Climate resilience and adaptation
Learn how climate change may affect Albury, how we are adapting and what you can do to prepare your household, property or business.
What climate change means for Albury
Climate change is already affecting the Riverina Murray region. Current NSW projections show that:
- average temperatures will continue to rise
- there will be more hot days and fewer cold nights
- rainfall patterns will change
- severe fire weather will become more frequent
- bushfires, floods, drought and extreme heat will place increasing pressure on communities, infrastructure, agriculture and natural environments.
The extent of future change will depend partly on global greenhouse-gas emissions. Lower-emissions scenarios result in slower and less severe changes than higher-emissions scenarios.
Why adaptation matters
Climate adaptation means preparing for the effects of climate change that can no longer be avoided.
For Albury, this includes preparing our infrastructure, services, natural environment and community for more frequent extreme heat, changing rainfall, severe storms, flooding, drought and bushfire conditions.
Adaptation works alongside reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. We need to do both.
How we are adapting
Our Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2021–2025 identified the risks climate change presents to Albury and established priorities for our response.
Our adaptation priorities include:
- improving the resilience of Council infrastructure and essential services
- preparing for extreme heat, storms, flooding, drought and bushfire
- strengthening stormwater and flood-management systems
- increasing urban shade and tree canopy
- protecting waterways, biodiversity and natural assets
- considering climate risk in asset management, planning and investment decisions
- supporting the community to prepare for climate-related impacts.
Prepare for a changing climate
You can improve the resilience of your household, property or business by:
- preparing an emergency plan
- understanding your bushfire and flood risk
- improving shade, insulation and ventilation
- maintaining trees and planting climate-suitable species
- using water efficiently
- preparing for power outages and extreme heat
- checking on neighbours and vulnerable community members during extreme weather.
