Climate ready city
Learn how Adelaide is becoming climate ready.
Changes to the global climate (climate change) are clear. Documented increases in the average air and ocean temperature (by over 1 °C), widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising average sea level are just some examples.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s most recent Special Report details the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
What does this mean for Adelaide?
In Adelaide the impacts of a changing climate are already being felt. The following are the projected local trends, and some snapshots of what we are already experiencing as documented by the Bureau of Meteorology’s Annual Climate Statement 2018.
- In January 2019, Australia experienced its hottest month on record with 24 January setting a new record high of 46.6°C in the Adelaide CBD.
- There were three separate heatwaves in 2018, each with five or more days over 35°C.
- 2018 was the third-warmest year on record for Australia with the mean temperature +1.14°C above the 1961–1990 average
- 2018 was the sixth-warmest year on record for Adelaide.
- The Adelaide CBD did not record rain for 47 days in summer 2018/19, having our driest start to the year since 1957
- Adelaide CBD rainfall for February 2019 was 32% of the long-term average
How is it affecting our way of life?
Potential impacts of climate change to residents, visitors and businesses within Adelaide and North Adelaide could include:
- negative health impacts due to heat waves, particularly to vulnerable community members who succumb to heat stress easily
- impacts of heat waves on the economy and businesses, particularly sectors such as retail and hospitality
- reduced water availability and increasing heat resulting in increased stress and resources required for maintaining open space, public realm and vegetation.
What is Council doing?
The City of Adelaide takes climate change seriously.
We are responding in two ways through both substantial reductions in greenhouse gases (mitigation) and helping to prepare for and respond to the changing climate (adaptation).
For over 20 years, Council has worked to reduce our own emissions and have identified 10 key projects to make significant reductions in our own operations.
It is our goal to make Adelaide one of the world’s first carbon neutral cities through the Carbon Neutral Adelaide initiative, to accelerate emission reduction in the community.
By thinking and planning now, the city and the community will be in a better position to manage the challenges of climate change and take advantage of any opportunities.
Below are three ways that the City of Adelaide is helping to make Adelaide climate ready.
The number of extreme heat days in the city are predicted to increase significantly over the next few decades. In built up areas, roads footpaths and buildings can absorb more heat from the sun making the city hotter.
A way to address this issue is to use cool materials such as treatments on roads and pavements which reduce heat absorption. The City of Adelaide is trialling three different road treatments through our Cool Road Adelaide project to investigate how these materials can cool down the road surface and make surrounding areas cooler. These treatments also help to preserve the road. For more information visit the Your Say Adelaide website.
The Cool Road Adelaide project is a Climate KIC Australia project delivered in partnership with the City of Adelaide and South Australian Department for Environment and Water.
The City of Adelaide (with partner Councils and the State Government) has also developed a Heat Mapping Tool for Adelaide, which is publicly available, to assess how our city is affected on hot days and nights. The City of Adelaide is using this data to inform our decision making, planning and design (for example in tree planting and choice of materials in public spaces like playgrounds, parks and pavements and roads). Residents and businesses can consult the tool to understand how heat exposed their property is.
In February 2019, Council brought together senior representatives from key South Australian and Federal government agencies in an event called Feeling Hot Hot Hot! The event was open to the public, and aimed to better prepare our community for the challenges posed by extreme weather and heat waves in Adelaide. Panellists provided advice on practical actions to manage risks and be climate ready. As a result, 91 per cent of respondents felt the event had increased their understanding of heatwaves.
Watch a summary of the Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot event.
The City of Adelaide is part of Resilient East, a partnership between the eight eastern metropolitan councils which aims to improve the resilience of our communities, assets and infrastructure, local economies and natural environment so they can cope with the inevitable impacts and challenges of climate change.
The Resilient East Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan came into operation in 2016. The Plan was developed with peak bodies, business and residents’ groups across the region. The Project is supported through a partnership Climate Change Sector Agreement with the South Australian Government that was signed on 23 March 2017.
What can you do?
There are many things you can do to become climate ready and be prepared for heatwaves.
Below are some links to information to help you:
- learn to understand heatwaves for your area via the Bureau of Meteorology's Heatwave Service tool
- learn about how heatwaves impact energy supply
- include a plan and ways to keep cool just in case the power goes out
- download and activate the Red Cross Get Prepared app for your household
- learn how to be healthy in the heat with SA Health
- if you have frail family, monitor their health and keep updated about power outages - sign up for outage alerts.