Understanding Climate Change

In the past century, the global average surface temperature has risen by 0.74 ºC. The observed increase in average temperatures is widespread around the globe, with rising trends recorded on all continents and in the oceans.

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are more than 90 per cent likely to have caused most of the global warming since the mid-20th century. Find out more.

Greenhouse gas emissions at or above present rates will cause further warming and induce many changes in the global climate system during the 21st century. It is very likely that these changes will be larger than those already seen in the past century.

Australia has a highly variable climate with a naturally occurring cycle of wet and dry periods. Droughts are an expected product of this variability.