Climate change modelling indicates that as Victoria becomes drier and warmer, weather-related hazards are likely to occur more often and potentially be more severe.

Examples of such hazards include heatwaves, severe winds, storms, maximum temperature thresholds and concurrent and/or compounding events.

Victoria’s Climate Change Act 2017 sets a target of net-zero emissions by 2050 and provides a clear signal to all sectors of the Victorian economy regarding the need for significant and sustained action to reduce emissions.

All links in the table below will open in a new window.
Publish year Assurance activity Summary Organisation
2022 The Cost of Extreme Weather 2022 (External link) A research report that estimates direct costs from extreme weather events are to grow by 5.13 per cent each year and reach $35.24 billion by 2050, directly costing Australian households an average of $2,509.16 every year. The report concludes that if we are to mitigate the rising costs of extreme weather, the federal government should focus more on resilience and future-proofing Independent
2022 Major incidents report 2021-22 (External link) An annual record of significant national emergency management incidents, it outlines 36 events across 2021-22, including the impacts of the second consecutive La Nina event on Australia, and shares lessons learned from each of the significant events. Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
2022 The great deluge: Australia's new era of unnatural disasters (External link) A report that examines the record-breaking rainfall and floods seen in large parts of Eastern Australia in 2022 and how these climate-fuelled extreme weather events can overwhelm emergency services and devastate communities. It calls for all levels of government to speed up their emission reductions and disaster preparation efforts. Independent
2022 Government climate action: leading policies and programs in Australia (External link) An analysis of targets, policies and programs announced by Australian, State and Territory governments, with a focus on policies introduced since the 2021 report on state and territory climate action. Independent
2022 Inquiry into environmental infrastructure for growing populations (External link) A report into the current and future arrangements to secure environmental infrastructure - particularly parks and open space - for a growing population in Melbourne and across regional centres, its recommendations include addressing particular environmental infrastructure challenges such as climate change, bushfires and natural disasters. Parliament of Victoria
2022 Annual report on drinking water quality in Victoria 2020-21 (External link) A summary of Victoria's drinking water quality performance, including vulnerabilities, lessons/mitigation, and addressing future risk, the report recognises the ongoing efforts made by water agencies in delivering high-quality drinking water to Victorians and the department’s regulatory role in achieving this outcome, along with protecting public health. Department of Health
2022 Inquiry into renewable energy in Victoria (External link) An inquiry into the Victorian Government’s emission reduction and renewable energy targets, the Committee made 24 findings and 32
recommendations. The committee reported on governance and policy structures, and also found that the developing renewable energy sector creates a good source of employment and that there will be significant economic benefits in transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Parliament of Victoria
2022 Our Future World - Global megatrends impacting the way we live over coming decades (External link) A once-in-a-decade report identifying seven global megatrends - trajectories of change that typically unfold over years or decades and have the potential for substantial and transformative impact. This report presents an update on CSIRO’s global megatrends out to 2042 with the view to guide long-term investment, strategic and policy directions across government, industry, the not-for-profit sector and the broader Australian community. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
2022 Australia State of the Environment 2021 (External link) An assessment of the changing condition of our natural environment across 12 themes: air quality, Antarctica, biodiversity, climate, coasts, extreme events, heritage, Indigenous, inland water, land, marine and urban. A committee of independent scientists and environmental experts authored the thematic chapters and contributed to the Overview report and were supported an Australian Government taskforce. Independent
2021 Victoria’s water in a changing climate (External link) A report that allows for a better understanding of how Victoria’s climate and hydrology are changing through a mix of historic observations and future projections, and, most importantly, how this will impact the state’s water resources in the short and long term. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning