How will Climate Change affect Cockburn?
Climate change is already impacting Local Governments, our communities and the environment. We are experiencing more heat waves and storm events, a drier climate, increased frequency and intensity of bush fires and increased threats to plant and animal species.
These changes negatively impact the safety and wellbeing of our community, particularly the most vulnerable, and present challenges for our natural and built environment impacting the liveability and amenity of our City.
Under a changing climate, it is expected that by the end of this century, Cockburn will experience:
- Hotter days - Double the number of hot days each year and heatwaves twice as long.
- Less Rainfall - Dry conditions may be experienced for an additional 2.3 months each year which will significantly reduce groundwater availability.
- Sea Level Rise - 0.9m increase in sea level.
- More Extreme Weather - Increase in the number of high fire weather danger days, and more high-intensity storms.
For more climate science data, visit the
WA Government's guide to climate science resources.
Climate Change Risk Assessment
The City undertook a risk assessment and updated its climate risk register in 2020. The process considered the consequences and likelihood of climate risks to the City of Cockburn.
The risk assessment identified six main climate risks:
- Reduced water availability from decreased rainfall
- Biodiversity loss from climate change impacts
- Coastal impacts from sea level rise
- Urban forest decline from climate change
- Community infrastructure damage from climate change impacts
- Public health decline from climate change
Detailed information on the risk assessment methodology and results are provided in the City of Cockburn 2020 Climate Change Risk Assessment.
What is the City doing to address climate change?
The City has a strong, 20 year history in taking decisive and responsible action on climate change.
The City is engaged and prepared to meet the challenges of climate change. We are currently working on a range of major projects including LED street lighting, energy efficiency, renewable energy, fleet transition and coastal adaptation.
The Climate Change Strategy 2020 -2030 sets strong targets and guides action for the next decade. We aspire to be carbon neutral and will increase our adaptive capacity by implementing the climate action plan.
The City is working toward reducing emissions, taking action to minimise our exposure to climate risks and adapting to these changes by increasing our resilience as a community.
Each year, the City measures and reports greenhouse gas emissions, invests in renewable energy, undertakes energy efficiency projects, supports research and new technologies.
The Coastal Adaptation Plan has been prepared to help our coastal communities and infrastructure adapt to coastal processes, including risks of coastal erosion and inundation.
The City is an active member of the
Cities Power Partnership,
Climate Clever and the
Cockburn Sound Coastal Alliance.