• 1.5 million Australians living in coastal areas are at risk from rising sea levels by 2050.
• The report outlines severe impacts from climate change, including increased heat-related deaths.
• Australia's most populated cities like Sydney and Melbourne could see drastic increases in heat-related mortality rates.
• Property values in Australia could plummet by A$611 billion ($406 billion) due to climate impacts.
• The report emphasizes urgent climate action to mitigate future risks and losses.

According to a landmark climate report, 1.5 million Australians living in coastal regions will face risks from rising sea levels and climate hazards by 2050. The National Climate Risk Assessment indicates that climate change is no longer a distant forecast but a current reality, with the report's findings correlating directly to Australia's increased average temperatures, which have already surpassed 1.5°C since 1910, as stated by Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, "Australians are already living with the consequences of climate change today..." according to BBC, Le Monde, and The Jakarta Post.

The assessment warns of "cascading, compounding, concurrent" climatic impacts, predicting that unless climate change is curtailed, deaths from heat-related illnesses in Sydney could rise by more than 400% if temperatures increase by 3°C, and by over 250% in Melbourne. Furthermore, it anticipates that approximately 597,000 people will reside in areas susceptible to significant sea level rise by 2030, illustrating an urgent need for action, according to AA, BBC, and Le Monde.

Should global temperatures continue to rise, by 2090, losses in property values could reach A$770 billion ($505 billion), impacting nearly three million Australians. This has raised alarms, particularly in heavily affected regions like Queensland, home to 18 of the 20 most vulnerable areas for rising sea levels. As emphasized by Amanda McKenzie of the Climate Council, "We can choose a better future by cutting climate pollution harder and faster now," pointing to the need for effective legislative measures to combat climate change, according to The Jakarta Post, Le Monde, and AA.

The urgency to address climate change is further compounded by the Australian government's ongoing debates around emissions reduction targets. Despite efforts to ramp up renewable energy, the approval of fossil fuel projects remains contentious, highlighting the complexities facing Australia in transitioning to a greener future. Chris Bowen stated that the shift would require navigating a "complicated and complex" landscape, reflecting broader challenges in achieving climate objectives and the urgent imperative of protecting Australian communities and ecosystems, according to Le Monde, The Jakarta Post, and AA.