What does climate change mean for South West Victoria?

Climate Change will affect each region differently. For South West Victoria, current climate change trends mean hotter and drier conditions than we are used to.

By 2030 the potential impacts will be:

• An average temperature rise of almost 1 degree C;
• An increase in the number of hot days (over 30 degrees C), while our winters will warm slightly less (+ 0.7 degrees C);
• A decrease in rainfall over spring of 7% and a decrease in the annual average rainfall of 4%

By 2070 if emissions are not drastically reduced, we will see:

• An average temperature increase of 2.4 degrees C;
• Significant biodiversity losses;
• The average number of hot days (when the maximum is over 30 degrees C) increase from 17 currently to 28 by 2070;
• Total rainfall decline and come in short sharp bursts;
• Less rain and higher evaporation rates, reducing the amount of available water for our waterways;
• Run off into the Hopkins River system decline by as much as 50% (Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2008), due also to the combination of a larger population and increased demand.

By the end of the century, 2100, we are expecting:

• The sea level to rise as much as 75cm in South West Victoria;
• 2.2m sea level rise during storm surges

Greenhouse gas emissions across the municipality

Data on carbon emissions across the Warrnambool municipality (120sqkm) are available at the following link: Warrnambool greenhouse gas emissions