Beyond the Hot Debate: Social and Policy Implications of Climate Change in Australia

This paper discusses the social and policy implications of climate change on theworld's most arid populated continent. Warmer average temperatures will have real, identifiable impacts on human health, marginalized sectors of the population, and the sustainability of rural and coastal communities in Australia. By analysing indica-tors of environmental health and social welfare we can identify emerging threatsposed by a warmer climate. Policy-makers will need to devise a suite of social policyand technologically-driven mitigation programmes in order to safeguard citizensagainst the most complex and far-reaching environmental and policy problem ofthe 21st century. Furthermore, the Australian federal government has a valuable opportunity to effect positive change in the Asia-Pacic region through its leadership in this policy area and funding programmes that promote the establishment oflow-emission economies in developing nations.