Latest climate change data for NSW

NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe has released updated climate change projections designed to help governments, agencies, businesses, landholders and communities plan and adapt to the future climate.

The government says the latest projections illustrate the need for further action to reduce emissions and for informed planning to improve the resilience of households, communities and businesses to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather patterns.

The third version of the NSW and Australian Regional Climate Modelling (NARCliM) forecasts climate outcomes for NSW, based on global emissions scenarios. Earlier versions were released in 2014 (NARCliM 1.0) and 2021 (NARCliM 1.5).

Available at fine (4km) scale for south-east Australia and coarser (20km) scale over Australasia, the updated set of climate projections are among the most detailed available in the country.

NARCliM 2.0 projects that by the year 2100, NSW can expect:

• increased average temperatures in all parts of NSW, with the greatest rises inland,
• more hot days of 35°C and above for all regions across the state,
• fewer cold nights below 2°C, particularly along the Great Dividing Range, and
• more extreme weather events including severe fire weather days for all of NSW by 2050.

Two models

The updated data models two greenhouse gas emissions scenarios and what the climate in NSW is projected to look like under each. It is the first time NARCliM has provided low emissions scenario projections that show the benefits to NSW of achieving the Paris targets.

By 2090, under a low emissions scenario, temperatures are projected to increase by a further 1.3°C and there would be up to an additional 15 days above 35°C each year.

Under a high emissions scenario, temperatures are projected to rise by a further 4°C and there would be up to 45 days above 35°C.  This shows why further action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to reducing the impacts of climate change that are damaging to health, the environment and the economy.

The government says these NARCliM projections provide robust and trusted information about our future climate which will be used to inform risk assessments, planning and research into the threats facing NSW and how we can improve climate resilience.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe says the data reinforces the Minns Labor Government’s decision to make action on climate change a whole of government priority, enshrine emissions reduction targets in law, and legislate an adaptation objective for NSW to be more resilient to a changing climate.

‘The data shows two clear options – we can do nothing which will lock in more extreme weather events in the future, or we can reduce emissions now to play our part in limiting the damage,’ said the minister.

Planning

‘We can’t plan for the future without the best data. That’s what NARCliM provides. Government agencies, businesses, farmers and local decision makers can now access updated climate projections to make informed decisions about the steps they should take to prepare for the changing climate.

‘This data will help protect critical infrastructure including hospitals, transport networks, dams and energy systems from climate change impacts such as extreme heat, fires and floods,’ said Ms Sharpe.

NARCliM climate projections are led by the NSW government with the support of the ACT, South Australian, Victorian, and Western Australian governments, National Computational Infrastructure, Murdoch University and the University of NSW.

The update is a commitment of the NSW government under the NSW Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

Statewide and regional NARCliM projections are available online: https://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/new-climate-projections-for-nsw