The critical decade: climate science, risks and response

This document reviews the current scientific knowledge base on climate change, particularly with regard to (i) the underpinning it provides for the formulation of policy and (ii) the information it provides on the risks of a changing climate to Australia. The first chapter of the update focuses on the fundamental understanding of the climate system, which is an important element in framing and informing the formulation of policy.

Chapter 2 describes some of the most significant risks that are associated with a changing climate. This chapter aims to provide an up-to-date synthesis of our scientific understanding of five major aspects of the climate system that are important for risk assessments across many sectors. These are: (i) sea-level rise; (ii) ocean acidification; (iii) the water cycle; (iv) extreme events; and (v) abrupt, non-linear and irreversible changes in the climate system. Chapter 3 provides a link between the science of climate change and the policy options for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2).