Climate change – caused by the burning of fossil fuel – is creating huge changes to our planet. As global average temperatures rise, so too do the changes we see in our environment and weather patterns.
The impacts of climate change on humans, our societies, wildlife and our environment are wide – and differ greatly across the globe. Health implications, infrastructure, food and water – almost everything humans need for survival is at risk if average global temperatures continue to rise.
With every 1°C of warming, our atmosphere can hold around 7% more moisture (NASA). This can create more intense rainfall in areas already susceptible to rain. Higher sea levels and more intense rain patterns will create more intense flooding in areas susceptible to flood. Increased moisture in the atmosphere and warmer oceans can also create more intense storms, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and rainfall all around the globe.
We’ll see more food instability as crops are whipped out more regularly. In Australia we’re already seeing more regular product shortages due to extreme weather events and flooding in places like Queensland. With globalised food supply chains there will be more and more global shortages of food when key growing regions are hit with more extreme weather events. With increased extreme weather events also comes risks to infrastructure. Over recent years we have seen huge damage bills due to extreme weather events and floods. Insurance will likely become harder to get for residents in flood zones as risks increase.
Increases to average temperatures and changes to humidity levels are becoming life threatening in some areas of the world. In Australia there are a number of regions – including Darwin, Broome and Port Hedland – that are expected to become unlivable in the coming decades due to extreme heat. Humans rely on the process of sweating to cool our bodies in hot weather. When humidity and heat levels are high, we cannot do this effectively. When our body cannot cool down for a number of days in a row, the situation can become deadly.
Increased temperatures for longer periods of the year worsens drought conditions and fires in dry areas and creates additional rainfall in humid climates. Both can wreak havoc on food and water supplies for humans and wildlife alike.
Ocean changes
The ocean is one of the main homes of the world’s biodiversity – without which most of life on earth would not be possible. Our oceans are also the lungs of the earth, absorbing huge amounts of carbon dioxide as marine plants, algae and phytoplankton draw in the CO2 using photosynthesis.
Our oceans are both highly important to maintaining a healthy climate and susceptible as global temperatures increase. Higher ocean temperatures can cause coral bleaching, displacement of food for marine animals and put the whole ecosystem at risk. Not only does a less productive ocean ecosystem affect the food supply for billions around the world, but also makes the oceans less capable of removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
In Australia we’re seeing increased coral bleaching and ocean acidification, most famously at the Great Barrier Reef. These events can greatly affect the wildlife in our oceans, causing changes to biodiversity and putting our ocean systems at risk of collapse.
Melting ice
10% of Earth’s landmass is currently covered in ice. The majority of these glaciers can be found in Antarctica and a smaller amount at the Greenland ice caps. Rapid glacial melt is occurring in both regions, causing huge amounts of ice cold water to enter waterways and oceans. As large amounts of cold water enter the ocean, it can cause currents to slow down and sea levels rise. Sea levels are expected to rise up to 55cm for 1.5°C warming and 1m for 4°C warming by 2100 (IPCC).
As currents and sea levels continue to change, humans and wildlife will face challenges like disrupted weather patterns, flooding, more intense storms and coastal erosion. The knock on effects of these changes are widespread. Floods and storms can damage infrastructure, but also cause runoff to enter waterways – affect wildlife, food sources and water supply.
In Australia and the Pacific there are thousands of low lying islands at great risk from sea level rise. Higher tides, coupled with more rainfall and extreme weather can create significant erosion and flooding – risking these islands’ livability and wildlife. Major cities all around Australia are at risk of major flooding events as sea levels, rain and weather becomes more extreme across the country. Even if homes and infrastructure don’t go under water, flooding can affect underground water tables and overwhelm sewage and storm water systems that risk damaging buildings and waterways.
Help end the age of fossil fuels
Right now, Greenpeace is working to take on the biggest polluters and stop new coal, oil and gas projects in Australia. We’re holding corporations and governments to account, taking direct action and investigating and exposing them.
We still have time. What happens next is in our hands.
It’s time to make polluters pay. If corporations paid fair taxes on their profits and pollution we could support communities impacted by climate change while also transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Woodside wants to drill up to 7 more wells for carbon dumping at Scott Reef and seismic blasting every 5 years in biologically important Pygmy Blue Whale habitat. The plans to drill for dirty gas from under beautiful Scott Reef for Woodside’s Burrup Hub just keep getting worse.
Woodside plans to drill up to 80 gas wells off the coast of WA in some of the world’s most biodiverse waters - including 50 wells around Scott Reef. Pristine coral reefs, pygmy blue whales, endangered turtles and countless other marine life in Western Australia's oceans are all at risk. We have the tools to stop Woodside. With your power behind us, we will.
It’s time to take action on climate change by switching electricity providers. By switching to greener electricity providers, together we can force dirty coal and gas out of the grid and bring more renewable electricity in, sending a clear message to electricity companies that it’s time to get serious about tackling climate change.
Nearly 4.5 million vehicles on our roads are owned by businesses. Electrifying corporate fleets is a crucial step to speed up our transition to clean electric vehicles. Check out what companies are stuck in the slow lane and send them a message to hurry them up!
Toyota is one of the biggest and most trusted car makers in Australia but they've been working around the world to slow the shift to electric vehicles. Will you send Toyota a loud and clear message: stop holding back climate action and get on board with the transition to electric vehicles.
It’s time for a safe climate, clean air and energy independence. It’s time to Electrify. Transport is one of the biggest sources of climate pollution in Australia - it alone counts for almost one-fifth of our total emissions! - and it's only growing. The need to electrify our transport system has never been more urgent.
REPORT: Blasting our Ocean: Woodside’s Dangerous Seismic Plan
Woodside Energy aims to start risky seismic surveying for its Scarborough gas project. The process uses underwater airguns to blast powerful sound waves towards the seabed to assess fossil fuel…
Current auto industry planning is not aligned with a 1.5°C compatible carbon budget and might result in millions of vehicles manufacturers can’t sell. This report aims to shed light on…
SUBMISSION: On the Climate Change Bill 2022 and the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022
A decade of inaction on climate change has seen Australia and its Pacific Island neighbours suffer through catastrophic bushfire, floods and cyclones, causing environmental, social and economic devastation. The Climate…
REPORT: The Toyota Files – Stalling on Climate Action
The dirty secret behind Australia’s most trusted carmaker. Toyota has been fighting against effective climate policy all over the world, including in Australia: blocking clean air regulation, flip-flopping on renewables
REPORT: Moby Sick: The Costs of Woodside’s Burrup Hub for Whales
Woodside Energy plans to build the ‘Burrup Hub’ within the known habitat of several threatened and migratory whale species in north west Australian waters.
REPORT: Deep-Sea Disaster, Why Woodside’s Burrup Hub project is too risky to proceed
A spill or accident at Woodside’s Burrup Hub gas project could release toxic gas and condensate of a similar consistency to crude oil into World Heritage listed marine parks, with…
MEDIA BRIEFING: IPCC’s Working Group 2 Report on Climate Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
This report makes clear that the climate crisis is now upon us, and will be the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. With the survival of millions of lives, ecosystems and species on the line, on a scale never before seen, there is no time to waste. We must throw every effort into tackling the…
REPORT: Hero to Zero, uncovering the truth of corporate Australia’s climate action claims
The world is experiencing an unprecedented climate crisis. To stabilise global temperatures, and prevent the situation getting even worse, emissions must reach net zero as soon as possible.
REPORT: Scenarios for the Replacement of the Liddell Power Station
The cheapest and lowest emissions option to replace the Liddell coal-burning power station in the New South Wales Hunter Valley is clean energy backed up by batteries, according to a…
REPORT: Coal-faced, Exposing AGL as Australia’s biggest climate polluter
SYDNEY, 5 May 2021 – AGL, Australia’s biggest energy company, is holding back efforts by Australian businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report released today by Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
REPORT: Lethal Power, How coal is killing people in Australia
Air pollution from Australia’s ageing and increasingly unreliable coal-burning power stations is responsible for 800 premature deaths, 14,000 asthma symptoms among children and 850 cases of low birth weight in…
SUBMISSION: To the Independent Planning Commission: Santos’ Narrabri gas project risks farms, water, climate, and community.
The destructive Narrabri fossil gas drilling proposal by Santos is one of the most controversial fossil fuel projects in Australia. Greenpeace contributed to the following submission to the Independent Planning…
REPORT: Recover & Prosper, Recharging the Australian Economy with Clean Energy
We’re all feeling the effects of the COVID-19 health crisis and the economic hardship that it has brought about. Some of us are suffering more than others. The pandemic arrived at a time when Australia and our Pacific neighbours were already reeling from an unprecedented climate crisis.
REPORT: REenergising Australian business: the corporate race to renewable energy
A Greenpeace report analyses the sector-by-sector potential job and renewable energy benefits if 80 of Australia’s top companies moved to 100% renewable energy.
REPORT: The Dispersant Delusion – Equinor’s plan to poison the Great Australian Bight
Our report shows that regulators plan to allow Equinor to respond to an oil spill in the Great Australian Bight by deploying a banned chemical cocktail that doesn’t work.
REPORT: Invisible killer – Toxic sulfur dioxide hotspots revealed in Australia
A new Greenpeace report has revealed that Australia is ranked 12th on the list of the top human-caused sulphur dioxide hotspots as tracked by NASA satellites.
REPORT: Dirty Power – Big Coal’s network of influence over the coalition government
We’ve uncovered the web of connections between the world’s biggest coal giants, industry groups, lobbyists and powerful media organisations that serves to halt action on climate change and stall the…
REPORT: Offshore petroleum drilling and risk – A study of proposed deep-sea exploration drilling in the Great Australian Bight
Professor Tina Soliman Hunter, Professor of Petroleum Law and Director of Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law, outlines the risks of Norwegian oil giant Equinor’s plans to drill for oil…
REPORT: Boom and Bust 2019 – Tracking the Global Coal Plant Pipeline
For the third year in a row, the number of coal-fired power plants under development worldwide dropped steeply in 2018. Clean, renewable energy solutions like wind and solar continue to…
POLL: Pro-renewable policies emerge as vote-winners in Victorian election
With the polls narrowing as Victorians prepare to cast their ballots in this weekend’s state election, renewable energy has emerged as a key battleground with the victor likely to be…
Greenpeace Australia Pacific worked with US oil spill consultant and marine biologist, Professor Richard Steiner, the leading ecologist involved in the cleanup and monitoring of the Exxon Valdez disaster in…
ANALYSIS: Electrifying Victoria – the impact of election policies on prices and the climate
With the Victorian state election on a knife-edge, Greenpeace Australia Pacific has commissioned modelling on the impact the energy policies of the Victorian Labor party, Liberal/National Coalition, and Greens would have on electricity prices and carbon emissions to 2025.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific has released Reputex modelling that shows that the government’s National Energy Guarantee fails on emissions and power prices.
February 2018: As Australia transitions away from coal-fired power, questions are raised about the safe management and disposal coal ash, one of the most significant forms of waste in the…
This report highlights the role that Australia’s metallurgical coal exports have played in the increasing global use of blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace-based steel production, the most greenhouse gas emission intensive process to produce steel
REPORT: Reality Check on Coal – Less value, more harm
The Australian coal industry’s contribution to the economy is rapidly shrinking – even as its contribution towards global warming is spiralling out of control.
Together we are part of a growing, global movement determined to bring about the changes our planet desperately needs. Sign up to receive updates on our campaigns.
Manage your cookies preferences
Please select which cookies you are willing to store.
Necessary cookies Always enabled
These cookies will provide you a better experience of our website and help us to improve the performance of Greenpeace.org. You will be able to hide the cookies acceptance banner and use the website features better. We will also use these cookies to collect statistical and anonymised data such as how long users stay on a page or which links are clicked.
In addition to the cookies and technologies described above, we also use other services that will help us to enhance your experience on this website. We also may permit certain third party companies (e.g. Facebook, Google) cookies to help us understand more about our users specific behavior, demographic, and interest data. Those cookies help us to understand how visitors interact with our website (e.g. pages visited) in order to improve visitors experience, operation effectiveness of this platform and our communication strategies.
By clicking "Accept" you agree to our Cookies Policy