate has warmed by an average of nearly 1.5C since national records began in 1910, with most warming occurring since 1950. This is driving a change in the frequency and severity of climate hazards such as droughts, heatwaves, severe storms, and flooding.
Climate change is affecting the Inner West now. Further change is inevitable because of the emissions already in the atmosphere. It is a priority for Council to understand the ways climate change will impact the Inner West so Council can make changes now to protect lives, homes, livelihoods and the environment.
- By 2070, metropolitan Sydney could experience more than double the number of hot days over 35C than now.
- Annual rainfall could decrease, with rainfall also becoming concentrated in high intensity, short duration events.
- Fire weather is expected to increase – and although the Inner West is not bush-fire prone, it experiences the secondary impacts of bushfire, such as poor air quality.
- Sea-level could increase by nearly 1 m by 2100 and affect large parts of the Inner West near the Cooks River, Parramatta River and Sydney Harbour.
Council has undertaken a climate risk assessment to understand the key climate hazards impacting the Inner West now and in the future. The next step is to use this information to develop a Climate Adaptation Plan for the Inner West.
To find out more you read the Climate Risk Assessment Outcomes Report below:
Climate Risk Assessment Outcomes Report (PDF 3.2MB)
Other useful resources can be found below: