The Climate Commission has published a NSW specific section of its Critical Decade report, detailing the expected impacts of climate change on the state.

 

The report found that the state is becoming hotter and drier, with record breaking hot days having doubled since 1960, and the number of days above 30 degrees almost doubling.

 

The report also found that while wet periods are expected, the norm will trend towards declining rainfall, jeopardizing Sydney’s water security.

 

The trend towards hot and dry weather has also made the state substantially more bushfire prone, with very high fire danger days becoming more frequent.

 

The report found that coastal infrastructure in NSW is vulnerable to flooding from the anticipated 1.1 metre rise in sea levels by the end of the century, with between 40,000-60,000 houses, 1200 commercial buildings and a 250 kilometre stretch of highway at risk of inundation.

 

The Climate Commission has continued to strongly argue for the decarbonisation of the country’s economy, finding that the longer the country depends on fossil fuels the more costly it will be.

 

The Commission concluded that the state is well-placed to capitalise on the global trend towards clean energy, with the sector attracting $263 billion worth of investment in 2011, representing one of the fastest growing sectors in the world.

 

The full report can be found here (PDF)