Climate calling

The far northwestern city of Mildura is used to hot summers. But in January, the city and surrounds sweltered through an unusual heatwave, with temperatures breaking records throughout the region. SBS' Deborah Groarke spoke with the mayor of Mildura, Ali Cupper, on how the Council deals with hot weather, and its concerns around how worsening climate change patterns might affect its residents and agricultural economy.

For many in Australia's south-east, the day after Australia Day brought sweltering conditions and record temperatures. In Mildura, in Victoria's far northwest, the mercury hit 48.6 Celsius. And when coastal areas enjoyed a reprieve, the inland still had to cope with an extended heatwave that lasted a week. Experts say these kinds of phenomena are going to intensify over time because of the impacts of climate change - but while there has been plenty of coverage of how that impacts on urban centres, regional Australia has not received the same attention. SBS visited Mildura to see how the region felt the heat, and what they're doing to cope with climate change at a local level.

Australian summers are undergoing what scientists call a "total transformation," with a new study from World Weather Attribution revealing the country can now expect heatwaves every five years on average. The study's researchers say climate change made Australia's blistering heatwave in early January five times more likely, and there's an urgent need for the country to adapt to changed conditions. The warning comes as the country's south-eastern states prepare for what's forecast to be a prolonged, severe heatwave starting this weekend.

The European Union's latest annual climate report reveals last year was the world's third-hottest on record. The report also finds the global three-year average has warmed by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius for the first time, a threshold scientists warn dramatically increases the risk of extreme weather events. Climate experts say while the findings are troubling, China and India have made notable improvements in reducing emissions.

A new study has found trees across Australia are dying at a faster rate than new ones are growing, a trend that is contributing to an increase in carbon emissions. The research, led by Western Sydney University and published in the Nature Plants journal, has found trees in all types of ecosystems - from tropical rainforests to eucalypt forests - are thinning as the climate warms.