Sea levels are rising as a result of increasing ocean temperature. The exact rates and extent of these increases are not known and will improve as more data becomes available. Projections depend on the level of carbon emissions around the world.
Our planning scheme, the CairnsPlan 2016, has adopted the Queensland Government’s recommendation from the Coastal hazard technical guide (prepared by the former Department of Environment and Heritage Protection in 2013) for consideration of a 0.8m rise in sea level by 2100. This level will be used for the Our Cairns Coast project.
Further information and resources about sea level rise
- CSIRO climate change information for Australia website
- Coastal climate change infographic (PDF) by CoastAdapt
- CoastAdapt website for information, infographics, impact sheets, case studies and information manuals on climate change in coastal Australia
