Extreme events like droughts, heatwaves, cyclones and floods have a negative impact on agriculture and food production. By 2050, extreme events related to climate change are projected to halve the agricultural output of the irrigated areas of the Murray–Darling Basin. The Basin covers much of NSW and currently accounts for 50% of Australia’s irrigated agricultural output by value.  

Already, severe droughts have reduced Australia’s gross domestic product by about 1%. By 2061, it is projected that climate change impacts on pastoral and growing conditions could lead to annual average production losses of between $750 million and $1.5 billion. 

A decline in commodity production could also see these commodities become very expensive. This would have flow-on affects to other areas of the economy which may result in increased inflation and financial instability.

Climate change is projected to cause more severe weather events and rising sea levels. This will increase the risk of natural disasters such as bushfire, severe storms, floods, coastal erosion and inundation of low-lying coastal areas. These events impact both private and public property through direct damages and reduced property values. This affects the financial situation of individuals and the economy of the state. 

By 2030, climate change and extreme weather are expected to reduce the value of the Australian property market by around $571 billion. If greenhouse gas emissions remain high, the market will continue to lose value after 2030. 

Sea level rise can affect properties through coastal erosion and more frequent or permanent inundation of low-lying and coastal areas. By 2061, it is estimated that between 39,000 and 46,000 properties will be exposed to coastal erosion or flooding. This is expected to increase the annual costs of property damage and loss of land to between $850 million and $1.3 billion. By 2100, even more commercial, industrial, road, rail, and residential assets will be at risk from sea level rise around Australia.  

Other extreme weather events such as bushfires cause direct property loss and damages. The 2019–2020 bushfires destroyed nearly 2,500 homes in NSW alone. The total cost of the bushfire season is estimated to be over $100 billion. This includes direct property loss and damage, and indirect costs such as relief and recovery operations and costs associated with social and environmental damages. 

Essential services such as electricity, water and health services will be under increased pressure with climate change.  

There may be an increase in electricity demand as homes and business use air-conditioning to stay cool as temperatures increase. This increase in demand, as well as extreme temperatures themselves, increase the risk of failure of energy services – for example, heatwaves in 2017 caused power failures across NSW, Queensland and South Australia. 

Increased temperatures and more variable rainfall will impact water supplies in both regional and urban areas. Reduced water availability will result in stronger water restrictions. 

Health services are likely to come under pressure, as heatwaves and other health effects of climate change increase. These services will need to grow and adapt to cope with demand. 

Australia’s financial institutions and system are vulnerable to risks from climate change. Although our financial systems are currently stable, climate change is forcing people to consider these future risks. 

Insurance premiums are likely to increase as a result of climate change, due to the increasing risk of natural disasters. This includes crop insurance, property insurance, and health and life insurance. Some properties may not be insurable if they are in areas at risk of climate impacts, such as bushfire, flooding or sea level rise. Having non-insurable properties would force property owners to bear the risk or build elsewhere. 

Banks and other lenders can be financially exposed if the collateral they are lending against decreases in value due to climate change. 

Natural disasters can also have wider impacts on the economy, through disruption to businesses, impacts on tourism (both in the immediate aftermath of disasters as well as in the longer term) and in impacts on the physical and mental health of people in the community. 

Climate change affects our health and wellbeing. This affects livelihoods and productivity. For example, heatwaves and natural disasters result in loss of life and injuries that may affect people’s ability to work and contribute to society. Events such as drought affect mental health. These all affect the economy. 

In addition, impacts on health and wellbeing can increase demand for healthcare services, which in turn can increase heathcare costs. 

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change supports the global response to climate change. The convention is made up of around 197 parties from across the world, that regularly come together through events known as Conference of the Parties. At the 2015 Conference of Parties, the historic Paris Climate Agreement was signed by world leaders to commit to tackling climate change. Part of the agreement includes working to make finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development. 

Some actions already being taken by governments and institutions to help the economy adapt to climate change include:  

• the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which includes goals to promote sustainable economic growth 
• the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, which aims to improve and increase reporting of climate-related financial information, and provides recommendations to manage the economy for future with climate change 
• the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative which works with banks, insurers, investors and supporting institutions to support a sustainable financial sector 
• the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) which is a global network of 83 central banks and financial supervisors, focused on scaling up sustainable finance and recommending roles of central banks in mitigating climate change. 

Several national organisations, industry bodies and initiatives are paving the way for a sustainable economy that is resilient to climate change risks. A resilient economy will depend on collaboration between governance and agencies. 

The Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative (ASFI) helps to shape an Australian economy that prioritises wellbeing, social equity and environmental protection. The initiative underpins financial system resilience and stability. ASFI has released a roadmap to protecting Australia’s economy from climate change. 

The Australian Government Productivity Commission advises on microeconomic policy, regulation and a range of other social and environmental issues. The 2013 inquiry report, Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation, highlighted the need for governments to consider climate change in risk management practices, and ensure flexible approaches to policy-making to manage the risks of climate change. 

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s Prudential Practice Guide – Draft CPG 229 Climate Change Financial Risks is designed to assist APRA-regulated entities (such as banks, insurers and superannuation trustees) in managing the financial risks of climate change. 

The NSW Government has developed policies and resources to help state and local governments better consider climate change risks in their planning and decision-making. Key policies and strategies to help NSW manage the impacts of climate change on its economy include: 

• the NSW Government’s Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020–2030, which is the foundation for NSW’s action on climate change and its goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050 
• the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework, which outlines the long-term objectives to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and to make NSW more resilient to a changing climate 
• the Climate Risk Ready NSW Guide, which is the key source of information and guidance for NSW state government agencies to prepare for climate change 
• NSW Treasury’s NSW 2040 Economic Blueprint, which identifies challenges and risks to our economy, including from climate change, and highlights opportunities for the NSW Government to grow and improve the economy 
• NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, which details the plan to transition NSW’s electricity sector to renewable energy over the next 20 years 
• NSW Treasury’s Guidance on how to reflect the effects of climate-related matters in financial statements, which provides guidance on how NSW public sector entities should consider the effects of climate-rated matters when preparing financial statements 
• NSW Treasury’s Risk management toolkit, which supports NSW public sector agencies to develop effective and integrated risk management frameworks and processes, to better manage risks including those posed by climate change.