Climate change is taking a real toll on young people's mental health - Marjorie Collins

The Canberra Times - Marjorie Collins

Author Assoc. Professor Marjorie Collins Ph.D., has a Masters in Clinical Psychology and is President of the Institute of Clinical Psychologists.

Headlines across Australia over the past week have highlighted the grim picture of the effect of climate change on our country.

The first National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA) is forecasting doomsday scenarios with soaring numbers of heat related deaths, rising sea levels, and more frequent and severe heatwaves, droughts and bushfires.

The government's response to the NCRA report was to set emission levels aimed at averting warming above 1.5 degrees by 2035, and the cost of these changes is being debated across business and political forums and in the media, with much of the focus being on the economy, housing market, our renewable energy transition and the environment.

What is less debated or evident in the headlines is the impact of climate change on the mental health of everyday Australians, who are already buckling under climate-related stress, with statistics telling us that nearly 80 per cent of us have faced at least one extreme weather event since 2019.

Over 67 per cent of young Australians report that climate concerns negatively impact their mental health. Mental health impacts from repeated exposure to extreme weather events are cumulative, leading to slower recovery and worsened outcomes.

Children born in 2021 are now expected to experience seven times more climate-related disasters in their lifetime than previous generations.

Inside our therapy rooms, our clients are talking more and more frequently about their anxiety and sense of hopelessness for the future, with reference to the changes in our climate.

A new term has been coined: eco-anxiety, and psychologists are being trained to help ordinary Australians to mitigate the mental health effects of climate change.

Many young adults report significant levels of worry and distress over climate change: over half of those aged 16-25 report negative emotions like sadness and anxiety about climate change, and that they feel their concerns are dismissed or ignored.

This age group also reports that climate anxiety negatively affects daily life and decision-making, increasing the risk of long-term mental health impacts.

Young adults are seriously considering whether to have children of their own, considering concerns about climate change, with a 2021 survey of 18-24 year olds finding 20 per cent had reconsidered or chosen not to have children due to climate change.

Yet others, in older generations, hold the levers to make changes to adjust and plan for our future - our politicians, policy makers, and business executives.

This imbalance in power dynamics contributes to the helplessness experienced by many younger people, as well as some rural and Indigenous communities.

In addition to emissions targets for the future, infrastructure changes, protection measures for our rivers and wildlife, and increasing our tree canopy, it is imperative that we co-invest in the mental health and resilience of Australians, and particularly young people.

Many young adults report significant levels of worry and distress over climate change. Picture Shutterstock

This is not simply investing in mental health disaster recovery - which we do comparatively well now - it is also about investing in effective and sustained mental health outreach and support in the policy settings that adjust for climate change.

Rural and regional Australians are disproportionately affected by climate change, and have a suicide rate twice that of capital cities, yet have significantly more difficulty accessing mental health support than city-dwelling Australians.

This group of already marginalised and underserviced Australians must be made a priority when we look to build services and support systems that can deal with the future mental health impacts from increasing numbers of bushfires, floods and cyclones.

We already have inadequate support for the mental health of Australians, and even if we manage to meet the government's 2035 emissions target, the aftermath from more severe and extreme weather will only add further pressure to our overburdened mental health system.

The Prime Minister called the NCRA a "wake-up call" for all Australians, but alarm bells have been ringing in the community health mental health sector for years, and it's time he and the government heard them.

Links

• How is concern about climate change taking a toll on young people?
• Mental health effect on children and youth due to climate change
• Climate concerns and young people's mental health
• Climate change-related worry in children and young people: What does the research evidence say?
• Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey

Mt Isa, QLD 2050: Climate Change Threatens Outback Life, Economy and Health - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

Mount Isa’s average temperature could rise by 1–2°C by 2050[1] Heatwaves and fire weather are set to intensify[2] Rainfall is projected to become even more variable[3] Impacts expected across the economy, health, and local ecosystems[4] Calls for stronger and swifter climate action in the region[5]

Mount Isa Faces a Hotter Future

Mount Isa and its surrounding region are on the brink of remarkable changes as climate shifts remap the Queensland outback. 

By 2050, scientists project more intense heat, longer dry spells, harsher bushfire risks, and heavier, though less predictable, rainfall events[1]. 

These changes are likely to affect not only the landscape, but the heart of Mount Isa’s economy, society, and its famed outback culture[1]. 

While community resilience runs strong in this remote mining town, experts warn that failing to step up climate action may leave Mount Isa exposed to disruptions and hardship[5]. 

With key industries, local health, and biodiversity at risk, the next 25 years will test how the outback adapts to its shifting climate fate[4].

Rising Temperatures in The North West

Climate models consistently show North West Queensland—Mount Isa’s home region—will get hotter. 

By 2050, the average temperature could rise by 1 to 2°C compared to 1990s levels, depending on how the world tracks on greenhouse emissions[1]. 

That might sound modest, but it means more extra-hot days and extreme weather. In summer, typical daytime maxima could tip well above 38°C, with heatwaves stretching longer and coming more often[2]. 

Researchers warn that the number of days above 35°C could almost double by mid-century in some parts, bringing lasting stress for people and infrastructure. 

Night-time temperatures are also set to rise, offering less respite during hot spells[1].

More Intense, Longer Heatwaves

A heatwave is a run of three or more unusually hot days for a given location. 

Mount Isa already sweats through regular extremes but, by 2050, heatwave events are expected to increase in duration and frequency—even lasting up to two weeks at a stretch[2]. 

Queensland Health data suggest regional heatwaves are silent killers, driving more deaths than floods, storms, or bushfires[2]. 

Experts predict a steep rise in health emergencies linked to extreme heat—especially among vulnerable groups like the elderly and outdoor workers. 

Essential services, roads and rail lines may face greater stress as long spells of searing heat become the new normal[4].

Harsher Fire Seasons and Rainfall Swings

Mount Isa is likely to see harsher fire weather as grasslands and bushlands dry out faster and for longer. 

Fire seasons may arrive earlier and last longer, with more extreme events when they strike due to hotter, windier conditions[4]. 

 Rainfall projections for North West Queensland remain highly variable. 

Annual rainfall could either decline by up to 5% or rise slowly, with most rain still falling in summer storm bursts[3]. 

While total yearly falls may not change much, experts project heavier, more intense downpours—boosting flash-flood risks—but also longer dry spells and droughts.

Social Impacts: Heat and Health

Mount Isa’s population, around 30,000 people mostly in town, will feel the brunt of these changes. 

Longer, hotter summers are set to tax local hospitals, clinics, and aged care, especially amid spikes in heat stress, dehydration, and mental health pressures[2]. 

Remote and Indigenous communities, often with fewer cooling options, may face greater health inequalities[4]. 

Adapting will mean planning cool public zones, green spaces, and more resilient housing[4].

Economic Impacts: Mining, Farming & Tourism

Mount Isa’s mining industry—built on lead, copper, and zinc—faces heat, flooding, and water reliability risks that could disrupt operations, supply chains, and local jobs[4]. 

Freight links, workforces, and insurance costs are likely to come under sustained pressure from climate extremes and disaster costs[4]. 

The region’s agriculture—primarily cattle, sheep, and wool—could be hard hit by more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves, and pest or disease outbreaks. 

Stock losses and pasture dieback may become more common, further challenging rural livelihoods[4]. 

Tourism, driven by the area’s wild outback and rugged landscape, may shrink as heatwaves reduce visitor appeal and bushfire risks cut iconic access[4].

Ecological and Cultural Pressure

North West Queensland’s ecosystems, including the Mitchell Grass Downs and Gulf Plains, are highly adapted to harsh climates but face added risks from hotter, drier, and more variable conditions[4]. 

Some wildlife, such as the purple-necked rock-wallaby, could be pushed towards extinction if water sources and cool refuges diminish[4]. 

Widespread die-off, pest invasions, and changes to flood patterns could reshape the landscape. 

Culturally, many residents, particularly Indigenous groups with deep connections to country, may face threats to traditional ways of life and heritage sites as the land, rivers, and biodiversity shift[4].

Adapting: What’s Being Done and What’s Needed?

The Queensland Government has started to plan for adaptation, calling for new standards in public infrastructure, insurance, tourism risk management, and agricultural support[4]. 

Projects like the Future Ready Economy Roadmap seek to build foundations for thriving post-carbon local industry[5]. 

Yet many experts say current action doesn’t go nearly far enough, with a net zero target and adaptation plan only the first steps[5]. 

To manage future threats, Mount Isa’s leaders will need to ramp up clean energy, build disaster-ready infrastructure, invest in mental health, and work closely with local Elders and traditional owners on land management. 

Doing less, experts warn, will merely raise the adaptation costs for the next generation[5].

Political and Community Choices

The next 25 years are crucial for Mount Isa. 

Stronger climate action from government, industry, and communities—accelerating away from fossil fuels and toward renewable technology, and enshrining adaptation and equity in policy—the difference between hardship and resilience[5]. 

While bold leadership is demanded, local people can play a key role: from new cooling strategies to fire planning, sustainable business, and strengthening social networks[4]. 

Climate change will not erase Mount Isa’s outback character, but it will test how this resilient, resourceful town rises to the challenge.

References

1. Climate change in the North West Queensland region
2. Queensland Future Climate: Heatwaves
3. Climate change: Central QLD Water Planning
4. How Hot Will Your Neighbourhood Be by 2050
5. Future Ready Economy Roadmap

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The Gold Coast QLD 2050: Weathering the Future - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

Days over 35°C projected to rise from 1 to 9 per year by 2050[1] Nearly 1 in 10 summer nights could exceed 25°C by 2050[1] Sea level rise could reach 0.8 m by 2100, with ~0.3–0.4 m likely by 2050[2] Increased severe storm and flood risk from both ocean and land sources[3] Up to 950,000 projected population by 2036, escalating social pressure[4] Waterway ecosystem services valued at $670 million/year[4] Strong action can limit heat extremes to just 3.6 days over 35°C per year by 2050[1] Queensland aims for net zero by 2050; 2025 policy gap remains sizable[5]

From Surfers Paradise to Tallebudgera, few Australian landscapes are as vulnerable, and as emblematic of modern climate challenges, as the Gold Coast. 

By mid-century, transforming patterns of heat, rainfall, and tides will demand adjustments to city planning and residents' daily lives. 

Rising Temperatures

In the climate the Gold Coast has long prided itself on, a day above 35°C was rare, averaging barely one day per year in recent decades. 

Under a business-as-usual global emissions scenario, that figure is projected to climb to nine such days annually by 2050, a near tenfold increase. 

If the world acts to sharply lower emissions, the rise could be contained to approximately 3.6 extreme heat days per year¹.

Summer nights also grow warmer: projections show nearly 1 in 10 could exceed 25°C by 2050, leading to severe discomfort, disrupted sleep, and increased health risks for seniors, young children, and workers without air conditioning.

With strong climate action, that rise can be largely avoided, keeping extremely hot nights almost as rare as today¹.

Heat and humidity combine in dangerous synergy here, with humidity above 70% common—120 such days recorded in a single recent year. 

Workplace productivity, especially in tourism, construction and services, may suffer under conditions that compromise human capacity for outdoor activity and elevate demand for cooling and medical support¹.

Extreme Weather

Current evidence and projections from the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO warn the Gold Coast will see more intense rainfall bursts, especially in severe events: the average intensity for two-hour storms could rise by almost 50% on current levels under high emissions pathways. 

Meanwhile, fire weather risk is anticipated to increase at the city’s margins, and longer dry spells may coincide with short, destructive downpours⁶.

Coastal storms threaten with more than wind: inundation from storm surge, saturated river catchments, and backflow into canal estates are all expected to intensify. 

Cyclones, projected to increase in intensity while tracking further south, will increase insurance risk and place added demand on emergency response².

Rising Seas

Sea levels on the Gold Coast are projected to rise by 0.8 metres by 2100, with an intermediate benchmark of 0.3 to 0.4 metres by 2050 on current international projections. 

Even the lower end of that spectrum will bring significant consequences: rising tides threaten homes, roads, tourism businesses, and beach amenities along the city’s prized foreshore².

Erosion hotspots—including parts of Main Beach and Palm Beach—face retreat. 

Up to 13 million tourist visits per year rely, in part, on consistent beach access and water quality. 

Local adaptation plans, partly funded under the QCoast2100 framework, have begun to address protective infrastructure, yet the city’s low-lying nature means significant further investment and difficult land-use decisions will be needed².

Social Pressures

By 2036, Gold Coast’s population could approach or exceed 950,000, amplifying stresses on housing, water, and health services. 

Climate impacts are not socially neutral: vulnerable communities, those on low incomes, renters in older or poorly insulated housing, elderly residents, and casual tourism employees, face disproportionate risks from heat, storms, and loss of amenities⁴.

Social survey work shows that more than 90% of Gold Coast residents value waterways as integral to their identity and well-being. 

Two-thirds support increased funding for waterway protection, even if it means higher rates, a sign of strong public concern and willingness to pay for environmental health⁴.

Economic and Ecological Impacts

The economic foundation of the Gold Coast—tourism, property, and “blue” recreation—is tightly entwined with environmental conditions. 

In 2022, direct economic activity attributable to waterway use contributed $440 million per year in Gross Regional Product, with ecosystem services from waterways valued at $670 million annually⁴.

Intensifying heat, storms, floods and rising seas create multiplier risks: key tourism sectors could see declines as beach access becomes less reliable, waterways more frequently closed by flooding, and insurance prices soar. 

The property market, especially in low-lying canal estates, faces mounting hazards, with residents already raising concerns about asset value, insurability, and costs of protective works⁴.

The ecological impacts are as stark: waterbird populations, fishes, and seagrass meadows—foundations of the estuarine food web—face direct threats from higher temperatures, lower water quality, and fluctuating salinity. 

Curlew Island, a sanctuary for migratory birds, may become further isolated or degraded unless strong habitat protections are enforced⁴.

Cultural Dimensions

The city’s distinctive blend of urban and waterway life shapes its culture. 

Many local residents describe waterways as central to their sense of place and relaxation. 

Traditional Owners, the Yugambeh people, continue as key partners in waterway and coastal management, with formal recognition in adaptation programs and land planning. 

Community groups now number in the dozens, mobilising to monitor water quality, restore riparian habitats, and advise councils on resilience. Local perspectives consistently emphasise the need to “keep the Gold Coast gold” through conservation, even while accommodating growth⁴.

Festivals and events, outdoor lifestyle and sports, and prized “natural living” could see significant disruption by recurring extreme weather, beach erosion, or water quality alarms. 

For a city built on celebration of the outdoors, the challenge is not just material, but existential.

Calls to Action

Queensland’s climate policy as of 2025 pledges net zero emissions by 2050, with an interim target of 75% below 2005 emissions by 2035, and is ahead of schedule on its 2030 goal. 

However, current emissions trajectories remain incompatible with limiting extreme impacts in the Gold Coast region. 

The state’s policy gap needs urgent bridging through larger scale investment in renewables, rapid retirement of coal exports, and coordinated adaptation efforts in coastal management and social resilience⁵.

With strong and immediate global and local climate action, most severe impacts by 2050 can still be tempered—preserving local livelihoods, conserving ecosystems, and sustaining community identity. 

Without it, the Gold Coast risks a mid-century defined by diminished livability, heightened inequality, and entrenched ecological loss.

References

1. Heatwatch: Extreme heat in the Gold Coast, Australia Institute, 2018
2. Coastal Adaptation Plan, City of Gold Coast. 2021
3. Climate Change in Queensland: Impact summary, State of Queensland, 2024
4. Socio-economic uses and economic value study of the Gold Coast Waterways, Natural Capital Economics, 2017
5. Queensland Sustainability Report 2024, Queensland Treasury
6. Climate projections for Australia, CSIRO & Bureau of Meteorology, 2025

Links

• CSIRO – Climate Change Information
• IPCC AR6 WGII Report – Chapter 11: Australasia
• CoastAdapt – Climate Change and Sea Level Rise in the Australian Region
• The Australia Institute – Gold Coast HeatWatch Report
• CSIRO – Climate Adaptation Flagship Working Paper 12A
• Gecko Environment Council – Sea Level Rise Science
• Gold Coast Waterways Authority – Value of Waterways Study
• Queensland Treasury – 2024 Sustainability Report
• Queensland Government – Climate Change Impact Summary
• NCCARF – Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Communities
• CSIRO & BoM – East Coast Cluster Report (2021 update)
• Queensland Parliament – Tabled Paper on Climate Risks
• ScienceDirect – Recent Climate Change Research Article
• Queensland Government – Advancing Climate Action
• Climate Council – Uninsurable Nation Report
• City of Gold Coast – Strategies
• Department of Agriculture – Climate Change Risks Report
• City of Gold Coast – Coastal Adaptation Plan
• University of Queensland – Climate Adaptation Research Paper
• Australian Conservation Foundation – Ending Business Obstruction of Climate Action

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Don’t Be Distracted: Earth’s Life Support Systems Are Collapsing - Gregory Andrews

Lyrebird Dreaming - Gregory Andrews

Heatwave predictions from the Bureau of Meteorology

Author Gregory Andrews is: Founder and Managing Director of Lyrebird Dreaming A former Australian Ambassador and High Commissioner in West Africa Australia’s first Threatened Species Commissioner A leader in Indigenous policy

While everyone's glued to the spectacle of Donald Trump’s latest rant, or Jacinta Price and Andrew Hastie jockeying for power inside the LNP, something far more consequential is happening: our planet is going down the gurgler faster than ever. 

Distraction is exactly what the far right and fossil fuel industry want. 

If we’re busy arguing about culture wars and personality politics, we’re not paying attention to collapse of the systems that make human and all life on Earth possible.

The 2025 Planetary Health Check, released this week by the highly respected Potsdam Institute, shows seven of Earth’s nine life-support systems are now beyond safe limits. 

Even worse, pressures on every single one of them are accelerating. In plain English: the stresses are getting worse, not better.

For the first time, scientists have also confirmed that ocean acidification has breached the boundary of safety. 

The chemistry of our oceans has shifted so far that corals, shellfish, and plankton, the very foundations of marine food webs, are struggling to survive. 

That’s not just a problem for the Great Barrier Reef or whales. It’s a problem for every human being. We rely on the ocean not only for food, but for climate regulation and oxygen.

The other breached boundaries are equally alarming: climate change, biodiversity collapse, deforestation and land degradation, overuse of freshwater, nutrient pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus, and the spread of toxic chemicals and plastics. 

Only the ozone layer and atmospheric aerosols remain within the safe zone, and even these are fragile.

The message from scientists is clear: we are deep into the danger zone. 

We’re unravelling Earth’s climate and ecosystems, pushing them to irreversible tipping points like ice sheet collapse, rainforest dieback, and ocean circulation breakdown. 

Once these thresholds are crossed, no amount of climate action, let alone political spin, will bring us back.

And yet our leaders, cheered on by fossil fuel lobbyists, are happy for us to look the other way. They thrive on distraction. 

They hope that if we’re focusing on Trump’s tantrums or the LNP’s leadership games, we won’t notice the new coal mines and gas projects quietly being approved. 

They want us confused, distracted, divided, and exhausted.

The good news from the Potsdam Institute is that the window for action and recovery is still open. 

But it’s closing fast. 

Just as the world came together to heal the ozone layer in the 1980s, we can still pull the planet back from collapse.

So don’t be distracted. 

We can’t afford to take the bait. 

Don’t let them win.

 Keep your eyes on what really matters: a liveable planet for us, our kids, and generations to come. 

The science is alarming, but it’s also a guide. 

It shows us exactly where the pressure points are and where action can still make a difference. 

Change on the scale we need has happened before, and it can happen again, if enough of us refuse to look away. 

That means turning anxiety into energy, despair into determination, and outrage into action. 

It means practicing active hope.

What can I do?

1. Download the full report here.
2. Find your local MP or Senator here and send them a link to it explaining why you want them to stay focused on what’s important for our kids and Country.

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UN Climate Summit 2025: A Turning Point? - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

UN Climate Summit 2025 marked a pivotal moment for global action[1] New pledges reduce only 2 gigatons versus 31.2 needed by 2035[1] Latest commitments achieve just 6% of 1.5°C pathway requirements[1] Clean energy advances accelerate but nations must move faster[1] Vulnerable countries pressed for stronger finance and technology support[1] COP30 in Brazil will test whether stronger action follows[1]

Defining the 2025 UN Climate Moment

The United Nations Climate Summit 2025 in New York marked a pivotal moment for global climate action.^[1]

World leaders gathered to announce new national targets, but experts warned that these plans still fall far short of global needs.^[1]

The summit set the stage for COP30, putting intense pressure on nations to deliver much stronger climate commitments in the coming months.^[1]

Despite dramatic advances in clean energy, the world remains far off track to limit warming to safe levels.^[1]

What Happened at the Summit?

Government representatives from nearly every country met in New York for a series of high-stakes sessions focused on emissions, resilience, and finance.^[1]

Several nations announced new pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions through 2035.^[1]

The UN Secretary-General described this year’s commitments as “critical waypoints” on the path to net zero by mid-century.^[1]

The summit’s closing message urged all countries to strengthen their plans before COP30, which will assess overall progress.^[1]

The Numbers: Progress or Shortfall?

Most new climate pledges made at the summit will only reduce projected emissions for 2035 by about 2 gigatons.^[1]

To keep warming below 1.5°C, experts say the world must cut 31.2 gigatons by 2035.^[1]

This means the latest plans achieve just 6% of what’s scientifically required for 1.5°C, and 10% for the backup target of 2°C.^[1]

The gap highlights the urgent need for far more ambitious action from major economies.^[1]

Clean Energy Momentum

Despite shortcomings in official pledges, major advances in clean energy continue to shape global trends.^[1]

Falling prices for renewables, electric vehicles, and heat pumps have made low-carbon options more affordable than fossil fuels across large markets.^[1]

Countries adopting these technologies at scale are creating new industries and jobs, while protecting quality of life and energy security.^[1]

But the summit message was clear: nations need to move much faster to seize this momentum.^[1]

Vulnerable Countries Take the Lead

Some of the most ambitious climate leadership came from vulnerable nations already suffering from extreme weather and rising costs.^[1]

These countries highlighted the burden of climate-related disasters, which cost the world at least $300 billion in 2024.^[1]

They called on wealthier nations to step up finance and technology transfers, to help the world’s poorest build resilience and cut emissions.^[1]

What Happens Next?

The summit closed with a call for urgent action from every government, especially major emitters who have not yet announced strong updates.^[1]

By the time of COP30 in Brazil, all participating countries are expected to submit new and much bolder climate plans.^[1]

The UN’s forthcoming NDC Synthesis Report will judge whether plans now add up to a climate-safe future.^[1]

If they do not, experts warn the gap in ambition will have real-world consequences: more severe heatwaves, floods, storms, and human costs.^[1]

Conclusion: The Stakes

2025 was a year of stark reminders and unresolved challenges at the UN Climate Summit.^[1]

While some progress was made, most observers agree that countries must take much bigger and faster steps to avert dangerous climate change.^[1]

The message from New York is clear: more ambition is urgently needed, and the future depends on what comes next.^[1]

References

1. STATEMENT: Countries Announce New Climate Pledges at UN Summit, But Far More Action Needed

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Arnhem Land NT 2050: Heatwaves, Floods, and Fires - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

Average temperatures across Arnhem Land are projected to rise appreciably by 2050 with more days above extreme heat thresholds.[1] Heatwave frequency and intensity are expected to increase with a corresponding rise in heat-related health risk for remote communities.[2] Fire weather windows will lengthen and severe bushfire seasons may become more likely in savanna and woodland areas.[3] Rainfall patterns will become more variable with heavier rainfall events and longer dry spells that threaten traditional food systems and infrastructure.[4] Coastal erosion and sea level rise pose an existential risk to low-lying coastal sites and cultural heritage on Arnhem Land coastlines by mid century.[5] Current national and territorial commitments are a foundation but fall short of the rapid, deep cuts and adaptation financing needed to avoid severe outcomes by 2050.[6]

Arnhem Land faces a hotter and less predictable climate by 2050.

Overview

Arnhem Land is a vast coastal and savanna region of the Northern Territory home to strong Indigenous governance and deep cultural ties to country.

The area includes escarpments, wetlands and long coastlines that sustain Yolngu, Gumatj and other language groups and their economies.

Climate models and regional assessments show substantial physical changes in the coming decades that will reshape landscapes and livelihoods.

Temperature and heat

Regional climate projections indicate mean temperatures across the Top End will rise through mid century under plausible emissions pathways. ^[1]

Days above extreme heat thresholds will become more frequent which increases the burden of heat stress, especially for elders and people with chronic illness. ^[2]

Heat will affect household energy use as cooling demand rises in remote communities that often face unreliable power supplies.

Heatwaves and public health

Observed trends show more intense heatwaves across northern Australia and models project further increases in their frequency and duration. ^[2]

Remote Indigenous communities have limited health infrastructure and pre-existing social determinants that magnify heat impacts on mortality and morbidity. ^[2]

Public health adaptation will require investment in cooling centres, resilient housing and culturally appropriate outreach to reduce risk.

Fire weather and savanna burning

Warmer temperatures and changing rainfall seasonality will extend fire weather windows while altering the patterns of traditional and mosaic burning. ^[3]

That combination raises the chance of late dry-season wildfires that damage habitat and cultural sites and threaten remote settlements. ^[3]

Supporting Indigenous fire management practices will be essential to limit catastrophic fires while preserving cultural knowledge.

Rainfall and hydrology

Projections for northern rainfall are complex with a higher likelihood of intense wet-season downpours and longer dry-season intervals. ^[4]

Variability threatens freshwater-dependent food sources, freshwater infrastructure and the predictability of culturally important seasonal cycles. ^[4]

Investment in water security, monitoring and community-led adaptation planning is needed to protect health and livelihoods.

Coastal risk and sea level rise

Global and regional assessments place mid-century mean sea level rise at a level that increases extreme high-tide and storm-surge flooding risks for low-lying Arnhem Land coasts. ^[5]

Coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion threaten archaeological sites, burial places and infrastructure used by coastal communities. ^[5]

Local adaptation options include managed retreat for some sites, protective works where feasible and urgent cultural mapping to prioritise places for protection.

Ecological and economic impacts

Rising temperatures and altered fire and rainfall regimes will stress biodiversity from escarpment rainforest remnants to intertidal wetlands. ^[3]

Marine heat and changing ocean chemistry endanger reef and fisheries resources that are central to coastal food systems and livelihoods. ^[5]

Economic impacts will hit traditional subsistence practices, small-scale fisheries, tourism and the viability of remote service economies unless adaptation and diversification receive funding.

Political and cultural implications

Climate change amplifies existing governance challenges in remote Australia and places pressure on local decision making and service delivery.

Loss or damage to cultural heritage sites, rock art and burial grounds would be irreversible and a profound social and legal issue for Traditional Owners.

Any adaptation must be co-designed with Aboriginal communities and respect Indigenous law and care for Country practices.

Current action in 2025 and the gap to 2050

Australia has legislated targets and territorial planning frameworks that create a platform for mitigation and adaptation action. ^[6]

However, scientific assessments and regional reports note that emissions reductions and adaptation financing must accelerate to avoid the more severe scenarios projected by 2050. ^[1]

An effective pathway requires urgent national mitigation, strengthened local infrastructure, targeted funding for remote communities and support for Indigenous-led adaptation and land management.

What must be done

Rapid emissions reductions in line with global science and increased adaptation funding are necessary to reduce long-term risks to Arnhem Land.

Policies must centre Indigenous governance, scale up Indigenous ranger and fire management programs and protect cultural heritage from coastal and inland threats.

Planning should include climate-resilient housing, reliable power and water systems and legal recognition of cultural priorities in adaptation decisions.

Conclusion

By 2050 Arnhem Land will face a hotter, more variable climate that tests the resilience of communities, ecosystems and cultural systems.

The scale of the challenge is clear but so are pathways for action that combine deep emissions cuts with well funded, community-led adaptation.

Preserving Country and culture will depend on a national response that listens to Traditional Owners and treats adaptation as a matter of justice as well as survival.

References

1. CSIRO Climate projections for Australia.
2. Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, State of the Climate 2024.
3. Climate Change in the Northern Territory: State of the science and climate change impacts (Northern Territory Government / NESP Earth Systems Hub).
4. Climate Change in Australia: projections tools and regional guidance.
5. NASA Sea Level Change Portal: IPCC AR6 sea level projections.
6. Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Net zero and emissions reduction policy framework.

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Alice Springs NT 2050: From Red Earth to Red Alert - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

Average temperatures in Alice Springs could rise by 2.5°C to 3.5°C by 2050 [1] Heatwaves are projected to triple in frequency and intensity [2] Rainfall will decline overall but extreme downpours may increase [3] Wildfire risk will intensify with longer fire seasons [4] Indigenous cultural practices face new challenges in land stewardship [5] Policy gaps threaten mid-century climate outcomes [6]

Alice Springs faces a hotter drier and more volatile climate by 2050.

Rising temperatures

Average annual temperatures in Alice Springs are projected to rise by 2.5°C to 3.5°C by mid-century ^[1].

This level of warming will transform the rhythms of desert life.

By 2050 the town is expected to endure more than 100 days each year above 35°C, compared with fewer than 90 such days today.

The increase in days over 40°C will be especially dangerous for outdoor workers, children, and the elderly.

Daily life will be shaped by relentless heat, demanding adaptation in homes, workplaces, and public spaces.

Heatwaves multiply

Heatwaves are projected to become three times more frequent and far longer than in the late 20th century ^[2].

By 2050 Alice Springs may experience week-long periods of extreme heat multiple times each summer.

Night-time minimums will remain high, erasing the respite that desert nights once provided.

Hospitals will see more admissions for heat-related illnesses, including dehydration and cardiovascular stress.

The health system will face surging demand as climate extremes intersect with existing challenges of remoteness and inequality.

Rainfall and flooding

Total rainfall across Central Australia is expected to decline slightly, yet extreme rainfall events are projected to intensify ^[3].

For Alice Springs, which averages about 200 millimetres annually, this means longer dry spells punctuated by sudden destructive floods.

Stormwater drains, roads, and riverbeds will struggle to contain intense downpours.

Flash floods will threaten homes near the Todd River and damage infrastructure built for a more predictable climate.

Drought will undermine pastoral productivity and increase competition for already scarce water resources.

Fire weather risk

Fire danger days are expected to rise significantly by 2050 ^[4].

The fire season will start earlier and last longer, overlapping with periods of extreme heat.

Vegetation such as spinifex and mulga will dry quickly, fuelling fast-moving bushfires.

Remote communities and cultural sites will face greater exposure to destructive fire events.

Emergency services will require new capacity, yet resources in the Northern Territory are already stretched thin.

Economic pressures

Tourism, one of Alice Springs’ economic pillars, will face major disruption.

Visitors are likely to avoid the hottest months, shrinking the viable season for tourism operators.

Heat stress will also damage infrastructure such as roads, rail, and power lines, driving up maintenance costs.

Pastoralists will face shrinking feed availability, increased animal stress, and higher costs for water and fodder.

Economic inequality may widen as wealthier households adapt more easily with air conditioning and secure water supplies.

Social consequences

The town’s population will experience rising heat stress that affects productivity, health, and quality of life.

Electricity demand for cooling will climb, straining the grid and increasing costs for households.

Power outages during heatwaves would pose serious risks to health and safety.

Vulnerable communities, including Indigenous residents in remote outstations, may be hit hardest due to inadequate housing and infrastructure.

Migration patterns may shift as people leave the region in search of cooler climates and better services.

Ecological transformation

Desert ecosystems are finely balanced, and climate change will push many species beyond their tolerance limits.

Iconic plants such as ghost gums may struggle to regenerate under hotter, drier conditions.

Animals adapted to narrow temperature ranges, such as small marsupials and reptiles, face local extinction.

Altered fire regimes will reshape vegetation mosaics, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Invasive species may thrive in disturbed landscapes, compounding ecological stress.

Cultural resilience

For Indigenous custodians, climate change threatens cultural practices rooted in seasonal knowledge ^[5].

Waterholes may dry more often, disrupting songlines and ceremonies tied to these sites.

Changes in bush foods and medicinal plants will affect health and food security.

Yet Indigenous fire management practices offer valuable adaptation strategies, reducing fuel loads and maintaining ecological health.

Co-designed adaptation strategies can help safeguard cultural heritage while supporting ecological resilience.

Policy in 2025 and the choices ahead

As of 2025 the Northern Territory Government has committed to net zero by 2050 but has retreated from stronger 2030 targets ^[6].

The lack of ambitious interim goals risks locking in severe mid-century climate impacts.

National climate policy remains contested, with progress uneven across states and territories.

By 2050, the difference between high and low emissions pathways will be stark for Alice Springs.

Swift emissions cuts combined with investment in adaptation could still limit the damage, but the window is narrowing.

References

1. CSIRO — Climate projections for Australia
2. Climate Change in Australia — Heatwave projections
3. Bureau of Meteorology — State of the Climate
4. CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology — Future fire weather projections
5. Central Land Council — Aboriginal land management
6. ABC News — NT government backflips on 2030 emissions reduction target

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