Leading agricultural organisations are pressuring the government to release a long-completed climate risk assessment, expressing concern over the economic and environmental threats posed by climate change. These groups warn that ongoing delays are hampering their ability to plan and respond effectively to shifting climate conditions.
Major farming bodies from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia are leading the push. They are calling for the release of the National Climate Risk Assessment, a report managed by the Australian Climate Service. It outlines the projected impact of extreme weather events, sea level rise and extended droughts on the agricultural sector. Completed in late 2024, the report is understood to contain sobering data on the vulnerability of key food-producing areas.
Insiders familiar with the report say it includes detailed maps showing high-risk locations such as parts of coastal North Queensland that are likely to face flooding and drought-prone zones in the south-west. Additional modelling suggests that declining rainfall between 2001 and 2021 already lowered average farm incomes by nearly $30,000 each year. Farmers are under increasing financial strain, even before considering future risks.
Despite rising pressure, the federal government has not provided a timeline for releasing the report. It is part of a wider National Adaptation Plan, which outlines the country’s long-term climate change response under the Paris Agreement. Some suggest the delay could be linked to the potential fiscal impacts of the policy recommendations in the report.
The outcome of this dispute may have far-reaching effects on agriculture and climate strategy across Australia. Though farm organisations are not all aligned in their priorities, with some concentrating on adaptation and others cautious of increased regulation, most agree on one point. Without access to reliable and timely data, preparing for future climate challenges is significantly more difficult.
