Climate Change in Sydney

This report discusses the climate changes in Sydney, including precipitation, sea level rise, temperature, and wind speed. It also explores the social impacts on water and food supplies, as well as refugee movements. The report concludes with actions to mitigate climate change.

Running head: CLIMATE CHANGE IN SYDNEY
Climate Change in Sydney
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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Executive Summary
The primary purpose of this report is to discuss about the climate changes taking place in
Sydney in relation to precipitation, humidity along with the sea level. The report also talks
about the social impacts of the climate change in the area of water supplies, food supplies
along with the refugee movements.

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction..........................................................................................................................3
2.0 Natural Impact......................................................................................................................3
2.1 Changes in precipitation.......................................................................................................3
2.2 Sea level Rise...................................................................................................................4
2.3 Temperature.....................................................................................................................4
2.4 Wind Speed......................................................................................................................4
3.0 Social Impacts of Climate Change.......................................................................................5
3.1 Water supply....................................................................................................................5
3.2 Food Supply.....................................................................................................................6
3.3 Refugee Movement..........................................................................................................6
4.0 Actions to be undertaken......................................................................................................6
5.0 Conclusion............................................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................9

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1.0 Introduction
Climate change takes place in the event of changes taking place in the weather
patterns of the earth. Climate system consists of the five interacting parts- hydrosphere,
atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere along with the lithosphere. Climate change within Sydney
has emerged to be a critical issue in the beginning of 21st century. Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) released a report in the year 2013 that stated
that Sydney has become warmer in the present age. It is experiencing extreme heat along with
the longer fire season on account of the changes taking place in climate. This report talks
about the changes in the precipitation, humidity, temperature, wind along with the sea level
that has been brought about owing to the increasing human activities that has polluted the
earth. The report also talks about the social impacts of the changes pertaining to water and the
food supplies. The report also talks about the actions that can be taken that can help in
mitigating impact in relation to climate change.
2.0 Natural Impact
2.1 Changes in precipitation
The average rainfall across that of Sydney has increased since the year 1900. The
precipitation has increased in the region of north-west Sydney since the year 1970. It has
however been seen that there is a declining trend in relation to winter rainfall within south-
west Sydney. Early winter along with the autumnal rainfall has been below the average in
that of south-east since the year 1990. The events of extreme rainfall would increase across
Sydney but it is however being stated that overall rainfall would drop in the area of Southern
Sydney except Tasmania.

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2.2 Sea level Rise
The global mean sea level has increased in 20th century. In the year 2012 the sea level
in Sydney was found to be 225 mm higher when compared to the year 1880
(Theconversation.com 2019). It has been found that the rate of the rise in the sea-level has
been found to vary across the Sydneyn region. It has been found that the rise in the sea level
is high in the north. The rate has however been found to similar to that of global average in
south along with the east. It is being stated that there would be rise in the sea level from that
of 45 com cm to the 82 cm by the end of the year 2090 (Water.wa.gov.au 2019). The
emissions should be curbed to prevent this kind of phenomena. Report has talked about the
fact that the collapsing of the ice sheet in Antarctica would cause the increase in the sea level
of that of Sydney.
2.3 Temperature
It has been found out that the sea surface temperature has warmed by around 1 degree
centigrade since the year 1900. The last three years that is from 2013 to 2015 has been the
warmest years for Sydney (El-Zein and Tonmoy 2015). This has increased the level of the
humidity in Sydney. The frequency and the intensity of the heat waves has increased across
the large expanse of Sydney from the year 1950 (Theguardian.com 2019). The frequency and
the intensity of that of the heat waves has increased across large areas of Sydney from the
year of 1970.
2.4 Wind Speed
In the year 1970 in Sydney, the average wind speed that was above that of the ground
was around 2.2 metres per second however it has been reduced to 1.6 metre per second in the
year 2017 (Environment.gov.au 2019). The wind on the other hand is becoming faster across
poles and in that of the coastal areas.

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The State of the Climate Report in Sydney has pointed out to the fact that the climate
of the place have warmed after the national records began in the year 1910. It has been found
that the five warmest years in Sydney were the three subsequent years 2013, 2014 along with
the year 2015 (Climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au 2019). The year 2013 was the
warmest year within Sydney. Warming trend has been found to take place against that of the
background of the climate variability from one year to another year. It can be said to be
related to El Nino along with the La Nina taking place within tropical Pacific.
3.0 Social Impacts of Climate Change
3.1 Water supply
Climate change has affected the communities, industries along with the eco system
that has posed a challenge to the resources of Sydney. The changes in the climate of Sydney
in relation to rainfall along with temperature has influenced water cycle in Sydney. The
rainfall in that of south-west Western Sydney have decreased to a great extent from the year
1970. There have been a decrease in the average rainfall of around 200 mm/a in various
places. The reduced rainfall have paved the way for the less frequent flow in the waterways
(Ireland and Clausen 2019). There are various areas like Perth where the groundwater
recharge along with the water table has fallen down. It has influenced the waterways along
with other ecosystems that is dependent on the inflow of the groundwater. The drying trend is
continuing in Sydney and this would cause the altered pattern in relation to flow in the south-
west waterways that has effect in the water supplies in Sydney. It would cause the perennial
stream to become seasonal (Christopher 2016). The seasonal stream on the other hand would
have longer period of time without any kind of flow.

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3.2 Food Supply
The droughts taking place in Sydney would reduce the farming production in the
drylands of Sydney (Dean and Green 2018). It would bring about the decline of the aggregate
agricultural production along with the exports. Climate change would have an adverse impact
on the food exports along with the food supplies of Sydney. It would not be able to contribute
to that of the global food supply (Anwar et al. 2015). The contribution of Sydney to the
global trade in relation to the wheat along with the meat can be said to be substantial that can
have an effect on the global food prices.
3.3 Refugee Movement
The refugee movements would have an adverse impact on the social condition of
Sydney. The extreme weather events taking place across the world can create the way for the
climate refugees who would have an effect on the social conditions of Sydney (Lin et al.
2016). It can create security challenges for the country. It can also ignite conflict and drive
the new wave pertaining to mass forced migration (Howes et al., 2015). Climate would act as
a threat multiplier and it would aggravate the tension taking place in Sydney. A large number
of migrants would arrive in Sydney on account of the environmental changes taking place in
the Pacific Island countries.
4.0 Actions to be undertaken
There are various actions that can be brought about that can help in dealing with the
climate change taking place in Sydney. Sydney is meeting the targets in relation to climate
change with the help of Direct Action policies that can help in reducing the emissions and
increase the productivity (Tonmoy et al. 2018). Emissions Reduction Fund is offering support
to the business along with the communities in Sydney that can help in reduction of emission
of the greenhouse gases.

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Renewable Energy Target has helped the house holds in Sydney in installing the solar
energy technologies that can prove to be useful in combating the adverse effects of climate
change (Longden 2019). It can help in transforming the electricity sector to the cleaner
source that can help in supporting growth in the arena of renewable energy sector.
National energy Production Plan in Sydney would improve the energy productivity in
Sydney by bringing about improvements in the households (Bell 2016). It can help in making
the energy choices easier that can help in increasing efficiency of the appliances along with
the equipments. The progression in the Plan can be carried out with the help of collaboration
with states along with territories with the help of Council of Sydneyn Governments Energy
Council.
5.0 Conclusion
The changes pertaining to weather patterns of earth brings about the climate changes
in the world. The interaction of hydrosphere, biosphere and the atmosphere brings about the
climate changes on the earth. Average rainfall taking place in Sydney have increased to a
great extent from year 1900. Increasing amount of precipitation can be perceived within
north-west Sydney from that of the year 1970. There has been increase in that of global mean
sea level in the 20th century. The sea level of Sydney have increased by 225 mm from 1880 to
that of 2012. National records have pointed out to the fact that the climate of the place has
become warm after national records were brought out in 1910. Climate change has negative
effect on the industries along with communities that has threatened the resources of the place.
Climate changes pertaining to rainfall and that of temperature have a great influence on the
water cycle within Sydney. Refugee movements taking place owing to the climate change has
affected the social conditions of the place. Sydney is taking the help of the Direct Action
Policies that can reduce the emission in the place. Renewable Energy Target can help

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households within Sydney in the installation of solar energy technologies that can reduce the
negative effects of the climate change.
References
Anwar, M.R., Li Liu, D., Farquharson, R., Macadam, I., Abadi, A., Finlayson, J., Wang, B.
and Ramilan, T., 2015. Climate change impacts on phenology and yields of five broadacre
crops at four climatologically distinct locations in Australia. Agricultural Systems, 132,
pp.133-144.
Bell, A., 2016. Media (mis) communication on the science of climate change. Public
understanding of science.
Christopher, J., 2016. The 2015 Paris climate change conference: COP21. Science
progress, 99(1), p.97.
Climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au (2019). Australian trends. [online]
Climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au. Available at:
https://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/en/climate-campus/australian-climate-change/
australian-trends/ [Accessed 2 Apr. 2019].
Dean, A. and Green, D., 2018. Climate change, air pollution and human health in Sydney,
Australia: A review of the literature. Environmental Research Letters, 13(5), p.053003.
El-Zein, A. and Tonmoy, F.N., 2015. Assessment of vulnerability to climate change using a
multi-criteria outranking approach with application to heat stress in Sydney. Ecological
Indicators, 48, pp.207-217.
Environment.gov.au (2019). Department of the Environment and Energy. [online]
Department of the Environment and Energy. Available at:

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https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/publications/factsheet-actions-australia-is-
taking [Accessed 2 Apr. 2019].
Howes, M., Tangney, P., Reis, K., Grant-Smith, D., Heazle, M., Bosomworth, K. and Burton,
P., 2015. Towards networked governance: improving interagency communication and
collaboration for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in
Australia. Journal of environmental planning and management, 58(5), pp.757-776.
Ireland, P. and Clausen, D., 2019. Local action that changes the world: Fresh perspectives on
climate change mitigation and adaptation from Australia. In Managing Global Warming(pp.
769-782). Academic Press.
Lin, B., Meyers, J., Beaty, R. and Barnett, G., 2016. Urban green infrastructure impacts on
climate regulation services in Sydney, Australia. Sustainability, 8(8), p.788.
Longden, T., 2019. Temperature-related mortality and climate change in Australia. The
Lancet Planetary Health, 3(3), p.e121.
Theconversation.com (2019). Climate change will reshape the world’s agricultural trade.
[online] The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/climate-change-will-
reshape-the-worlds-agricultural-trade-102721 [Accessed 2 Apr. 2019].
Theguardian.com (2019). Climate change will hit Australia harder than rest of world, study
shows. [online] the Guardian. Available at:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/26/climate-change-will-hit-australia-
harder-than-rest-of-world-study-shows [Accessed 2 Apr. 2019].
Tonmoy, F.N., Wainwright, D., Verdon-Kidd, D.C. and Rissik, D., 2018. An investigation of
coastal climate change risk assessment practice in Australia. Environmental Science &
Policy, 80, pp.9-20.

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Water.wa.gov.au (2019). Climate change and waterways. [online] Water.wa.gov.au.
Available at: http://www.water.wa.gov.au/water-topics/waterways/threats-to-our-waterways/
climate-change-and-waterways [Accessed 2 Apr. 2019].