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Drought

November

The Nationals have set the agenda again.

As descendants of Liberal MPs, we wish the Coalition had a rational climate policy

Labor’s approach has been erratically interventionist, slow and piecemeal. The Coalition could capitalise on that by offering a credible pro-market alternative.

Across the country, we are seeing a concerning number of new housing developments being approved in flood plains, bushfire zones and coastal regions exposed to inundation.

Why climate change will put your insurance premiums underwater

Decisions made by governments and developers in the past are now contributing directly to cost-of-living pressures for unsuspecting home owners.

September

Christine McLoughlin

Suncorp’s outgoing chairman delivers parting shot on climate action

Christine McLoughlin says the ugly projections for climate change-induced losses, released by the government last week, must be heeded as a call to action.

The climate charts that show what Australia will be like in 2050

A new report into the impact of rising global temperatures paints a grim picture of a disaster-ridden Australia.

Doomsday climate report helps set the scene for 2035 target

Labor’s massive new report lays out the economic and health risks of climate change in terrifying detail. But in the short term, the risks are political.

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Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

Apocalyptic report a ‘wake-up call’ on climate impacts: PM

Labor prepares to set 2035 emissions targets as “much needed bad news” warns of property devaluations and heat deaths, with no sector to be spared.

August

Nationals senator Ross Cadell said

Nationals back Greens probe into delayed climate report

Nationals senator Ross Cadell says Labor’s climate credibility lies with the release of the report.

July

A man runs as the sun rises outside Frankfurt, Germany.

Europe heatwave shuts Eiffel Tower as Paris hits 41 degrees

Europe is baking under a “heat dome” that has seen schools closed in France and wildfires spread across Greece, Portugal and Turkey.

June

Insurers have been able to pass on cost increases in recent years, but affordability is an issue.

Housing woes collide with climate change and could hit every household

Like housing construction, the insurance industry is at the point where both the corporate and consumer sides are screaming for help.

May

Victorian dairy farmer Bernie Free says this year’s drought is the worst he’s faced in his life.

‘Worst I’ve seen in my life’: Farmers rocked by drought in SA, Victoria

The only silver lining for South Australian and Victorian farmers forced to sell off livestock is that Chinese demand for Australian grain-fed beef is surging.

October 2024

Australians can expect more hot days, more often

Australians are in for longer, hotter heatwaves this century, and greater risk of dangerous fires.

Experimental nanomaterial is released during a demonstration cloud seeding flight over Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

The storm chasers trying to save the world from drought

Everyone agrees the planet needs more water. So why is cloud-seeding so controversial?

July 2024

Cobden dairy farmer Craig Dwyer says the combination of drought, a cold snap, and a 15 per cent cut in farm gate milk prices as of July 1 has hit producers hard.

‘No water equals no milk’: big dry, cold snap hit farmers

Victorian farmers have been hit by a combination of dry and cold conditions as dairy producers also face a 15 per cent cut in farm gate milk prices as of July 1.

January 2024

El Niño has peaked and may make way for La Niña later this year, increasing the risk of tropical cyclones and damaging flooding, reinsurer Munich Re has warned.

Wet weather may return in 2024 following El Nino’s peak

El Nino has peaked and may make way for La Nina later this year, increasing the risk of tropical cyclones and damaging flooding, reinsurer Munich Re has warned.

Queensland cotton grower Aaron Kiely.

Most farmers big winners from El Nino-defying rain

The cattle industry and summer crop producers are entering 2024 in good shape as rain continues to tumble down across the eastern states.

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December 2023

Low water levels outside the Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal near Panama City.

Climate change could ruin Christmas as Panama Canal dries up

A drought in Central America is slowing the passage of container ships through one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

November 2023

Robert Mackenzie of Macka’s Pastoral is hopeful that cattle and sheep prices are finally on the rebound

Cattle market on the rebound after 70pc price plunge

A much welcome rain boon has halted the tumble in cattle and beef prices, but farmers still need to badly reduce their flocks and herds for a major improvement.

Climate change is shifting the dial in risk for Australia’s energy grid.

Energy transition at risk from floods, heat and drought

The new Mandala-Zurich Climate Risk Index report urges greater consideration of climate mitigation in Australia’s massive transition to green energy.

October 2023

Pacific National takes $59m annual loss, discloses tax office audit

The rail freight group, chaired by Catherine Livingstone since March, has blamed floods and industrial action for the loss as annual earnings slid 11 per cent.

September 2023

Bindi Murray on her Woodanilling property in rural WA.

Sheep prices plunge to $1 a head as farmers flood market

Farmers are scrambling to sell before summer as Australia’s sheep flock and breeding ewe numbers hit their highest level since 2007.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/drought-1lyd