Queensland Climate Impacts and Opportunities

Queensland’s climate is already changing and is likely to change further in the future, posing significant risks for the State and some of its most important industries. The next chapter of the climate story is about how Queenslanders, and Australians, can find solutions that minimise the risks of climate change while providing extra benefits for our health, community, economy and environment.


This report accompanies The Critical Decade: Climate Change Science, Risks and Responses and highlights key climate change impacts and opportunities for Queensland.


1. Queensland’s agricultural industries are at risk: Agricultural productivity is affected though higher temperatures, changing rain patterns and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather. As a result the beef, sugar and cereal industries are expected to decline.

2. Queensland's tourism industry is at risk: The industry employs 120 000 people and relies on unique local attractions that are under threat. In the last 3 months on 2011, visitors to Tropical North Queensland spent $735 Million. Higher temperatures and changing rainfall will place considerable stress on the rainforests. The Great Barrier reef is threatened by higher surface temperatures and more acidic oceans.

3. Higher sea levels threaten Queenslanders property and lifestyle. The Gold Coast alone has more than 4000 residential buildings under threat.

5. Using energy more efficiently can provide new opportunities for Queenslanders.

6. Queensland is ideally placed for harnessing solar energy. The state is leading Australia in solar photovoltaic system installation, and has doubled its use of solar energy in less than two years.