Northern Territory Faces Rising Heat and Climate U-Turns as Fossil Fuel Projects Expand - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points
NT temperatures have risen by up to 2.2°C in the last century Government abandons 50% renewables target by 2030 New gas projects spark national and international controversy Carbon capture project gains federal backing Extreme heat increasingly threatens low-income residents Community tools like the Darwin Living Lab are helping residents cope

The Northern Territory is heating up – in more ways than one.

Across vast stretches of Australia’s north, the effects of climate change are becoming more visible, more frequent, and more politically volatile.

In Darwin and its surrounds, residents now endure far more extreme heat days than a generation ago.

Since 1910, the Northern Territory has warmed significantly, with temperature increases ranging from 0.5°C in the west to a staggering 2.2°C in the southeast.¹

This trend has pushed local infrastructure and health systems to their limits during extended hot spells.

To help locals adapt, scientists at CSIRO launched the Darwin Living Lab—an interactive mapping tool identifying cooler areas in the city for people to take refuge during peak heat periods.²

Meanwhile, climate modelling suggests that the number of days exceeding 35°C will double in parts of the NT within decades unless global emissions are curbed.³

Policy Whiplash and a Broken Promise

In a sharp about-face, the NT government recently scrapped its previous goal of reaching 50% renewable energy by 2030.⁴

Labelled “unrealistic” by officials, the move was met with fierce criticism from environmental groups and energy experts alike.

The Environment Centre NT called it a “nail in the coffin” for the Territory’s clean energy ambitions.⁵

While the government has cited logistical constraints and the challenges of long-distance grid reliability, critics say the abandonment reflects broader political hesitancy around a clean energy future.

Gas Boom Amid the Climate Bust

Despite the urgency of decarbonisation, the Territory continues to lean heavily into fossil fuel development.

The Santos-operated Barossa offshore gas field recently secured federal approval—despite projections that it could emit more than 270 million tonnes of CO₂ when its gas is burned overseas.⁶

Environmentalists have condemned the project as a “carbon bomb” at odds with Australia’s international climate pledges.

Meanwhile, INPEX and partners have begun work on the Bonaparte Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project, aiming to trap and store 10 million tonnes of CO₂ annually from gas extraction offshore from Darwin.⁷

While the federal government granted it Major Project Status, critics argue CCS is a fig leaf for continuing fossil fuel expansion.⁸

Communities on the Frontline

Rising heat is hitting NT households where it hurts most—in the power bill.

According to research by The Australia Institute, roughly 20% of Australians live in areas highly vulnerable to extreme heat, and many in the NT are forced to choose between cooling their homes and paying for essentials.⁹

Those in remote or lower-income communities are especially exposed, with less access to reliable air conditioning or backup power systems.

To address adaptation, the NT government has rolled out projects such as a $45 million battery energy storage system and an Electric Vehicle Strategy aimed at reducing long-term emissions.¹⁰

Still, these efforts have done little to quell concerns that the Territory is heading in the wrong direction.

The Road Ahead

As the Northern Territory balances energy ambitions with environmental stewardship, its future hangs in a delicate equilibrium.

Will the region double down on fossil fuel exports, or rise to the challenge of adaptation and transition?

In the meantime, heat maps and policy debates may offer the clearest forecast yet: the climate crisis is no longer coming—it's here.

Footnotes

1. NT Climate Change Response, climatechange.nt.gov.au
2. New Interactive Heat Map, Australian Geographic
3. State Climate Statements: NT, climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au
4. CLP Abandons Renewable Target, Courier Mail
5. Environmentalists Condemn Policy Shift, Courier Mail
6. Santos Gas Project Gets Green Light, The Guardian
7. Bonaparte CCS Project, Courier Mail
8. Greenwashing Fears Around CCS, Upstream Online
9. Australians at Risk of Extreme Heat, news.com.au
10. Territory Climate Investments, Mirage News

Back to top