Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Climate is not static, nor should we be
Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert.
Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm.
What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds.
Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes.
The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up.
Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being.
Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks.
Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be.
Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures.
Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says.
By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes.
Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks.
Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate.
The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities.
And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia.
Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag.
But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis.
Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging.
Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert.
Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm.
What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds.
Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes.
The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up.
Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being.
Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks.
Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be.
Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures.
Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says.
By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes.
Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks.
Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate.
The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities.
And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia.
Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag.
But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis.
Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging.
Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert.
Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm.
What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds.
Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes.
The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up.
Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being.
Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks.
Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be.
Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures.
Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says.
By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes.
Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks.
Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate.
The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities.
And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia.
Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag.
But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis.
Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging.
Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert.
Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm.
What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds.
Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes.
The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up.
Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being.
Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks.
Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be.
Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures.
Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says.
By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes.
Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks.
Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate.
The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities.
And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia.
Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag.
But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis.
Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging.
Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Climate is not static, nor should we be
Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert. Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm. What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds. Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes. The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up. Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being. Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be. Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures. Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says. By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes. Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks. Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate. The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities. And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO. The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia. Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag. But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis. Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging. Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now. Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert. Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm. What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds. Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes. The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up. Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being. Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be. Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures. Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says. By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes. Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks. Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate. The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities. And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO. The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia. Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag. But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis. Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging. Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now. Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert. Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm. What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds. Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes. The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up. Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being. Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be. Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures. Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says. By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes. Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks. Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate. The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities. And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO. The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia. Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag. But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis. Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging. Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now. Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert. Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm. What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds. Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes. The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up. Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being. Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be. Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures. Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says. By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes. Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks. Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate. The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities. And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO. The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia. Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag. But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis. Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging. Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Build for cyclonic winds: call for tougher home construction standards
Building codes developed half a century ago to protect homes from cyclones should be extended "much further south" to reflect increasing extreme weather events, Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean says. In a new report on how climate affects Australian homes, the authority recommended changing the national construction code - which sets minimum building standards - to ensure properties can better withstand wind, floods, bushfires, coastal inundation, and heatwaves. In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, which swept into south-east Queensland and northern NSW in March 2025, Mr Kean said it was time to rethink building standards. "Climate change is creating the conditions for extreme storms much further south than in the past, so it makes sense to look at extending cyclone building standards down the coast to reflect today's real risks," Mr Kean said. "Parts of coastal Queensland and [Western Australia] not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon." Existing codes only required buildings north of Bundaberg - some 350 kilometres beyond Brisbane - to be able to withstand cyclonic winds, the Home safe: national leadership in adapting to a changing climate report pointed out. Mr Kean said it was also time to rethink where homes were being built in the first place. "As flood hazards change, we need to adapt our thinking about where to build new homes and suburbs," he said. Insurance was "costing households too much" as premiums rose in line with growing risk. The record-breaking May floods across the NSW mid-north coast and Hunter regions claimed the lives of five people, inundated hundreds of homes and stranded tens of thousands of people. Extreme weather events had already cost the Australian economy $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025, the Climate Change Authority report, due to be released on June 19, found. By the end of the decade climate change was expected to wipe more than $500 billion off the property market. The report also found extreme weather events led to poorer physical and mental health, as well as substandard living conditions. Building codes developed half a century ago to protect homes from cyclones should be extended "much further south" to reflect increasing extreme weather events, Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean says. In a new report on how climate affects Australian homes, the authority recommended changing the national construction code - which sets minimum building standards - to ensure properties can better withstand wind, floods, bushfires, coastal inundation, and heatwaves. In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, which swept into south-east Queensland and northern NSW in March 2025, Mr Kean said it was time to rethink building standards. "Climate change is creating the conditions for extreme storms much further south than in the past, so it makes sense to look at extending cyclone building standards down the coast to reflect today's real risks," Mr Kean said. "Parts of coastal Queensland and [Western Australia] not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon." Existing codes only required buildings north of Bundaberg - some 350 kilometres beyond Brisbane - to be able to withstand cyclonic winds, the Home safe: national leadership in adapting to a changing climate report pointed out. Mr Kean said it was also time to rethink where homes were being built in the first place. "As flood hazards change, we need to adapt our thinking about where to build new homes and suburbs," he said. Insurance was "costing households too much" as premiums rose in line with growing risk. The record-breaking May floods across the NSW mid-north coast and Hunter regions claimed the lives of five people, inundated hundreds of homes and stranded tens of thousands of people. Extreme weather events had already cost the Australian economy $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025, the Climate Change Authority report, due to be released on June 19, found. By the end of the decade climate change was expected to wipe more than $500 billion off the property market. The report also found extreme weather events led to poorer physical and mental health, as well as substandard living conditions. Building codes developed half a century ago to protect homes from cyclones should be extended "much further south" to reflect increasing extreme weather events, Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean says. In a new report on how climate affects Australian homes, the authority recommended changing the national construction code - which sets minimum building standards - to ensure properties can better withstand wind, floods, bushfires, coastal inundation, and heatwaves. In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, which swept into south-east Queensland and northern NSW in March 2025, Mr Kean said it was time to rethink building standards. "Climate change is creating the conditions for extreme storms much further south than in the past, so it makes sense to look at extending cyclone building standards down the coast to reflect today's real risks," Mr Kean said. "Parts of coastal Queensland and [Western Australia] not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon." Existing codes only required buildings north of Bundaberg - some 350 kilometres beyond Brisbane - to be able to withstand cyclonic winds, the Home safe: national leadership in adapting to a changing climate report pointed out. Mr Kean said it was also time to rethink where homes were being built in the first place. "As flood hazards change, we need to adapt our thinking about where to build new homes and suburbs," he said. Insurance was "costing households too much" as premiums rose in line with growing risk. The record-breaking May floods across the NSW mid-north coast and Hunter regions claimed the lives of five people, inundated hundreds of homes and stranded tens of thousands of people. Extreme weather events had already cost the Australian economy $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025, the Climate Change Authority report, due to be released on June 19, found. By the end of the decade climate change was expected to wipe more than $500 billion off the property market. The report also found extreme weather events led to poorer physical and mental health, as well as substandard living conditions. Building codes developed half a century ago to protect homes from cyclones should be extended "much further south" to reflect increasing extreme weather events, Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean says. In a new report on how climate affects Australian homes, the authority recommended changing the national construction code - which sets minimum building standards - to ensure properties can better withstand wind, floods, bushfires, coastal inundation, and heatwaves. In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, which swept into south-east Queensland and northern NSW in March 2025, Mr Kean said it was time to rethink building standards. "Climate change is creating the conditions for extreme storms much further south than in the past, so it makes sense to look at extending cyclone building standards down the coast to reflect today's real risks," Mr Kean said. "Parts of coastal Queensland and [Western Australia] not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon." Existing codes only required buildings north of Bundaberg - some 350 kilometres beyond Brisbane - to be able to withstand cyclonic winds, the Home safe: national leadership in adapting to a changing climate report pointed out. Mr Kean said it was also time to rethink where homes were being built in the first place. "As flood hazards change, we need to adapt our thinking about where to build new homes and suburbs," he said. Insurance was "costing households too much" as premiums rose in line with growing risk. The record-breaking May floods across the NSW mid-north coast and Hunter regions claimed the lives of five people, inundated hundreds of homes and stranded tens of thousands of people. Extreme weather events had already cost the Australian economy $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025, the Climate Change Authority report, due to be released on June 19, found. By the end of the decade climate change was expected to wipe more than $500 billion off the property market. The report also found extreme weather events led to poorer physical and mental health, as well as substandard living conditions.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Insurance claims for wild weather damage this year already exceed 2024 total
Insurance claims for wild weather in the first five months of this year have already surpassed 2024 for at least one major insurer, as the community tallies the cost of Cyclone Alfred and the NSW floods. NRMA Insurance said it had received 32,000 claims for wild weather-related damage to both vehicles and property between January and May this year, including cyclones, devastating floods, damaging winds and storms. While unusually high, it did not surpass the 53,716 claims in the first five months of 2022 for damage from widespread floods and an east coast low. Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean said Australia needed to reduce emissions to limit further climate warming, while also mounting a strong national adaptation effort to protect the nation against the risks that were already here. 'It's no surprise the damage bill is mounting,' Kean said. 'This underscores the need for practical action like updating building codes and extending cyclone construction standards further down the coast.' Loading The Albanese government has invested $27.4 million in Australia's first-ever National Climate Risk Assessment and a related National Adaptation Plan, but it is yet to be released. The Climate Change Authority will on Thursday publish a report examining the perils of climate change for home owners, including the implications of ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred and expectations of more southerly cyclones. CSIRO research suggests every $1 invested in climate resilience saves up to $11 in recovery costs. Alfred was the first cyclone to threaten South East Queensland and northern NSW in 50 years. Peter Chan, a meteorologist and executive manager with NRMA's natural perils team, said back in 1974 when Cyclone Zoe and Cyclone Wanda hit, there were 2 million people living in South East Queensland and now there were 4 million. By 2046, the population of the region is expected to grow to 6 million. NRMA Insurance covers every state and territory except Victoria, where IAG insurance is sold by RACV. Chan said Queensland experienced its worst season for wild weather claims back to at least 2017 – and that it took just 66 days for the state to surpass its total claims due to weather damage in 2024.
