The Australian Government has recently released two very important assessments relating to climate change in Australia:

1. Australia's National Climate Risk Assessment Report 2025 (NCRA) provides the most comprehensive scientific analysis to date of climate risks facing our nation [1], while 
2. Australia's updated climate commitments under the Paris Agreement—known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—outline our pathway forward.

As veterinary professionals, we are uniquely positioned to witness and respond to these changes—from heat-stressed livestock to ecosystem disruption affecting wildlife.

The NCRA: Australia's First National Climate Risk Assessment

The NCRA was compiled by the Australian Climate Service and evaluates 63 nationally significant risks across 8 key systems, analyzing risks across different global warming scenarios (+1.5°C, +2.0°C, and +3.0°C)[2]. The assessment makes clear that climate threats will be "cascading, compounding and concurrent," affecting every community and species[1]. Even at 1.5°C of warming, heat-related mortality will rise by 444% in Sydney and 423% in Darwin, while animals face increased heat stress, dehydration and injury from extreme weather.

Critical Impacts for Animal Health

Livestock Heat Stress: Heat stress in cattle reduces productivity through altered feed intake, behavior, fertility and metabolism, with cattle requiring 13% increased water intake per 2.7°C of warming[3]. At 3.0°C warming, heat stress areas for dairy and European beef cattle increase by 30%, while tropically adapted beef cattle areas could more than double. For sheep, heat stress during mating reduces lambing rates by 3.5% per additional day above 32.2°C [4].

Marine Ecosystem Collapse: Marine heatwaves have caused mass coral bleaching affecting 30-65% of Great Barrier Reef areas, with insufficient recovery time between successive events [5]. Ocean warming has led to extensive mortality of foundation species along over 45% of Australia's continental coastline. In freshwater systems, the 2019-20 bushfires caused hypoxic blackwater events when large amounts of ash were flushed into waterways, resulting in over 65 recorded fish death events across the Murray-Darling Basin [6].

Ecosystem Transformation: Eucalypt forests along eastern and southwestern Australia risk transitioning to open woodlands due to repeated fires, fundamentally altering wildlife habitat. Tree-dependent species requiring hollows face particular challenges as older trees become vulnerable [7]. These transformations challenge veterinary surveillance as disease patterns shift with ecosystem boundaries.

Biosecurity Threats: Climate change significantly amplifies biosecurity risks, modifying the survival, reproduction and dispersal of pests, parasites and pathogens while creating conditions more suitable for exotic pests currently not present in Australia [8]. Emergency responses to climate hazards can inadvertently create pathways for biosecurity threat movement.

Australia's International Climate Commitments

In September 2025, Australia submitted its latest NDC with a 2035 target range of 62-70% below 2005 levels [9]. The Climate Change Authority advised this represents Australia's highest possible ambition and is achievable [10].

However, independent scientific analysis reveals widespread criticism of Australia's climate commitments. The Climate Council argues the 62-70% target is "dangerously inadequate," advocating for at least 75% reduction with their analysis showing this would deliver significant economic benefits. This is also in line with the latest reports from the Australian Academy of Sciences and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which clearly state that, to keep warming within 1.5°C, developed countries (like Australia) must reduce emissions by at least 75% below 2005 levels by 2030 [11]. The Australia Institute's Richard Denniss criticised the target as a "missed opportunity," stating 75% reduction "is what was required" for 1.5°C alignment. The Climate Council's analysis also shows "net zero by 2035 is the only target available to Australia that provides a strong chance of contributing to holding global heating below 2°C," underscoring a significant gap between government targets and climate science requirements. 

This new NDC falls far short of the scientific evidence and likely leads on a trajectory to dangerous levels of warming, with compounding consequences for communities, ecosystems, and future generations.

Policy Priorities 

Earlier this year, Vets for Climate Action published six Policy Priorities for the Australian Government to adopt to ensure a world where animals and people thrive in a healthy climate. The NCRA's findings reinforce the urgent need for:

1. End Fossil Fuel Projects: With heat stress conditions for beef cattle projected to double at +3.0°C warming, ending new fossil fuel projects becomes critical for protecting livestock productivity and welfare.
2. Accelerate Renewable Energy Transition: Climate-driven extreme weather increases energy demand for animal cooling systems, wildlife hospitals, and veterinary facilities.
3. End Deforestation and Native Forest Logging: The NCRA finding that Australia has lost half its habitat capacity since 1750 validates calls to end native forest logging, as degraded ecosystems have reduced capacity to adapt to climate change.
4. Strengthen Environmental Laws: Current laws have failed to prevent the habitat destruction and species decline documented in the NCRA. Stronger protections are essential for ecosystems supporting wildlife, livestock, and companion animals.
5. Support the Veterinary Profession: Climate events are straining animal health services, with disaster funding projected to increase 5-6 times by 2090. This reinforces advocacy for a National Animal Disaster Fund and enhanced veterinary workforce planning.
6. Commit to Carbon-Neutral Agriculture: Agricultural emissions contribute 16.8% of Australia's greenhouse gases while the sector faces escalating climate risks, making sustainable practices essential for protecting animal welfare and food security.

Veterinary Leadership on Climate

As veterinary professionals at the intersection of animal, human, and environmental health, we have essential roles in climate adaptation: frontline surveillance and early detection of climate impacts; biosecurity and emergency preparedness; food security and production resilience; One Health integration; and professional advocacy for evidence-based policy.

The NCRA's findings make clear that climate adaptation cannot be left to chance. Veterinary professionals have both the expertise and ethical obligation to lead coordinated efforts protecting animal welfare while strengthening Australia's food systems, biosecurity defences, and community health infrastructure. Our profession's One Health commitment positions us uniquely to advocate for integrated solutions protecting animals, people, and the environment.

Effective climate action requires combining efforts to reduce emissions with immediate investment in preparedness and adaptation. This protects not only animal health but the natural systems and farming communities that support our health, food security and economic prosperity.

The science is clear. The risks are unprecedented. The time to act is now.

Australia's National Climate Risk Assessment reveals cascading threats to animal health, food security, and ecosystem stability. 

What You Can Do:

• Support Vets for Climate Action as a donor or member to amplify collective advocacy for science-based climate policy
  
  
• Take part in ZerOctober: the month of veterinary sustainability! Learn how to introduce sustainability into practice protocols
  
  
• Talk with clients and communities about climate impacts on animal health and welfare
  
  
• Write to your elected representatives: share this analysis, demand stronger climate commitments and nature laws

The consequences of inaction are measured in heat-stressed livestock, collapsing marine ecosystems, displaced wildlife, and emerging biosecurity threats.

Our professional oath to protect animal welfare demands we speak up for evidence-based climate policy that protects animals, humans and our environment. 

Healthy animals need a healthy climate.

References

1. Australian Climate Service. (2025). Australia's National Climate Risk Assessment Report 2025: Executive Summary.
2. Ibid., pp. 7-9, 16-17.
3. Australian Climate Service. (2025). Australia's National Climate Risk Assessment Report 2025, p. 142.
4. Van Wettere, W.H.E.J., et al. (2024). Climate change impacts on sheep reproduction in Australia. Nature Food.
5. Australian Climate Service. (2025). Australia's National Climate Risk Assessment Report 2025, pp. 175-181.
6. Australian Climate Service. (2025). Australia's National Climate Risk Assessment Report 2025, p. 184
7. Australian Climate Service. (2025). Australia's National Climate Risk Assessment Report 2025, p. 181.
8. Ibid., pp. 209, 221.
9. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (2025). International climate action.
10. Climate Change Authority. (2025). 2035 Emissions Reduction Targets Report.
11. Australian Academy of Science (2024) Submission to the Climate Change Authority consultation on the 2024 Issues Paper Targets, Pathways and Progress.