Farmers face 'new world' of extreme weather as scientists urge action on climate change

[...]

Scientists and politicians are warning big policy shifts are needed to mitigate extreme weather impacts, following what farmers describe as unprecedented flooding in the New South Wales Hunter and Mid North Coast regions last month.

[...]

"In the north, we're looking at some of our very low-lying cane fields, we know they're no longer viable in the coming years," she said.

[..]

Extreme weather research organisation ClimaMeter, funded by the European Union and the French National Centre for Scientific Research, has published a paper looking at the link between climate change and the May NSW floods.

It studied changes in weather patterns since 1950 and concluded that the extreme precipitation that caused the flooding was intensified by human-induced climate change, with natural variability playing a secondary role.

[...]

Dr Karoly said Taree may need to consider levee banks, relocating houses, and drainage systems that could remove floodwater quickly.