Australia has warmed, on average, by 1.47 ± 0.24 °C since national records began in 1910, with most warming occurring since 1950. Every decade since 1950 has been warmer than preceding decades.
Australia has warmed by just over 1 °C since 1910, with most warming since 1950. This warming has seen an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events and increased the severity of drought conditions during periods of below-average rainfall.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Australia has experienced an increase of over 1.4 °C in average annual temperatures, with warming occurring at twice the rate over the past 50 years compared with the previous 50 years.
Australia has gone from 59th to 55th place in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), which has been published annually for almost two decades by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network International.
The higher warming rate is attributed in part to Australia's location near the South Pole. Polar areas experience faster warming compared to areas near the equator, mainly because of a loss of sea ice.
The report stated there was “very high confidence” that temperatures would rise across Australia throughout the century, with the average annual temperature set to be up to 1.3C warmer in 2030 compared with the average experienced between 1986 and 2005.
Three major economic centres are set to become uninhabitable by the end of the century, with global temperatures on track to warm by 2.7C. Darwin, Broome and Port Hedland are predicted to be pushed outside the “human climate niche” — that is, the temperature and humidity conditions in which humans can survive.
Australia's temperatures are rising more rapidly than the global average and despite years like 2022 when a La Niña weather pattern generates a period of relative cool, according to an IEA assessment that warns of fallout on energy systems.
The northern part of the country has a tropical climate, varying between grasslands and desert. Australia holds many heat-related records: the continent has the hottest extended region year-round, the areas with the hottest summer climate, and the highest sunshine duration.
The mobile-friendly MyClimate 2050 tool shows almost all areas across Australia will experience longer and hotter summers, with temperatures increasing by an average of 2.32°C.
Seasons Change
Instead of winter, the researchers believe Australians will experience spring, autumn, and a longer season they're calling "new summer." During this new season, temperatures will consistently peak above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for sustained periods of time, based on predictions.
Our average land and sea temperatures have increased. Despite large natural variation we are also seeing changes to rainfall patterns, increased fire danger, and rising sea levels. Most of the changes observed over recent decades will continue and worsen in the future.
2100: Either uninhabitable or beginning to repair
Over the coming two decades, extreme weather is set to disrupt society with increasingly severe bushfires, drought and storms. The good news is by the end of the century, living on Earth could actually be more pleasant than it is today.
With the world heating up it makes sense to head south for cooler climates — which is why many are looking to the island state of Tasmania for sustainable buying.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Australia is 50.7 °C (123.3 °F), which was recorded on 2 January 1960 at Oodnadatta, South Australia, and 13 January 2022 at Onslow, Western Australia.
It's true Australia is responsible for about 1.2 per cent of global emissions. It's also true that we contribute a quarter of exports that make up the world's coal trade and just became the biggest gas exporter.
The elliptical orbit of the Earth places the Southern Hemisphere closer to the sun during its summer months than the Northern Hemisphere during its summer. This means that the summer sun in Australia is 7 to 10 percent stronger than similar latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Australia Remains in Bottom 10 on Global Climate List, Despite Improvements. Australia's climate action again ranks in the bottom 10 of countries assessed in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023.
A paper published by the Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom has identified five countries in geographical locations with “favourable starting conditions” that may allow them to be less touched by the effects of climate change: New Zealand, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland.
Even if the Paris agreement to limit the global temperature rise to below 2C is met, summer heatwaves in major Australian cities are likely to reach highs of 50C by 2040, a study published on Wednesday warns.
'The increased life expectancy in Australia is largely attributed to improved medical knowledge and technology, health care availability (such as the widespread accessibility to antibiotics and vaccines), improved living conditions and overall better quality of life,' Mr. Juckes said.
While many people have already moved to Tasmania to escape the heat in other states, some doomsday preppers are weighing up the island state as a post-apocalyptic option. Tasmania scored highly in the report in terms of its climate, electricity supply, agricultural resources and population density.