Climate change in Australia - statistics & facts

Rising global temperatures and climate change have adversely affected Australia in many areas, with the consequences becoming more obvious in recent years. Extremely high temperatures and drought are significant environmental threats to Australia; the country experienced one of its hottest summers on record in 2018/19. Australia is already the driest inhabited continent on earth and recent climate modelling has indicated that without action, the southern part of Australia will become susceptible to even more drought. A side-effect of this is an increase in the frequency of bushfires, which can cause significant damage to flora, wildlife, and the livelihoods of Australians

The impact of extreme weather events

Australia has had its fair share of major weather events, and the resulting social and economic losses have been significant. The 2019/2020 bushfire season was one of the worst natural disasters in recent years, with insurance losses alone exceeding 700 million Australian dollars. Additionally, many wildlife and their habitats were destroyed, and the country’s agriculture industry was also affected. The full extent of damage from major weather events is difficult to estimate, though many Australians are realizing that anthropogenic activities do have an impact on the climate.

Public support for climate change action is growing

Most Australians believe that climate change is occurring in the country. Australia has pledged to the Paris climate agreement, which sets out to limit global temperature rise to less than two degrees above pre-industrial levels. While this has catalyzed technological innovation and industry change within the country, some experts believe not enough is being done in Australia to reach its target. This has prompted additional government funding to pay for carbon abatement projects, implemented to try and reduce the country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Future emissions challenges

However, emissions reduction in a country that relies heavily on coal mining has not been without controversy. The energy sector in Australia contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, but many Australians are directly or indirectly employed in this industry. The country is seeing a shift towards more renewable energy sources to combat and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Undoubtedly, finding a balance between economic security and environmental impact mitigation will be necessary.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Most concerning environmental issue in Australia: Global warming/climate change

Leading source of GHG emissions: Electricity generation

Highest temperature recorded in Australia: 50.7 degrees C

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Emissions

Annual greenhouse gas emissions in Australia 2010-2021

Annual mean temperature deviation in Australia from 1910 to 2020 (in degrees Celsius)

Historical Data

Annual mean temperature deviation in Australia 1910-2020

Emissions

Annual greenhouse gas emissions in Australia 2021, by source

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Overview

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Global ocean temperature anomalies 1880-2021
Annual anomalies in global ocean surface temperature from 1880 to 2021, based on temperature departure (in degrees Celsius)
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Global historical CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry 1750-2020
Historical carbon dioxide emissions from global fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes from 1750 to 2020 (in billion metric tons)
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Basic Statistic Observed annual average mean temperature in Australia 1901-2020
Observed annual average mean temperature in Australia 1901-2020
Observed annual average mean temperature in Australia from 1901 to 2020 (in degrees Celsius)
Basic Statistic Annual mean temperature deviation in Australia 1910-2020
Annual mean temperature deviation in Australia 1910-2020
Annual mean temperature deviation in Australia from 1910 to 2020 (in degrees Celsius)
Premium Statistic Hottest temperatures Australia 2021, by location
Hottest temperatures Australia 2021, by location
Highest temperatures recorded in Australia as of December 2021, by location (in degrees Celsius)
Premium Statistic Rainfall volume Australia 2008-2019
Rainfall volume Australia 2008-2019
Total volume of rainfall across Australia from 2008 to 2019 (in 1,000 gigaliters)

Greenhouse gas emissions

Premium Statistic Annual greenhouse gas emissions in Australia 2010-2021
Annual greenhouse gas emissions in Australia 2010-2021
Annual volume of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia from 2010 to 2021 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Premium Statistic Annual greenhouse gas emissions in Australia 2021, by source
Annual greenhouse gas emissions in Australia 2021, by source
Annual volume of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia as of September 2021, by source (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Premium Statistic Carbon monoxide emissions from industry facility Australia 2014-2020
Carbon monoxide emissions from industry facility Australia 2014-2020
Volume of carbon monoxide emissions from industry sources in Australia from 2014 to 2020 (in million kilograms)
Premium Statistic Sulfur dioxide emissions from industry facility Australia FY 2014-2021
Sulfur dioxide emissions from industry facility Australia FY 2014-2021
Volume of sulfur dioxide emissions from industry sources in Australia from financial year 2014 to 2021 (in million kilograms)
Premium Statistic Nitrogen oxides emissions from industry facility Australia 2014-2020
Nitrogen oxides emissions from industry facility Australia 2014-2020
Volume of nitrogen oxides emissions from industry sources in Australia from 2014 to 2020 (in million kilograms)

Economic impact

Premium Statistic Value of insurance losses from major weather events in Australia 2020
Value of insurance losses from major weather events in Australia 2020
Value of insurance losses from major weather events in Australia as of January 2020 (in billion Australian dollars)
Premium Statistic Climate change impact on GDP in Australia 2050-2070, by state
Climate change impact on GDP in Australia 2050-2070, by state
Estimated change in GDP from unmitigated climate change in Australia in 2050 and 2070, by state
Premium Statistic Climate change impact on employment in Australia 2050-2070, by state
Climate change impact on employment in Australia 2050-2070, by state
Estimated change in employment from unmitigated climate change in Australia in 2050 and 2070, by state (in 1,000s)
Premium Statistic Annual damage cost of climate change to properties in Australia 2030-2100
Annual damage cost of climate change to properties in Australia 2030-2100
Total annual average cost of damage from climate hazards to properties across Australia from 2030 to 2100 (in billion Australian dollars)*
Premium Statistic Loss in property values due to climate change in Australia 2030-2100
Loss in property values due to climate change in Australia 2030-2100
Damage-related loss in property values from climate hazards across Australia from 2030 to 2100 (in billion Australian dollars)*

Public perception

Premium Statistic Share of most common worries Australia 2021
Share of most common worries Australia 2021
Most common worries among respondents from Australia as of July 2021
Premium Statistic Share of population who believe in climate change Australia 2013-2022
Share of population who believe in climate change Australia 2013-2022
Share of the population who believe climate change is occurring in Australia from 2013 to 2022
Premium Statistic Share of population concerned about climate change impacts Australia 2022, by impact
Share of population concerned about climate change impacts Australia 2022, by impact
Share of the population concerned about climate change impacts in Australia in 2022, by impact
Premium Statistic Opinion on government action on climate change Australia 2021
Opinion on government action on climate change Australia 2021
Opinion on government action on global warming in Australia in 2021
Premium Statistic Personal spend to prevent climate change Australia 2021
Personal spend to prevent climate change Australia 2021
Amount people are willing to spend each year to help prevent climate change in Australia in 2021
Premium Statistic Preferred sources of energy Australia 2022, by source
Preferred sources of energy Australia 2022, by source
Preferred sources of energy in Australia in 2022, by source

Emissions outlook

Premium Statistic Projected volume of fugitive emissions Australia 2018-2030
Projected volume of fugitive emissions Australia 2018-2030
Volume of fugitive emissions in Australia in 2018 with projections to 2030 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Premium Statistic Projected volume of fugitive emissions Australia 2030, by subsector
Projected volume of fugitive emissions Australia 2030, by subsector
Projected volume of fugitive emissions in Australia in 2030, by subsector (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Premium Statistic Projected volume of agriculture emissions Australia 2018-2030
Projected volume of agriculture emissions Australia 2018-2030
Volume of agriculture emissions in Australia in 2018 with projections to 2030 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Premium Statistic Projected volume of agriculture emissions Australia 2020-2030, by subsector
Projected volume of agriculture emissions Australia 2020-2030, by subsector
Projected volume of agriculture emissions in Australia in 2020 with a projection for 2030, by subsector (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Premium Statistic Projected volume of industry emissions Australia 2018-2030
Projected volume of industry emissions Australia 2018-2030
Volume of industrial processes and product use emissions in Australia in 2018 with projections to 2030 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Premium Statistic Projected volume of transport emissions Australia 2030 by type of transport
Projected volume of transport emissions Australia 2030 by type of transport
Projected volume of transport emissions in Australia in 2030, by type of transport (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)

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