As climate change worsens there will be more frequent and severe droughts, more frequent and severe bushfires, more frequent and severe storms, more frequent and severe flooding and more frequent and severe heatwaves.
Already we can see towns in Australia that have run out of drinkable water. Temperature records have been broken across the country and large amounts of land are on fire including rainforests. There are already food shortages that most people haven't even noticed because it is being imported instead) and petrol and energy will become more expensive. Parts of northern Australia will become uninhabitable because of the combination of high temperature and humidity and coastal areas are vulnerable to the rising oceans.
Depending on where you live it might be time to think about moving. Moving is a big decision but waiting until everyone realises the truth that some areas are going to depopulate means that you will have no-one to sell your house to and might just have to walk away. Mind you there is also the argument that you should stay and fight for the community you already have because nowhere is truly safe. However if your town is going to run out of water or suffer 50oC days moving is the only logical option.
The continuing rise in house prices in Tasmania and dramatic fall in Darwin shows that whether people are talking about it or not people are already moving because of climate change.
So how do you research how your area is going to fare with worsening climate change and where is a better option?
You can research broad areas with the Climate Change in Australia website. It divides Australia up into 54 natural resource management regions. The climate analogues explorer which compares amn Australian location to a projected similar climate place is a good tool for visualizing and communicating the projected change in climate. For instance Sydney is projected to have a climate much more like Kempsey currently is. Canberra will become more like Albury-Wodonga. If you are currently near the coast or looking at moving to the coast have a look at the Coastal Risk Australia interactive map, which compares current day high tide inundation with 2100 with a 0.74m rise and high tide. NSW has a website that has projections for regions within NSW called Climate Projections for your Region, which shows areas down to a 10km square area.
You can look at current weather data using Bureau of Meteorology historical data site. Google Earth lets you assess an area for proximity to forests, swamps, watercourses, access roads and services.
Factors you might consider:
Areas right on the coast are at risk of inundation and generally have infertile sandy soils.
Cute villages in the country are pretty but are you going to spend large amounts of time driving to services.
Distance is going to become a factor again in our lives with people not travelling as far. Going remote will become difficult to get supplies.
Inland areas have greater extremes of temperature. Think of the difference between harbour Sydney and western Sydney.
Once you move to a new place put lots of energy into developing community and helping your new community become climate resilient.
Already we can see towns in Australia that have run out of drinkable water. Temperature records have been broken across the country and large amounts of land are on fire including rainforests. There are already food shortages that most people haven't even noticed because it is being imported instead) and petrol and energy will become more expensive. Parts of northern Australia will become uninhabitable because of the combination of high temperature and humidity and coastal areas are vulnerable to the rising oceans.
Depending on where you live it might be time to think about moving. Moving is a big decision but waiting until everyone realises the truth that some areas are going to depopulate means that you will have no-one to sell your house to and might just have to walk away. Mind you there is also the argument that you should stay and fight for the community you already have because nowhere is truly safe. However if your town is going to run out of water or suffer 50oC days moving is the only logical option.
The continuing rise in house prices in Tasmania and dramatic fall in Darwin shows that whether people are talking about it or not people are already moving because of climate change.
So how do you research how your area is going to fare with worsening climate change and where is a better option?
You can research broad areas with the Climate Change in Australia website. It divides Australia up into 54 natural resource management regions. The climate analogues explorer which compares amn Australian location to a projected similar climate place is a good tool for visualizing and communicating the projected change in climate. For instance Sydney is projected to have a climate much more like Kempsey currently is. Canberra will become more like Albury-Wodonga. If you are currently near the coast or looking at moving to the coast have a look at the Coastal Risk Australia interactive map, which compares current day high tide inundation with 2100 with a 0.74m rise and high tide. NSW has a website that has projections for regions within NSW called Climate Projections for your Region, which shows areas down to a 10km square area.
You can look at current weather data using Bureau of Meteorology historical data site. Google Earth lets you assess an area for proximity to forests, swamps, watercourses, access roads and services.
Factors you might consider:
- You want a climate that is not too extreme (particularly not hot and humid)
- Consider bushfire danger.
- Fertile soil with sufficient rainfall to grow some of your own food.
- Sufficient services such as shops, hospital, Centrelink, doctors, schools, pharmacy.
- Able to walk to services or catch public transport
- Public transport links to more major centres.
- Employment.
- House should be energy efficient and orientated correctly or capable of being made energy efficient.
- Secure water supply.
- Internet.
- Affordability.
- Presence/absence of major dams upstream (EDIT: after Townsville flooding)
Areas right on the coast are at risk of inundation and generally have infertile sandy soils.
Cute villages in the country are pretty but are you going to spend large amounts of time driving to services.
Distance is going to become a factor again in our lives with people not travelling as far. Going remote will become difficult to get supplies.
Inland areas have greater extremes of temperature. Think of the difference between harbour Sydney and western Sydney.
Once you move to a new place put lots of energy into developing community and helping your new community become climate resilient.
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