Climate change impacts in Queensland’s regions

Changes in the climate will affect Queensland’s regions in different ways. Early planning and preparation for these changes will help build regional communities to potential future impacts.

In August 2009, the first set of regional climate change summaries was released to assist local government, business, industries, and the community prepare for future variability. Key findings from the regional summaries were that:

• South East Queensland should prepare for challenges such as water shortages due to drier and warmer conditions
• A rise in sea levels is likely to place coastal regions at increased risk of inundation, erosion, and damage to buildings and infrastructure
• Far North Queensland is likely to experience fewer but more intense rainfall events and tropical cyclones

Central-west and south-western Queensland are projected to experience the greatest warming and a strong decline in rainfall.

Regional summaries

• Wide Bay Burnett (PDF, 1.3M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-wbb.pdf )
• Central Queensland (PDF, 1.3M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-cq.pdf )
• Central West Queensland (PDF, 1.6M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-cwq.pdf )
• Cape York (PDF, 1.3M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-capeyork.pdf )
• Eastern Downs (PDF, 1.1M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-easterndowns.pdf )
• Far North Queensland (PDF, 1.1M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-fnq.pdf )
• Gulf Region (PDF, 1.2M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-gulf.pdf )
• Maranoa and District (PDF, 1.3M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-maranoa.pdf )
• North West Queensland (PDF, 1.2M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-nwq.pdf )
• South East Queensland (PDF, 1.1M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-seq.pdf )
• South West Queensland (PDF, 1.3M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-swq.pdf )
• Townsville-Thuringowa (PDF, 1.2M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-tt.pdf )
• Whitsunday, Hinterland and Mackay (PDF, 1.1M)* ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/climatechange/pdf/regionsummary-whm.pdf )

Climate Commission: The Critical Decade – Queensland climate impacts and opportunities

• Information on climate change impacts on Queensland’s agricultural, tourism, property and lifestyle are covered in the Climate Commission’s 2012 Queensland report ( http://climatecommission.gov.au/report/queensland-climate-impacts-opportunities/ )

CSIRO’s Queensland’s biodiversity under climate change: impacts and adaptation – synthesis report

• This 2012 report ( http://www.csiro.au/Organisation-Structure/Flagships/Climate-Adaptation-Flagship/Queensland-biodiversity-under-climate-change.aspx ) is a synthesis of the existing scientific research on climate change impacts and the adaptation options for terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, coastal and marine biodiversity, it’s ecosystems and the services they provide. The report summarises the different ways climate change is likely to affect biodiversity ecosystems, and ecosystem services in Queensland.

* Requires Adobe Reader ( http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/help/pdf.html )