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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on BBC or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment warns that over 1.5 million Australians will be at risk from rising sea levels by 2050
• The report forecasts increasingly severe and frequent climate hazards—from floods to heatwaves and bushfires—and states that no Australian community will be immune to the cascading and compounding risks posed by climate change
🔭 The context: Australia, one of the world's highest per-capita emitters, has already exceeded 1.5°C of warming, with projections showing dire consequences if global temperatures rise beyond 2°C or 3°C
• Released just days before the government is set to announce its 2035 emissions target, the 72-page report provides a critical evaluation of the nation’s vulnerability and resilience to a rapidly warming world
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The report identifies severe threats to coastal communities, public health, biodiversity, and infrastructure, with economic losses projected to exceed A$611 billion
• Key ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef face irreversible damage from bleaching and biodiversity loss
• As a major global emitter, Australia’s mitigation and adaptation choices carry international significance for climate leadership and environmental preservation
⏭️ What's next: The federal government has launched a national adaptation plan to coordinate action across all levels of government
• An updated 2035 emissions reduction target is expected soon, guided by the independent Climate Change Authority
• However, climate advocates, including the Climate Council, are pressing for more aggressive targets and faster phase-out of fossil fuels to avert the most catastrophic outcomes
💬 One quote: "The cost of inaction will always outweigh the cost of action." – Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change
📈 One stat: At 3°C of warming, heat-related deaths in Sydney could rise by over 400%, and nearly triple in Melbourne, according to the report
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