Climate

Climate change

 

Climate change is a long-term shift in temperature and weather patterns. This shift is primarily caused by increases in greenhouse gases as a result of human activity. Greenhouse gases trap heat in our atmosphere, warming the planet.

Since industry started ramping up in 1750, the global average temperature has increased by around 1.1°C. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are predicting that we will reach or exceed 1.5°C of warming within the next two decades.

Australia is already feeling the effects of climate change, with more hot days and heatwaves, changes in rainfall, more frequent and intense extreme events such as drought, floods, storms and bushfires, and rising sea levels and temperatures.

Without strong intervention, these effects are only going to get worse.

Climate change affects all life on earth in a variety of ways:

  • More frequent and intense extreme events, including floods, droughts, storms, heatwaves and bushfires, directly threaten our communities, our ecosystems, and our economy.
  • Rising temperatures can cause heat-related illness and death, worsen existing health problems and increasing our risk of infectious disease. Rising air pollution is also exacerbating allergies and asthma. Increased extreme events are causing more loss of life, severe physical injuries and long-lasting mental trauma.
  • Heat and rainfall changes are affecting food and water security and quality. Warmer temperatures increase evaporation of freshwater supplies and changes to rainfall are impacting groundwater recharge. These conditions are also making it more difficult for farmers to grow crops and graze livestock, reducing production and driving food prices up.
  • Rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storm surges threaten homes and infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries, and coastal ecosystems including beaches, estuaries, saltmarsh, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reefs. As the shoreline retreats towards built up areas where we live, often there is nowhere for these ecosystems to go. When saltwater intrudes into coastal areas it can contaminate soil, groundwater and freshwater ecosystems. Farmers are also losing acres of land every year because it is becoming too wet and too salty for cropping or livestock.
  • Changing weather conditions are affecting key habitats and the wildlife that rely on them. We are already seeing life cycle changes and shifts in the range of some species as they move away from the equator and to higher altitudes. However, many others may not be able to move or adapt quickly enough to keep up with these changes. Extreme weather can put an added stressor on ecosystems and push them to a tipping point. One in six species is at risk of extinction due to climate change.
  • Oceans are warming and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and becoming more acidic. This causes corals to bleach and die and making it harder for shellfish to grow and strengthen their skeletons, directly impacting their survival. Many of these are keystone species and their loss could drive collapse of marine food webs. We are also seeing more frequent and severe algal blooms, which are toxic to many animals and can make them unsafe to eat.
  • Shrinking glaciers and declining snow depth are impacting fresh water supplies and alpine environments.
  • Disturbance from climate change can favour the spread of invasive species.
  • Climate change has direct and indirect impacts on outdoor recreation and tourism. It affects when and where we go and threatens many of the places we like to visit, including beaches, waterways, coral reefs, national parks and snowy mountains.
  • Climate change is amplifying the effect of other threats. Ecosystems are complex and multiple stressors can feed back on each other in unexpected ways.

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Erosion
Pollution
Drought
Land use
Threatened species
Climate change
Flood
Vegetation loss
Invasive species
Population growth
Fire
Recreation

Healthy Land & Water projects

Click to see by threats & pressures

Koala threat management South East Queensland

Community, Fire, Fire, Koala protection, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Expansion of Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Fire, First Nations, Knowledge Research, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships

Moreton Bay Ramsar Stakeholder Network

Coastal & marine, Community, SDG 09: Industry, SDG 17: Partnerships, Strategic Science & Sustainability, Threat - Climate

Natural Resources Recovery Program NRRP

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Drought, First Nations, Grazing, Land, Nature, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Consumption & Production, Soil health, Sustainable Agriculture, Threat - Land use

Expanding the known population of Davidsonia johnsonii

Biodiversity Conservation, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Fire preparedness: Go-to bushfire training, tools, advice, planning and services

Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Adaptation, Community, Fire, First Nations, Land, Nature, Sustainable Agriculture

Drought Innovation Hub - Southern Queensland node

Community, Drought, Land, Nature, Sustainable Agriculture

Riverine Flood Recovery Project

Community, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Water

The new Riparian Management Investment Tool

Erosion, Knowledge Research, Land, Nature, SDG 14: Below Water, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Wild Macadamia Hunt Program

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Knowledge Research, Land, Nature, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Brisbane Catchments Network Online Mapping Tool

Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Land, Nature, SDG 17: Partnerships

Bushfire recovery project

Biodiversity Conservation, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Fire, Fire, Land, Nature, SDG 15: Land

Coochiemudlo Island Wetland Weed Control project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Land, Nature, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Coombabah Lakelands Restoration project

Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Nature, SDG 17: Partnerships

Drought Resilience program

Climate Adaptation, Community, Land, Landscapes, Threat - Climate, Threat - Land use

Fishers for fish habitat in the Logan-Albert River

Biodiversity Conservation, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 14: Below Water, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Caring for Country on Guwawenewa (Goat Island)

Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, First Nations, Nature

Clean Up Program

Community, Water

Davidson Street creek restoration

Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Nature, Urban design

Three Mile Scrub

Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Nature, SDG 17: Partnerships

Water by Design

Coastal & marine, Community, Urban design, Water

Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program EHMP

Coastal & marine, Community, Water

Pumicestone shellfish habitat restoration

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Land, Nature, SDG 14: Below Water, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Erosion and sediment control and urban stormwater

Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Land, SDG 14: Below Water, SDG 15: Land, Water, Water by Design

Ransome Road Reserve Restoration

Coastal & marine, Community

Pumicestone erosion control

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Environmental Offsets, Erosion, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Sustainable Agriculture, Water

Hays Inlet Weed Control Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Land, Nature, Threat - Invasive species

Protecting Koalas - now in its third phase!

Biodiversity Conservation, Fire, Koala protection, Land, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Lungfish Habitat Rehabilitation

Nature, SDG 14: Below Water

Mid Brisbane Partnerships Program

Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Environmental Offsets, Erosion, Land, Land Restoration, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Sediment, Water

Moreton Bay Debris Removal program

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, First Nations, Land, Landscapes, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, Threat - Pollution, Water

Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Erosion, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 14: Below Water, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Pollution, Threat - Sediment, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Moreton Bay Shorebirds project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, First Nations, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Pig Control on Quandamooka Country

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, First Nations, Nature, Threat - Invasive species

Healthy Waterplay

Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, SDG 14: Below Water, Water

North Stradbroke Island Ecological Assessment

Coastal & marine, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Knowledge Research, Nature, People & Culture, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Land use, Threat - Vegetation loss

Fire Management Dashboard Guides

Fire, Fire, Landscapes, SDG 15: Land

Bells Creek and Pumicestone Monitoring Program

Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Knowledge Research, Nature, People & Culture, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, SDG 14: Below Water, Strategic Science & Sustainability, Threat - Waterway recreation, Water

Lower Caboolture Resilience and Nutrients Offset

Coastal & marine, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Environmental Offsets, Erosion, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 09: Industry, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Strategic Science & Sustainability, Threat - Sediment, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Koalas and bushfire workshops

Community, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Koala protection, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, Threat - Threatened species

Fuel Hazard Assessment Training

Community, Fire, Fire, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Fire Planning and Preparedness

Community, Fire, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, Science Committee, SDG 15: Land, Strategic Science & Sustainability

Integrated Fire Management Strategy on Moreton Island

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Strategic Science & Sustainability

Technical and Strategic Services for QYAC

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Knowledge Research, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 14: Below Water, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Strategic Science & Sustainability, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Moreton Island QYAC Fire Project

Community, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Knowledge Research, Land, Nature, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships

Mareeba Fire Management Workshops

Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Adaptation, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Land, Landscapes, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Land use, Threat - Threatened species

Estuarine Marine and Freshwater Health Monitoring Project

Coastal & marine, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Knowledge Research, Nature, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, SDG 14: Below Water, Strategic Science & Sustainability, Threat - Pollution, Water

Bushfire Planning Workshops - Gladstone

Community, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, Threat - Land use, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Living Waterways - What's Your Nature?

Climate Adaptation, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Nature, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 14: Below Water, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Sediment, Water, Water by Design

Resilient Rivers

Community, Environmental Offsets, Erosion, Land, Land Restoration, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 14: Below Water, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Sediment, Water

Aura Community Program

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, First Nations, Land, Nature, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Water

North Pine River Source Protection

Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Erosion, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 06: Clean Water, Threat - Sediment, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Program

Air & atmosphere, Climate Adaptation, Fire, Fire, Land, Nature, SDG 15: Land

Conserving Greater and Yellow-bellied Gliders

Biodiversity Conservation, Fire, Fire, Land, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Threatened species

Laidley Creek Restoration Master Plan

Landscapes, SDG 06: Clean Water, Strategic Science & Sustainability, Threat - Pollution, Water

Port of Brisbane Shellfish Habitat Restoration

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Nature, SDG 14: Below Water, Threat - Threatened species, Water

BHP Protecting Koalas Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Koala protection, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Eastern Bristlebirds - Bushfire Rehabilitation

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Fire, Fire, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Threatened species

Grey-headed Flying Fox - Bushfire Rehabilitation

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Fire, Fire, Land, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Threatened species

Fishers for fish habitat in Maroochy & Northern Moreton Bay

Biodiversity Conservation, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 14: Below Water, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Mid Brisbane Partnership - New phase

Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Environmental Offsets, Erosion, Land, Land Restoration, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Sediment, Water

Flood Recovery for Wildlife and Habitat

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Land, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Climate, Threat - Threatened species

Dogs Off-leash Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, First Nations, Nature, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Threatened species

Restoring Lockyer's wildlife habitat post-fires

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Fire, Fire, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Fox and Cat Control Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, First Nations, Nature, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Threatened species

Integrated Cultural Fire Management on Bribie Island

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Landscapes, SDG 15: Land, Strategic Science & Sustainability

Boat Strike Control Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, First Nations, Nature, SDG 14: Below Water, SDG 17: Partnerships, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Waterway recreation, Water

Phase two Bushfire Recovery Project: Fire Management - Phase 2

Community, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Lota Creek Wetlands Restoration

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Fire, Land, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Invasive species, Water

Turning the brown snake blue – Brisbane River Erosion Source Master Plan

Landscapes, Nature, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 14: Below Water, Threat - Sediment, Water

T.S. Onslow shoreline management

Coastal & marine, Community, Nature

Egret Colony Victoria Point Wetlands Restoration Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Fire, Fire, First Nations, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Regional Landcare Partnerships Environment

Biodiversity Conservation, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Erosion, Fire, Fire, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 14: Below Water, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Sustainable Agriculture, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Pollution, Threat - Sediment, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Regional Landcare Partnerships Core

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Sustainable Agriculture, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Land use, Threat - Vegetation loss

Deception Bay Wetlands Restoration

Coastal & marine, Landscapes

Regional Landcare Partnerships RALF

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Erosion, First Nations, Grazing, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 15: Land, SDG 17: Partnerships, Soil health, Sustainable Agriculture, Threat - Land use

Water Quality Guidelines for Moreton Bay

Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Adaptation, Coastal & marine, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Knowledge Research, Nature, SDG 06: Clean Water, Water

Regional Land Partnerships Agriculture

Landscapes, Nature, SDG 12: Consumption & Production

Station Road Wetlands Restoration Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Fire, First Nations, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Riparian Weed Control Program

Biodiversity Conservation, Erosion, Land, Nature, Threat - Sediment, Water

Healthy Catchments Program

Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Environmental Offsets, Erosion, Land, Land Restoration, SDG 06: Clean Water, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, SDG 14: Below Water, Sustainable Agriculture, Threat - Sediment, Water

Nathan Road Wetlands Restoration Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Fire, First Nations, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 14: Below Water, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Nature Refuge Landholder Engagement

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Fire, First Nations, Land, Landscapes, Nature, SDG 03: Well-being, SDG 11: Cities and Communities, SDG 15: Land, Threat - Land use, Threat - Vegetation loss
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Healthy Land & Water 
Level 11, 240 Queen St
GPO Box 735
MEANJIN (BRISBANE) 
QLD  4001  
Australia

Healthy Land and Water Ltd
ABN 91 115 662 989

 

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