Can you trust climate information? How and why powerful players are misleading the public

The Conversation – Klaus Bruhn Jensen   Semahat Ece Elbeyi

Authors Klaus Bruhn Jensen is Full Professor in the Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen Semahat Ece Elbeyi is a Postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen

Ten years ago, the world committed itself to keeping global warming well below 2°C (and preferably below 1.5°C) above the pre-industrial era.

This would be done by reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly by 2030 and ending all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

This was the time of promises, with 195 countries signing up to the legally binding, global treaty on climate change, the Paris Agreement.

Ten years on, however, the climate crisis is more urgent than ever.

The first 12-month period to exceed 1.5°C as an average was February 2023–January 2024, boosted by El Niño, when the average temperature worldwide was estimated to be 1.52°C higher than 1850–1900.

There’s a disconnect between stated policies and actual practices, and we wanted to find out why.

We are media and communication researchers focusing on environmental communication.

Recently, we joined a team of 14 researchers who investigated misinformation about climate change for the International Panel on the Information Environment.

Our team carried out the most comprehensive review to date of scientific research on climate misinformation and disinformation.

Climate misinformation is when people make mistaken claims about climate change and spread incorrect information.

Climate disinformation is where false information is spread deliberately – for example, corporations that greenwash their products so that they can sell more.

(Greenwashing is where false claims are made that products or services are environmentally friendly when they aren’t).

We reviewed 300 studies published between 2015 and 2025, all of which centred on climate misinformation.

Our study found that the human response to the climate crisis is being obstructed and delayed by the production and circulation of misleading information.

We found that this is being done by powerful economic and political interests, such as fossil fuel companies, populist political parties, and some nation states.

The public needs access to accurate information about climate change, because this enables them to take action to stop global warming.

Without accurate information, none of us will be able to do the right thing for coming generations and the wider natural world.

How we tracked down who is fooling the public

Climate science has been documenting the growing climate crisis and solutions for decades.

The United Nations says access to information about climate change is a human right.

They’ve even outlined a set of global principles for maintaining the integrity of publicly available information about climate change.

However, our study shows that misleading information is adding to the climate crisis.

Our research looked into five basic questions: who, says what, in which channel, to whom, and with what effects?

What we found was:

• Who: Powerful economic and political interests such as fossil fuel companies, political parties, governments, and nation states, operating via opaque alliances and think tanks like The Heartland Institute.
• Says what: Strategic scepticism downplays climate change impacts, delays emissions reductions, and casts doubt on science-based solutions.
• In which channel: Misinformation circulates through traditional mass media, social media, and greenwashed corporate reports.
• To whom: Everyone, especially decision-makers such as policymakers and public servants, often influenced via think tank briefings.
• With what effects: Misinformation erodes public trust and delays climate action, worsening the crisis.

What needs to happen next

1. Legislation: Ensure transparent and standardised climate reporting and require platforms to flag misinformation.
2. Lawsuits: Prosecute companies for greenwashing and deception, framing misinformation as consumer fraud.
3. Coalitions of the willing: Form grassroots, cross-sector movements like Climate Action Against Disinformation to counterbalance corporate influence.
4. Education: Boost climate and media literacy for the public and policymakers to support informed decision-making.
5. Research in Africa: Address the major gap by funding local research led by African scholars. Only one study was found across the whole continent.

COP30

Brazil will host COP30 in November 2025. The country has launched a Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change to address disinformation.

This marks the first serious effort to fill knowledge gaps around information integrity in the climate space.

The urgency of both the climate and disinformation crises demands immediate action by leaders, researchers, and citizens.

The narrow window between 2025 and 2050 is critical to averting catastrophic climate impacts.

Access to accurate, actionable information is essential for navigating and overcoming this challenge.

Links

• Climate misinformation is rife on social media – and poised to get worse
• Selling climate uncertainty: misinformation and the media
• Climate change misinformation fools too many people – but there are ways to combat it
• On Twitter, fossil fuel companies' climate misinformation is subtle – here's what I'm seeing during COP26
• Climate change journalism in South Africa misses the mark by ignoring people’s daily experiences

Game Over? How Climate Change Is Rewriting the Rules of Sport - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points Climate change is threatening the future of outdoor sport Extreme heat, air pollution, and flooding are already disrupting events Athlete health and safety are increasingly at risk Sporting seasons and venues are being forced to adapt Australia is a global hotspot for climate-sport conflict

Sport is being reshaped by the climate crisis.

From cricket to skiing, football to surfing, greenhouse gas emissions are warming the planet and rewriting the rulebook for global sport.

As the atmosphere heats and weather patterns destabilise, outdoor games are being cancelled, re-timed, or made unsafe for athletes and fans alike.

In Australia, where sport is cultural bedrock, the collision between climate and competition is no longer a forecast.

It's happening now.

Extreme Heat and the Death of the Summer Game

In January 2023, temperatures on the Australian Open tennis courts exceeded 50°C, forcing players to seek shade, call medical timeouts, and even retire from matches¹.

Extreme heatwaves driven by rising greenhouse gas concentrations are now a common threat during summer tournaments.

High school and community-level sport is especially vulnerable, with dozens of events cancelled each year due to heat stress warnings or fire danger conditions².

Experts warn that, without urgent emissions cuts, by 2040 most of Australia’s summer sports could be regularly unsafe to play outdoors³.

Air Quality and Smoke Disruptions

The Black Summer bushfires of 2019–20 made sport in parts of Australia physically dangerous.

Canberra’s air quality ranked among the worst in the world, with PM2.5 levels 20 times above safe thresholds, forcing cricket players off the field and prompting major match relocations⁴.

Wildfire smoke is a growing global threat to sport, especially in regions like California, the Mediterranean, and the Australian east coast.

Flooding, Venue Loss, and Infrastructure Collapse

Global warming increases the frequency and severity of extreme rainfall events.

And sport is paying the price.

Severe floods in New South Wales and Queensland in 2022 damaged hundreds of pitches, fields, and stadiums, some permanently⁵.

In many low-lying suburbs, football ovals and cricket grounds are unusable for months after floods, disrupting club finances and youth development programs.

In coastal zones, sea level rise is threatening surf clubs and waterside arenas from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast⁶.

Winter Sport Faces a Meltdown

Ski resorts globally are losing their snow seasons. Australia’s Snowy Mountains now see seasons starting later and ending earlier — with artificial snow often required just to hold events⁷.

By 2050, only a few of Australia’s current ski areas may remain viable for competitive sport.

Globally, iconic events like the Winter Olympics face uncertainty as suitable host locations dwindle.

Sporting Bodies Respond — But Slowly

In 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) declared climate change an existential threat to sport⁸.

Cricket Australia and the AFL are introducing heat policies and resilience planning, but few major sporting leagues are aligned with the 1.5°C Paris target in their carbon footprints or sponsorship choices⁹.

Many grassroots clubs lack the resources to adapt, despite being most exposed to climate extremes.

When the Game Can't Go On

The impacts of climate change on sport are not distant or hypothetical.

They are disrupting local games, global tournaments, and the health of everyone involved, from young athletes to elite professionals.

Unless greenhouse emissions are drastically reduced, the future of outdoor sport, especially in nations like Australia, is in serious jeopardy.

Footnotes

• 1. The Guardian. “Australian Open players suffer in extreme heat.” Link
• 2. ABC News. “Community sport cancelled due to heat.” Link
• 3. Climate Council. “Game, Set, Match: Sport and Climate Change.” Link
• 4. BBC. “Bushfire smoke halts Australian sport.” Link
• 5. The Sydney Morning Herald. “Sports grounds damaged in major floods.” Link
• 6. Surf Life Saving Australia. “Coastal climate risk to surf clubs.” Link
• 7. CSIRO. “Climate change in the Snowy Mountains.” Link
• 8. IOC. “Climate Change and Sport.” Link
• 9. Carbon Market Watch. “Sports clubs and emissions targets.” Link

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Australia's Climate Crisis Takes an Unusual Turn

                  Key Points

Marine Heatwaves

• Ocean temperatures breaking records
• Mass fish deaths in NW Australia
• Tropical species in temperate waters

Coral Bleaching

• Fifth mass bleaching in 2024
• 95% mortality in some coral
• Hottest ocean temps in 400 years

Extreme Weather

• Australia passed 1.5°C warming
• Cyclones moving south
• Compound feedback loops

Australia’s climate crisis is unfolding in ways no one predicted.

Marine heatwaves and coral bleaching are creating unprecedented ecological disruptions across the continent.

From tropical turtles in Tasmania to dead fish in the northwest, the evidence is overwhelming.

This is not just about warming. 

It’s about cascading effects across entire ecosystems.

A Marine Disaster Unfolds

The most striking climate phenomenon currently affecting Australia may be one that most people never see: the persistence of marine heatwaves along its coastlines.

Much of the ocean off the west coast has been in a marine heatwave since September 2024 ¹, creating a marine disaster of extraordinary scale.

Tens of thousands of fish have died off northwestern Australia as the large and long-lasting marine heatwave intensifies ².

The hot mass of water is now heading south toward Ningaloo Reef, one of Australia's most pristine coral ecosystems ³.

These marine heatwaves are forcing wildlife to behave in completely unexpected ways.

They could even explain why a sea turtle was recently spotted in Hobart's River Derwent. These turtles are rarely seen in waters below 20°C ⁴.

Climate change is literally pushing tropical marine life into temperate southern waters where they have never been documented before.

The frequency of these events has doubled globally since the 1980s, but Australia's experience is particularly severe.

What makes this phenomenon so unusual is how it's creating a real-time redrawing of the country's marine biogeographical boundaries.

The Great Barrier Reef's Accelerating Decline

In March 2024, scientists confirmed the fifth mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef ⁵, marking an alarming acceleration in the frequency of these catastrophic events.

The 2024 event proved particularly devastating, with 66% of colonies bleached by February and 80% by April ⁶.

What makes this bleaching pattern unusual is not just its frequency, but its severity and the unprecedented ocean temperatures driving it.

Research published in *Nature* reveals that mass coral bleaching between 2016 and 2024 was driven by the highest sea surface temperatures in four centuries ⁷.

The mortality rates are staggering.

By July 2024, 44% of bleached colonies had died, with some coral genera like *Acropora* experiencing 95% mortality ⁸.

Perhaps most concerning is the timing of these events.

In March 2022, 91% of the reef bleached during a La Niña event, conditions that are typically cooler and cloudier ⁹.

This suggests even Australia’s natural climate cycles can no longer protect these ecosystems.

Extreme Weather Redefined

Australia has already passed 1.5°C of warming, bringing lower streamflows, more fire weather, and the marine heatwaves discussed above ¹⁰.

Climate projections show that tropical cyclones are likely to occur further south and be more damaging ¹¹.

Storms and flooding are already hitting areas that historically experienced milder weather.

Disruption to the global water cycle is particularly concerning.

Climate extremes in 2024 killed over 8,700 people and displaced 40 million worldwide ¹².

Australia is experiencing both ends of this spectrum - drought and flood - simultaneously.

When Systems Collide

What makes Australia’s climate impacts unusual is how they compound.

Higher temperatures interact with drought, leading to fish deaths, water shortages, and increased bushfire risk ¹³.

These feedback loops make climate events more severe — and less predictable.

Marine heatwaves, coral collapse, and weather extremes are now reshaping Australia’s role in global ocean and atmospheric systems.

As warming accelerates above the global average, these unusual effects will intensify.

Australia’s crisis shows climate change is not just about heat.

It's about the collapse and reordering of ecosystems in real time.

Sources 

1. Australian Bureau of Meteorology — Marine Heatwave Data
2. WA Department of Primary Industries — Fish Mortality Reports
3. Australian Institute of Marine Science — Ningaloo Reef Monitoring
4. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute — Tasmanian Sea Turtle Sightings
5. Barrier Reef Foundation — Understanding Coral Bleaching
6. University of Sydney — Coral Bleaching 2024 at Catastrophic Levels
7. Nature — Highest Ocean Heat in 400 Years
8. University of Sydney — Coral Mortality Data
9. Marine Conservation Institute — Causes of Coral Bleaching
10. BOM & CSIRO — State of the Climate Report
11. NSW Government — Climate Change and Storm Impacts
12. ANU — Global Water Cycle Disruption in 2024
13. State of the Environment — Climate Change and Extreme Events

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Climate Target May Be Insufficient to Protect Polar Ice Sheets - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

• New research suggests 1.5°C may not protect ice sheets
• Durham University calls for 1°C target
• Ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica quadrupled
• Millions at risk from sea level rise
• Coastal adaptation costs could be extreme

New research suggests that the world's most ambitious climate target may already be too high.

New findings from Durham University suggest that even if global temperatures are held to the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement¹ and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change², polar ice sheets could still suffer catastrophic loss.

This could accelerate sea level rise far beyond what nations are prepared to manage.

Scientists argue that the safe threshold for ice sheet stability may be closer to 1°C above pre-industrial levels.

The implications are stark: the current target may fall short of protecting hundreds of millions of coastal residents.

Study Findings

Professor Chris Stokes³ analysed decades of glaciological and climate data.

Their findings show that even modest warming can destabilise the polar ice sheets.

The researchers argue for reducing global temperature rise to 1°C, not just 1.5°C, to prevent long-term sea level commitments.

This would require dramatic global decarbonisation, beyond current pledges.

These findings align with the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C⁴, highlighting the urgency of limiting warming.

Current Ice Loss Crisis

Greenland and Antarctica⁵ have quadrupled their annual ice loss since the 1990s.

Annual losses now total 370 billion tonnes⁶ — enough to flood California under over a metre of water.

This meltwater is the primary driver of modern sea level rise.

With current warming already at 1.2°C⁷, we are fast approaching the 1.5°C limit.

The remaining carbon budget is shrinking rapidly.

Impacts of Overshooting 1.5°C

Warming of 1.5°C could lock in several metres of sea level rise⁸ over centuries.

Such increases would be irreversible for generations.

Melting would result from both atmospheric and oceanic warming mechanisms.

Current coastal infrastructure¹⁰ is not built for multi-metre rises.

The costs to adapt would exceed the GDP of many nations.

Global Consequences

230 million people⁹ live within one metre of sea level.

Fast-rising seas could make adaptation unmanageable.

Developing countries are particularly vulnerable.

Belize¹¹ has already moved its capital inland due to sea level threat.

Many small island nations may cease to exist entirely.

Expert Warnings

Professor Stokes¹² has advised at three major COP climate meetings.

He warns that meeting the 1.5°C goal alone may not be enough to save the ice sheets.

Recent studies published in Nature Climate Change¹³ further support this concern.

The study urges policymakers to reconsider what constitutes "safe" warming.

The Path Forward

To truly prevent ice sheet collapse, researchers call for revised targets closer to 1°C.

They recommend further study of negative emissions and long-term restoration strategies.

The findings highlight the urgency of acting even faster and more ambitiously than current climate plans dictate.

References

• 1. UNFCCC Paris Agreement
• 2. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
• 3. Durham University — Prof. Chris Stokes
• 4. IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C
• 5. NASA Climate Evidence
• 6. World Glacier Monitoring Service
• 7. IPCC Sixth Assessment Report
• 8. NOAA Sea Level Viewer
• 9. World Bank Climate Portal
• 10. Global Sea Level Observing System
• 11. Caribbean Climate Tool
• 12. UN Climate COP
• 13. Nature Climate Change

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Tasmania’s Climate Clock Is Ticking - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

• Little Penguins abandon chicks amid marine heatwaves
• Drought and bushfire risks intensify across Tasmania
• Salmon die-offs raise questions about aquaculture resilience
• State budget cuts undermine climate response agency
• Community grants aim to boost local adaptation
• New insurance scheme raises long-term climate risk questions

Tasmania’s frontline communities are feeling the brunt of a shifting climate, and the State's response is caught between urgency and uncertainty.

Marine heatwaves are disrupting Tasmania’s fragile ecosystems.

On the island’s eastern coastline, Little Penguins have been abandoning their chicks due to rising sea temperatures, likely caused by prey species moving to deeper or cooler waters.¹

Inland, a worsening drought is inflicting hardship on farming communities and pushing fire risk to dangerous new levels.

Recent dry seasons have intensified the bushfire threat, with nearly 100,000 hectares of Tasmania's wild landscapes scorched in extreme fire events.²

On Bruny Island, beachgoers were met with foul-smelling sludge after a mass die-off of farmed salmon washed waste ashore.

The event has raised serious concerns about how aquaculture is coping with changing ocean chemistry and temperatures.³

Government Response: Budget Cuts and New Risks

Instead of scaling up climate planning, Tasmania’s 2025 budget made cuts to ReCFIT – the agency leading emissions reductions and resilience planning.

This decision sparked concern from scientists and climate experts across the state, who argue that climate adaptation cannot wait.⁴

Meanwhile, the Tasmanian government announced TasInsure, a state-run insurance provider designed to offer lower premiums in the face of soaring climate-related insurance costs.

However, critics have warned that without adequate reinsurance protections, TasInsure may face insolvency after a major climate disaster.⁵

Local Solutions and Community Grants

Despite state-level setbacks, grassroots climate action is growing.

In February 2025, the state awarded $350,000 in grants to 21 community groups running local climate projects focused on emissions reduction and preparedness.⁶

These initiatives, ranging from urban greening to renewable energy workshops, reflect growing local awareness and the need for bottom-up adaptation.

Projects are being guided in part by the ongoing Climate Futures for Tasmania research initiative, which delivers fine-scale projections on rainfall, sea level, and temperature extremes.⁷

Ecological Shifts Accelerate

One of the more alarming changes is the expansion of the long-spined sea urchin into Tasmanian waters.

Native to warmer currents, the urchin has now decimated vast tracts of kelp forests off Tasmania’s coast, with knock-on effects on marine biodiversity.⁸

This biological invasion, like the salmon deaths and penguin abandonment, reflects the speed at which warming seas are reshaping the Island's ecology.

Conclusion: Island at a Crossroads

Tasmania is a global bellwether for climate impacts in temperate zones.

From terrestrial drought to marine chaos, the state is experiencing the full spectrum of climate disruption.

Its future depends on robust science, coordinated action, and political will to invest in climate resilience before the next crisis hits.

Footnotes

1. Penguins abandon chicks in Tasmania – The Times
2. Another devastating drought in Australia – The Guardian
3. Fish die-off impacts Bruny Island beaches – Herald Sun
4. ReCFIT cuts threaten Tasmania’s climate efforts – University of Tasmania
5. TasInsure scheme raises risk concerns – Herald Sun
6. Grants support local climate action – Premier of Tasmania
7. Climate Futures for Tasmania – climatefutures.org.au
8. Long-spined sea urchin impact on kelp – Wikipedia

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Climate Change: The Five Ages of Kate - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Kate is five years old.

Like many children in Australia today, she is growing up on the edge of profound environmental change.

By the time she enters adulthood, scientists warn, Australia will be significantly hotter. 

Heatwaves are expected to intensify. Droughts and bushfires will become more frequent and more severe, reshaping both the natural landscape and daily routines.

Over the coming decades, Australia will face a suite of escalating climate pressures: rising seas that nibble at coastlines, declining water supplies, and mounting stress on agriculture and biodiversity. 

The nation’s communities will be forced to adapt, often quickly, to a harsher and more unpredictable environment.

Toward the end of the century, some regions may become difficult to inhabit at all. Major cities could face repeated flooding. Entire ecosystems may shift, retreat, or disappear.

For Kate and her generation, climate change will not be a distant threat. It will be a defining fact of life, shaping where they live, what they eat, how they work, and who they become. 

Their story will unfold alongside the story of a nation confronting a transformed and warming world.

This summary outlines the likely effects of climate change and global warming on Kate.

The projections are based on current scientific consensus and major climate models, assuming global emissions follow a moderate path (neither aggressive reduction nor unchecked growth).

The severity of these impacts depends greatly on global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Adaptation and mitigation strategies can lessen some of these effects, but significant changes are already locked in for Kate’s lifetime. 

Key Ages and Years

Age	Year
18	2038
36	2056
54	2074
72	2092
90	2110

When Kate is 18 (Year 2038)

• Temperature: Australia is projected to be about 1.5–2°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, with more frequent and intense heatwaves.
• Bushfires: Increased risk and severity of bushfires, especially in southern and eastern Australia.
• Droughts: More frequent and prolonged droughts in many regions, affecting water supply and agriculture.
• Coastal Impacts: Some coastal erosion and flooding from rising sea levels, particularly in vulnerable communities.
• Health: Higher incidence of heat-related illnesses and mental health impacts from extreme weather events.

When Kate is 36 (Year 2056)

• Temperature: Warming may reach 2–2.5°C above pre-industrial levels if emissions are not drastically reduced.
• Extreme Weather: More frequent extreme rainfall events, cyclones, and continued intensification of bushfires and droughts.
• Water Security: Significant challenges for water resources, especially in southern and eastern Australia.
• Ecosystems: Notable declines in the Great Barrier Reef and other sensitive ecosystems; loss of biodiversity.
• Urban Impacts: Increased pressure on infrastructure due to heat, flooding, and population movements.

When Kate is 54 (Year 2074)

• Temperature: Warming may exceed 2.5–3°C without strong global action.
• Sea Level Rise: Sea levels could rise by 30–60 cm or more, threatening coastal cities and infrastructure.
• Agriculture: Major shifts in crop viability, reduced yields, and increased food prices.
• Health: Greater health risks from heat, vector-borne diseases, and air pollution.
• Migration: Possible internal migration from uninhabitable areas (e.g., due to heat or sea level rise).

When Kate is 72 (Year 2092)

• Temperature: Warming could reach 3–4°C or higher under high-emissions scenarios.
• Habitability: Some regions may become difficult to live in due to extreme heat, water scarcity, or sea level rise.
• Ecosystem Collapse: Further decline of coral reefs, forests, and native species.
• Societal Strain: Increased risk of social and economic disruption, especially in vulnerable communities.

When Kate is 90 (Year 2110)

• Temperature: If emissions remain high, global temperatures could rise by more than 4°C, with Australia seeing some of the most extreme impacts.
• Sea Level: Sea levels may have risen by up to 1 meter or more, inundating low-lying areas.
• Food and Water: Severe challenges to food production and water availability.
• Adaptation: Large-scale adaptation or relocation may be necessary for many Australians.
• Biodiversity: Significant loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Summary Table

Age	Year	Key Impacts
18	2038	More heatwaves, bushfires, droughts, early coastal impacts, health risks
36	2056	Intensified extreme weather, water/food pressures, reef decline, urban stress
54	2074	Sea level rise, agricultural disruption, migration, health threats
72	2092	Extreme heat, uninhabitable areas, ecosystem collapse, societal strain
90	2110	Severe warming, major sea level rise, food/water crises, adaptation/relocation

References

The following authoritative sources provide detailed scientific projections and assessments that underpin the climate change impacts described for Kate's lifetime.

These sources are the scientific basis for the temperature increases, extreme weather intensification, sea level rise, ecosystem impacts, and health risks projected for Australia over the 21st century and beyond.

• IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2022) - Australasia Chapter: Projections of temperature increases, frequency of hot days, and regional climate impacts in Australia.
  https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/chapter/chapter-11/
• CSIRO Climate Projections for Australia: Comprehensive climate projections based on up to 40 global climate models covering multiple regions and scenarios.
  https://www.csiro.au/en/research/environmental-impacts/climate-change/ climate-change-information
• Climate Change in Australia - National Projections Portal: Detailed projections for temperature, rainfall, extreme events, and climate hazards at various global warming levels.
  https://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au
• IPCC AR6 Working Group 1 - Ocean, Cryosphere and Sea Level Change: Projections of sea level rise and related impacts relevant to Australian coastal areas.
  https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/chapter/chapter-9/
• CSIROpedia - New Climate Change Projections for Australia: Summary of recent projections highlighting hotter days, sea level rise, and rainfall changes.
  https://csiropedia.csiro.au/new-climate-change-projections-for- australia/
• Climate Change in Australia - Greenhouse Gas Scenarios: Information on emissions scenarios used in Australian climate projections.
  https://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/en/changing-climate/future- climate-scenarios/greenhouse-gas-scenarios/
• Climate Change – Science Snapshot 2025 (Australian Institute of Company Directors): Overview of Australia's warming trends and climate risks.
  https://www.aicd.com.au/content/dam/aicd/pdf/news-media/research/2025/ climate-change-science-snapshot-2025-web.pdf

Australia’s Wildlife in Peril: Climate Change Hits Hard - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points Extreme heatwaves are killing thousands of native animals Habitats are shrinking or shifting due to rising temperatures Fires and droughts are destroying ecosystems at scale Marine life, birds, frogs, and mammals are all under threat

Climate change is rapidly transforming life for animals across Australia.

Heatwaves, droughts, bushfires and rising seas are pushing wildlife beyond their limits.

From rainforests to reefs, the damage is profound and accelerating.

Without urgent action, Australia faces a future of ecological loss on an unimaginable scale.

Heatwaves Kill Without Warning

Extreme temperatures are already proving deadly.

In 2018, a single Queensland heatwave killed more than 23,000 flying foxes¹.

Birds, koalas and reptiles have been found dead beneath trees or collapsed from dehydration.

Climate-driven heat extremes are now occurring more frequently and lasting longer.

Habitats on the Move

As the climate warms, animals must move to stay within liveable temperature zones.

But in fragmented landscapes, that movement can be impossible.

In the Australian Alps, the endangered mountain pygmy-possum is running out of elevation. There’s literally nowhere colder left to go.

Rainforests are also shrinking from the edges, exposing species like tree-kangaroos to drier, more hostile conditions.

Fires and Droughts Devastate Wildlife

Climate change is making bushfires hotter, larger and more frequent.

The 2019–20 Black Summer fires affected an estimated 3 billion animals².

Koalas, gliders, wallabies and birds perished in the flames or starved afterward due to loss of food and shelter.

Recovery will take decades, if it happens at all.

Meanwhile, longer droughts are drying rivers and wetlands, threatening frogs, fish and birds that depend on reliable water sources.

Oceans in Crisis

Warming oceans are bleaching the Great Barrier Reef and displacing marine species.

Coral bleaching has now occurred in seven of the past eleven years³.

Fish are migrating southwards, disrupting entire marine food chains.

Even sea turtles are affected, with warmer sands producing mostly female hatchlings, skewing reproductive balance.

Food Chains Falling Apart

As flowering times shift, animals and insects that rely on nectar and pollen are being left behind.

Insects, the foundation of many food webs, are declining due to heat stress and drought.

This spells trouble for birds, reptiles, frogs and mammals alike.

Endangered Species on the Brink

Climate change adds new stress to already endangered species.

Frogs like the northern corroboree frog, birds like the western ground parrot, and mammals like the Leadbeater’s possum are running out of time and habitat.

Many live in niche environments that can't adapt quickly, or at all, to rising temperatures and shifting seasons.

Isolation and Inbreeding

As species become trapped in shrinking pockets of suitable habitat, genetic isolation increases.

Small, inbred populations are less resilient and less able to adapt to a changing climate.

What follows is a spiral toward extinction.

The Verdict

Australia is a global biodiversity hotspot.

But climate change is now the biggest driver of biodiversity loss.

Without dramatic cuts to emissions and large-scale habitat protection, Australia faces an extinction crisis that will define its ecological legacy.

Footnotes

1. The Guardian – Heatwaves Killed Thousands of Flying Foxes
2. WWF – 3 Billion Animals Affected by Bushfires
3. ABC News – Great Barrier Reef Suffers Mass Bleaching

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