The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, today released updated Climate Change Potential Impacts and Costs fact sheets summarising research into the possible impacts of climate change in each State and Territory.

Mr Combet said the updated fact sheets reflected the Gillard Government’s commitment to informing the public about the latest scientific advice on climate change so people understand the risks and challenges we face.

“The potential impacts around the States and Territories range from an increase in the proportion of tropical cyclones which fall into the more intense categories in Queensland to adverse impacts on Tasmania’s aquaculture industries from warmer ocean temperatures,” Mr Combet said.

“In New South Wales climate change is expected to contribute to an increase in the number of extreme bushfire days in parts of the State, while in Victoria there are likely to be serious impacts on water resources in the southern Murray Darling Basin.”

Western Australia would potentially experience an 80 per cent increase in the incidence of drought by 2070 with Perth the most severely affected city in Australia by climate change-induced water scarcity.

The updated fact sheet for South Australia summarises research showing reduced rainfall and water availability, coupled with warmer temperatures, could have a major impact on the State’s wine-growing regions and industry.

Mr Combet said the Government was making a wide range of information available on the potential impacts of climate change so State and Local Governments and local communities could start planning to manage the impacts.

“We can avoid the worst of these impacts if we take action now to tackle climate change including by introducing a carbon price,” he said.

“For the impacts which scientists advise are unavoidable it is important to start considering ways of managing and adapting to these changes.”

The updated Climate Change Potential Impacts and Costs fact sheets for each State and Territory can be found at http://www.climatechange.gov.au/climate-change/impacts/national-impacts.aspx