Our new report reveals that climate change is likely to worsen the systemic disadvantages suffered by rural and regional communities, and further widen the gap between rural and urban areas.

The ‘On the Frontline: Climate Change & Rural Communities’ report finds the increase in extreme weather events is disproportionately affecting those in rural areas, with serious social, health and economic impacts.

KEY FINDINGS

1. Rural and regional communities are

disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change.

Climate change

is worsening extreme weather events such as bushfires and drought and rural and

regional communities will continue to be disproportionately affected.

is worsening extreme weather events such as bushfires and drought and rural and regional communities will continue to be disproportionately affected. Many

agricultural businesses surveyed have used financial reserves and/or have taken

on increased debt in response to extreme weather events.

agricultural businesses surveyed have used financial reserves and/or have taken on increased debt in response to extreme weather events. Australia’s

agricultural sector is showing signs of decreasing capacity and faltering

productivity gains and the resilience of some rural industries is under threat.

2. The systemic disadvantages experienced by rural and regional communities over those

in urban areas are likely to worsen if climate change continues unabated.

Rural and regional communities have already seen a significant reduction in

population that has prompted further losses in services and unemployment. Climate

change will further exacerbate these stresses.

population that has prompted further losses in services and unemployment. Climate change will further exacerbate these stresses. Strong climate action is required

to protect rural and regional communities from the worsening impacts.

3. Rural and

regional communities are already adapting to the impacts of climate change but

there are limits and costs.

Adaptation to cope with a changing climate may

be relatively incremental, such as changing sowing and harvesting dates, or

switching to new breeds of livestock and new varieties of crops.

be relatively incremental, such as changing sowing and harvesting dates, or switching to new breeds of livestock and new varieties of crops. More

substantial adaptation options may involve changing production systems (eg. from

cropping to grazing), or relocating to more suitable areas.

substantial adaptation options may involve changing production systems (eg. from cropping to grazing), or relocating to more suitable areas. The more

transformational adaptive changes may be risky and expensive, especially for individual

farmers.

transformational adaptive changes may be risky and expensive, especially for individual farmers. As the climate continues to change, adaptation will become increasingly

challenging.

4. While rural and regional communities

are on the frontline of climate change impacts, tackling climate change also

provides these communities with many opportunities.

In Australia, rural

areas receive around 30 – 40% of the total investment in renewables, valued at

$1-2 billion per year.

areas receive around 30 – 40% of the total investment in renewables, valued at $1-2 billion per year. Renewable energy projects bring jobs and investment into

rural and regional communities. Delivering half of our electricity from

renewable sources by 2050 would create more than 28,000 jobs.

rural and regional communities. Delivering half of our electricity from renewable sources by 2050 would create more than 28,000 jobs. The transition

to clean energy will also reduce the health burden of burning coal, which is

almost entirely borne by rural and regional areas, e.g. the Hunter and Latrobe

valleys.

to clean energy will also reduce the health burden of burning coal, which is almost entirely borne by rural and regional areas, e.g. the Hunter and Latrobe valleys. Farmers can build the climate resilience of their farms by adding

additional revenue streams, such as by hosting wind turbines and other renewable

energy projects. Across Australia, approximately $20.6 million is paid annually

in lease payments to farmers and landholders hosting wind turbines.

additional revenue streams, such as by hosting wind turbines and other renewable energy projects. Across Australia, approximately $20.6 million is paid annually in lease payments to farmers and landholders hosting wind turbines. Community funds and additional rate revenue for rural and regional areas from renewable

energy can be used to improve public services such as schools and local infrastructure.

energy can be used to improve public services such as schools and local infrastructure. Renewable energy can reduce electricity costs for rural and remote

communities, who traditionally pay much higher prices than their urban counterparts.

It also offers independence from the grid with several towns now racing to be the

first to operate on 100% renewable energy.

INFOGRAPHICS