State of the Climate

[Animation opens on an outdoor scene. There are bushes and clumps of grasses scattered across the ground with a bird in the mid screen near a burrow. There are clouds in the sky and a large group of birds flying in circles to the left of screen]

Narrator:  Our weather and climate affects all Australians every day.

[Animation changes to show the bird taking off and flying to the right of screen. Text appears: Our weather and climate affects all Australians every day]

This is the State of the Climate report for 2024.

[Animation changes as the scene shows the beach and ocean as the bird circles behind text on screen: State of the Climate 2024]

Our climate has continued to change in the last two years, impacting us now and into the future.

[Animation changes to show more of the sky and clouds as the birds disappear from view. Text on screen: Our climate has continued to change in the last 2 years impacting us now and into the future]

Across the world, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are continuing to increase

[Image on screen changes to a logo of the earth with arrowed lines up and down on the left and text below: Across the world greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are continuing to increase. On the right of screen is a chart showing a red and blue line with a large increase. Chart is titled CO2 concentration (ppm) with numbers at the bottom representing from 1900 to 2020]

and globally, 2023 was the warmest year on record.

[Image on screen changes to show a chart on the left with the heading: Temperature anomaly. Chart represents from 1950 to 2020 with temperatures in a bar graph from left to right. Right side of screen has an image of a thermometer with text below: Globally 2023 was the warmest year on record]

Australia is also continuing to warm in line with global trends.

[Image on screen changes to show a chart on the left with the heading: Temperature anomaly and dates below from 1910 to 2030. An animation shows the temperatures steadily rising. Right side of screen has an image of a thermometer with text below: Australia is also continuing to warm in line with global trends]

The warming has led to an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events.

[Image on screen changes to an image of a thermometer on the left of screen with text below: There is an increase in extreme heat events. To the right of screen is a graph with title: Number of extreme warm days]

2023 was one of Australia's largest bushfire seasons in terms of area burned

[Image on screen changes to shots of trees burning with text below: 2023 was one of Austria’s largest bush fires]

Due to increased fuel loads from high rainfall in 2022 and early 2023 in northern areas.

[Image on screen changes to show a bar chart on the left titled: Changes in number of dangerous fire weather days. To the right is a map of Australia with colours to match the bar chart, mostly red, orange, brown and yellow. Text below: There’s been an increase in extreme fire weather and in the length of the fire season]

Across large parts of Australia, there's been an increase in extreme fire weather and in the length of the fire season.

[Image on screen changes to panning across a rural setting where the land is dry but still slightly green. Text above: There has been a shift towards drier conditions across the south]

There has been a shift towards drier conditions across the south, with more frequent years of below average rainfall.

[Image on screen changes to panning across a greener landscape with plenty of green trees and a reasonably well covered mountain to the left. The sky is dark and stormy. Text above: In contrast, northern Australia has been wetter than average]

In contrast, northern Australia has been wetter than average over the last 30 years.

[Image on screen changes to a stormy sky with rain and a lightning bolt as birds fly through from left to right. Text on screen: The intensity of heavy rainfall events is increasing as our climate warms]

The intensity of heavy rainfall events is increasing as our climate warms,

[Image on screen changes to the ocean and a calm sky above it with pink tinged clouds and birds flying from left to right. Text on screen: Oceans around Australia are warming and becoming more acidic]

oceans around Australia are warming and becoming more acidic, with changes happening faster in recent decades.

[Image on screen changes to a view from underneath the ocean, looking up at sharks and other marine creatures swimming. Text on screen: This warming has led to more frequent marine heatwaves]

This warming has led to more frequent marine heatwaves and permanent impacts

[Image on screen changes as the marine creatures start swimming down to the camera angle and then changes to a graph on the left of screen titled: Trend in ocean heat. To the right of the graph is a map of Oceania with the temperatures plotted according to the graph]

on the health of our marine ecosystems. The risk of coastal inundation and damage to infrastructure and communities is increasing with our rising sea levels.

[Image on screen changes to pan around the top of the ocean, looking towards land and then changes to a graph titles: Change in global mean sea level (cm). Text on screen: Sea levels are rising]

With ongoing changes in our weather and climate,

[Image on screen changes to a foreground of tall grasses and bush, a burrow in the sand and birds flying around a blue sky. Text on screen: Australia must plan for and adapt to the changing nature of climate risk now for future generations]

Australia must plan for and adapt to the changing nature of climate risk now for future generations.

To read the full report visit our websites.

[Image on screen changes to a shot of a person standing on a grassy hill to the left with their back to the camera. They are wearing a hat, long sleeved shirt, shorts and a backpack. They are looking at a bluff and the ocean. Text on screen: State of the Climate 2024. In the top right of screen are the CSIRO and Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology logos]