Rising sea levels could threaten infrastructure worth more than Aus$226 billion (US $205 billion) in Australia if climate change is left unchecked, a study warned on September 17. The Climate Council report said the most serious consequences of rising seas would be an increase in the frequency of coastal flooding and the retreat of shorelines. Both these threats could cause massive damage in Australia, where the majority of the population live on the coast and where cities, towns and infrastructure are concentrated, it said.
"More than $226 billion in commercial, industrial, road and rail, and residential assets around Australian coasts are potentially exposed to flooding and erosion hazards at a sea level rise of 1.1 metres, a high end, but quite plausible, scenario for 2100."
When he came to power a year ago Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who once said climate change science was "absolute crap", axed the government-funded Climate Commission in a bid to find savings. It was soon relaunched as the Climate Council - an independent watchdog operating as a non-profit body funded by public donations.
Its report said the sea level had already risen and was still rising as a result of climate change, and was likely to climb 0.4 to 1.0 metre (1ft 3ins to 3ft 3ins) through this century.
But even a 0.1 metre rise in sea level increased the risk of coastal flooding, a potential problem in Australia where more than half the coastline is vulnerable to recession, it said.
A sea level rise of 0.5 metre could involve a potential retreat of sandy shorelines by 25 to 50 metres, it added.
The report said the combined impact of inundation and shoreline recession put thousands of homes and businesses and 27,000 to 35,000 kilometres (16,740 to 21,700 miles) of roads and rail at risk.
In addition, rising sea levels also posed dangers for many of Australia's species and natural attractions, including the Great Barrier Reef, due to the "drowning" of reefs, salt water intrusion destroying freshwater habitats and sandy beach erosion.