Climate councillor Professor Lesley Hughes has warned that worsening extreme weather events, driven by climate change, are changing the Australian summer experience. She stated that the increase in intense and frequent natural disasters is turning what used to be a season of joy into a season of dread for many Australians. Families are becoming increasingly aware that their holiday plans are at risk from floods, storms, heatwaves, and bushfires.
The Climate Council’s analysis predicts a challenging summer for 2024-2025, with a hot and wet outlook for December. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting unusually high rainfall for parts of Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia, along with the risk of tropical cyclones in the north and fire hotspots in the south. The popular tropical destination of Cairns is particularly susceptible to natural disasters. Furthermore, there is a likelihood of hotter-than-average days and nights, making it difficult for families to determine the safest and least-impacted holiday destinations.
Due to these changing climate conditions, many Australians are adjusting their holiday plans to minimize risks. Common strategies include avoiding bush camping and inland travel, as people seek out safer options. However, Hughes emphasized that the only way to address the issue of tourism hesitancy caused by climate change is to take urgent action to reduce carbon emissions. She stressed the importance of slashing climate pollution in this decade to prevent even greater disruption to summer holiday plans in the future.
With climate change leading to more extreme weather events, tourism operators are finding their profits at risk as disasters can wash away bookings and revenue. The unpredictability of these natural disasters has made it difficult for families to plan and enjoy their summer holidays, as they now have to contend with the increased likelihood of facing hazardous conditions such as floods, storms, heatwaves, and bushfires. This shift in the Australian summer experience highlights the urgent need for action to combat climate change.
The impact of climate change on Australian summers is evident in the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and the challenges they pose for holidaymakers and tourism operators. As the climate continues to change, the risk of natural disasters disrupting summer holidays is only expected to increase. To address these challenges, Australians are adapting their holiday plans to minimize risks, but ultimately, urgent action is needed to address climate change and reduce its impacts on summer tourism.
In conclusion, the warnings from Professor Lesley Hughes and the Climate Council highlight the urgent need to address climate change to protect the Australian summer experience. With extreme weather events on the rise, families and tourism operators are facing increasing risks and disruptions to their holiday plans. By taking immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change, it is possible to safeguard the future of summer tourism in Australia and ensure that the season of joy does not turn into a season of dread.
