Angry summer 2016/17: climate change super-charging extreme weather

This report discusses the extreme temperatures seen in Australia over the 2016/2017 summer and the impacts on health, energy systems, ecosystems and bushfires. It shows that temperatures soared to unprecedented new heights, with capital cities such as Sydney experiencing its hottest summer on record.

Key findings include the following:

• The Australian summer of 2016/17 marked the return of the Angry Summer with record-breaking heat especially in the east of the nation. The Angry Summer was characterised by intense heatwaves, hot days and bushfires in central and eastern Australia, while heavy rainfall and flooding affected the west of the country;
• Climate change is driving hotter, longer lasting and more frequent heatwaves;
• Escalating extreme weather is putting Australia’s ageing energy system under intense pressure;
• The costs of the extreme heat are clear with reduced work productivity, increasing risk of bushfires and escalating damage to the Great Barrier Reef.

This document is shared under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License (CC BY 3.0 AU).