Key points
- The Hunter region is one of the largest river valleys on the NSW coast, with biodiversity rich natural environments.
- The Hunter is the leading regional economy in Australia and contains a range of industries and thriving communities.
- Climate change is affecting the Hunter region, particularly through increasing temperatures. Projections show temperatures are expected to keep rising, sea level will rise, rainfall patterns will change and fire weather will increase.
- The NSW Government is helping the Hunter region adapt to climate change through the Enabling Regional Adaptation work. This is being achieved by working with state and local government stakeholders to identify key aspects of the Hunter region that are vulnerable to climate impacts, along with challenges and opportunities to adapt.
Importance of the Hunter region
The Hunter region encompasses the traditional lands of the Guringai, Biripi, Geawgal, Worimi, Wonnarua, Darkinyung and Awabakal peoples. The Hunter region includes the City of Newcastle and has a growing population,as more people are attracted to the area for the lifestyle, natural spaces and jobs it offers. Other major towns in the region include Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone.
Its population has a higher proportion of older residents compared to the NSW and ACT average.
The Hunter region is made up of many natural environments including several estuaries and large lake systems including Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie. The Hunter Estuary Wetlands Ramsar site (Kooragang Nature Reserve and Shortland Wetlands) is of international significance and Barrington Tops National Park forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
The Hunter region is the leading regional economy in Australia and contains a diverse range of industries including viticulture, agriculture, mining, shipping and tourism. The largest industries of employment for the region are health care and social assistance, construction, retail trade, education and training, and accommodation and food services.
These cultural, environmental and economic values are just some aspects of the region which have been identified as being highly vulnerable to climate change. Climate change is already affecting the Hunter, particularly through increased temperatures and sea level rise. The impacts of this can be seen through the widespread bushfires of 2019–2020, and increased coastal erosion.
The region’s climate has provided the foundation for many of the region’s current social, ecological and economic systems. Now, climate change is altering these foundations, with impacts already visible and expected to grow as they are impacted by increased temperatures, more hot days, fewer cold nights, higher rainfall variability, and greater fire danger.
How the Hunter is affected by climate change
Climate projections for the Hunter are shown relative to a baseline. This consistent reference point (the baseline) avoids the problems that could occur if future projections are measured against a shifting point of comparison, such as a constantly moving 'current' period.
- The baseline period: the modelled average of the 20-year period between 1990-2009.
- Middle of the century (2050): the projected average of the 20-year period between 2040-2059.
- End of the century (2090): the projected average of the 20-year period between 2080-2099.
Detailed information on the projected climate changes for the region can be found in the Hunter snapshot or can be explored further through the Interactive climate change projections map.
Projections for the Hunter
Temperature
Across the Hunter region, average temperatures are projected to rise throughout this century under all emissions scenarios. The main difference between scenarios is the scale of change: lower emissions show slower and more moderate increases, while higher emissions lead to a greater and ongoing rise in average temperature.
Under a low-emissions scenario, the rate of average temperature increase is expected to slow around the middle of the century. Under medium- and high-emissions scenarios, temperatures are expected to keep climbing past the middle of the century with no sign of levelling off by the end of the century, with faster and greater increases under a high-emissions scenario.
Hot days
Across the Hunter region, the number of hot days is projected to increase throughout this century under all emissions scenarios. The main difference between scenarios is the scale of change: lower emissions show slower and more moderate increases, while higher emissions lead to a greater and ongoing rise in the number of hot days.
Under a low-emissions scenario, the rate of increase is expected to slow around the middle of the century. Under medium- and high-emissions scenarios, the number of hot days is expected to keep rising past the middle of the century, with no sign of levelling off by the end of the century, with faster and greater increases under a high-emissions scenario.
| Case study Significant population growth is expected in the Hunter region in the coming decades, increasing from a population of around 860,000 people in 2021 to nearly 950,000 people by 2041. The Hunter region, with its aging population, faces significant impacts from an increase in the number of hot days. Older people have less ability to handle hot days, due to factors often associated to aging, such as poor fitness, body changes and long-term health problems. This makes them more likely to suffer from symptoms of heat strain such as a faster heart rate, higher body temperature, and laboured breathing. |
Cold nights
There will be noticeably fewer cold nights in the Hunter region this century. The main difference between scenarios is the pace and size of the decline: lower emissions slow the change, while higher emissions lead to faster and greater losses.
Under a low-emissions scenario, the decline of cold nights slows around the middle of the century. Under a medium- and high-emissions scenarios, the number of cold nights continues to decline past the middle of the century, with no sign of levelling off, and by the end of the century the region could have very few, if any, cold nights under a high-emissions scenario.
Rainfall
Annual average rainfall in the Hunter region is projected to remain variable throughout this century but is projected to decline under all emissions scenarios. The main differences between scenarios are in how large the reductions are and when they occur.
By the middle of the century, the high-emissions scenario shows a noticeably greater drop in annual rainfall than the low- and medium-emissions scenarios. By the end of the century, the differences between scenarios change their behaviour, rainfall continues to decline under the low- and medium-emissions scenarios, while the high-emissions scenario shows a slight increase in rainfall from the middle of the century but still remains below current levels.
Severe fire weather
Across the Hunter region, the number of severe fire weather days is projected to rise throughout this century under all emissions scenarios. The main difference between scenarios is the scale of change: lower emissions show slower and more moderate increases, while higher emissions lead to a greater and ongoing rise in number of severe fire weather days.
Under a low-emissions scenario, the rate of increase is expected to slow around the middle of the century. Under medium- and high-emissions scenarios, severe fire weather days are expected to keep climbing past the middle of the century with no sign of levelling off by the end of the century, with faster and greater increases under a high-emissions scenario.
Case study Large areas of bushland experienced extreme fire severity, including Wollemi National Park. Wollemi National Park was affected by the Kerry Ridge fire, which burnt more than 320,000 hectares across regions and combined with the Gospers Mountain fire to form the largest bushfire ever recorded in NSW. Over 4,000 hectares of Barrington Tops National Park, which forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, was also burnt. |
The present sea-level rise rate for the NSW coast of 3.7 mm/year has already led to increases in inundation of streets in some NSW coastal communities.
Sea level for the Hunter is projected to continue rising under all emissions scenarios. At Newcastle, sea level is projected to rise by 14–27 cm under a low-emissions scenario (SSP1-2.6) and by 18–31 cm under a high-emissions scenario (SSP3-7.0) by 2050 relative to a baseline period of 1995–2014. Later in the century, sea-level rise is projected to accelerate under both emissions scenarios, with significantly faster acceleration under a high-emissions scenario. Sea-level rise by 2100 is projected to be 30–62 cm under a low-emissions scenario and 55–96 cm under a high-emissions scenario
These projections are based on data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report. The projections are relative to a baseline period of 1995–2014. For more detail on the methodology, please access the 2024 Hunter Climate Change Snapshot and the NASA Sea Level Projection Tool.
Communities, infrastructure and natural ecosystems are expected to be increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of sea-level rise in the future, particularly under a high‑emissions scenario. Find out more about the impacts of sea-level rise.
Adapting to changes in the Hunter region
To help the Hunter region adapt to the impacts of climate change, 150 state and local government stakeholders were brought together in 2019 as part of the NSW Government’s Enabling Regional Adaptation work.
These participants collaboratively identified how different economic, socio-cultural and environmental aspects (also known as systems) in the region are vulnerable to climate change. For each of these systems, the vision for a climate-resilient future was identified, and opportunities for action were co-designed. These opportunities can be implemented by state and local government, businesses or community groups.
The Hunter and Central Coast Enabling Regional Adaptation report provides a resource for state and local government and regional communities to understand how climate change will continue to impact the region and our values. It also provides practical opportunities for governments, businesses and communities to adapt to climate change.
The following opportunities for action reflect potential options for state and local government, businesses or community groups to implement. This list has been summarised from the Hunter and Central Coast Enabling Regional Adaptation report. These opportunities provide a starting point for action, and will be reviewed and updated to ensure they continue to reflect climate trends, key vulnerabilities and community values.
Vision
Aboriginal people lead the integration of their cultural knowledge and practice into a sustainable future for everyone. Aboriginal knowledge is used to heal country, increase the region’s resilience to climate change and take opportunities for land development and emerging markets.
Opportunities for action
- Incorporate Aboriginal cultural knowledge into land and water management.
- Increase the engagement of Aboriginal communities in landuse decision-making.
- Attract and create opportunities for Aboriginal people to be employed in government.
- Encourage and support cultural practice through sharing knowledge, teaching and access to land.
- Listen to Aboriginal voices and facilitate self-determination in Aboriginal communities.
- Support Aboriginal communities to plan for land developments and market opportunities.
- Ensure development projects consider, value and protect Aboriginal heritage and cultural resourcing (e.g. effective resourcing).
- Elect a local Aboriginal leadership group to advise on climate change.
Vision
Systems are re-designed to ensure land and resources are sustainably used and reused, to maximise efficiency and create jobs. Circular economy industries in the Hunter are established, increasing the efficient use of limited land and natural resources.
Opportunities for action
- Implement state legislation and incentives to support a circular economy, such as pricing on products and the waste levy.
- Facilitate strong collaboration between government and industry to support innovation.
- Encourage and support industries to adopt circular economy principles in land remediation.
- Include circular economy principles in school curriculums and develop training programs to build the skills needed to increase the region’s circular economy capacity.
- Embed circular economy principles and practice through government procurement.
Vision
The community has the capacity to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters. Community resilience is achieved through diverse employment opportunities and people connected to place. The community is cohesive and self-reliant.
Opportunities for action
- Embed equity, empathy and compassion as values in the community.
- Support community leaders to collaborate with emergency management groups.
- Embed Aboriginal values in community resilience building.
- Develop and incorporate new frameworks to guide government and business on matters relating to health and wellbeing.
- Promote sustainable resources through circular economy principles, community-based renewable energy projects and sustainable transport.
Vision
Federal, state and local government work with the community to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from disaster events. Communities are better prepared and more resilient with robust communication and strategic emergency management planning.
Opportunities for action
- Establish a coordinated government structure that includes changes to legislation and state plans, and effective communication between government and communities.
- Drive change in the culture of emergency management services to break down barriers between government and community responders.
- Develop effective ways to share services across all emergency management precincts.
- Develop protocols for agreed and approved data sharing and availability.
- Create sustainable volunteering models through training and support.
Vision
The region has sustainable and diversified food and energy sectors. The impacts of climate change on food and energy production are decreased.
Opportunities for action
- Adopt tourism strategies that focus on the Hunter’s unique local produce and ecotourism.
- Implement innovative pathways to expand the region’s renewable energy capacity.
- Invest in, research and develop farming practices that are sustainable for the future.
- Develop education materials to encourage youth participation in new industries and community partnerships.
- Invest in natural capital, circular economy, innovation and technology adoption, and renewable energy.
Vision
Planning supports community resilience by proactively embedding climate change in all decision-making. The effects of climate change, extreme weather events, population growth and changing demographics are planned for.
Opportunities for action
- Integrate regional adaptation priorities into the planning process.
- Fund local councils to deliver climate change adaptation resilience projects in the community.
- Assess the climate vulnerability and risk regularly to inform local planning and strategy.
- Implement state legislation and regulation so that councils must consider climate change during planning.
- Develop objectivebased decision frameworks with adaptation options such as infrastructure improvement, appropriate construction materials, funding, property buybacks and rehousing.
- Raise awareness on climate adaptation and resilience in the community.
- Improve access to geospatial and landuse data and support open data sharing at a state level to support local council decisionmaking.
- Implement state legislation and regulation so that councils must consider climate change during planning.
Vision
Natural ecosystems are protected and more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Appropriate community access to natural areas is encouraged, and the importance of the environment is recognised.
Opportunities for action
- Create and implement effective ecosystem management and conservation plans which consider climate change.
- Develop and deliver community programs that focus on environmental stewardship and the importance of Indigenous and other social and cultural ecosystem values.
- Develop innovative approaches to funding and incentives to protect natural environments.
- Develop and implement programs to support the migration and conservation of species that have limited ability to adapt; for example, designing and constructing wildlife refuges and corridors.
Vision
The Hunter’s transport and infrastructure system effectively and efficiently moves goods, people, energy and information via rail, road, air and water, and through wired and wireless networks. The industry has reduced its carbon footprint through diversification and a transition to lowcarbon products.
Opportunities for action
- Provide integrated transport and infrastructure services that incorporate climate risk and smart landuse planning.
- Improve the understanding of transport system interdependencies and alternatives to help build resilience.
- Create and support localised economies, multipurpose facilities and infrastructure.
- Identify ways to reuse redundant infrastructure.
- Support innovative risk-based approaches and proactive planning to prioritise and design sustainable transport infrastructure.
Vision
Water quality and availability is secure across the region. Environmental flows are protected, water harvesting is appropriately managed, and recycled water is used. The impact of climate change on water demand within the Hunter region is managed.
Opportunities for action
- Review and reform the assessment process for water and infrastructure projects to align with climate risks.
- Develop and deliver community education programs to increase their involvement in wateruse planning and decisionmaking.
- Develop a holistic approach to collaboration across governments to support better wateruse planning and asset management.
- Support and develop locally specific innovations that account for climate risks.
- Develop solutions that are catchment based and specific for the region.
How we’ve been adapting so far
With the knowledge and partnerships gained through the Hunter and Central Coast Enabling Regional Adaptation work, there is an opportunity for council, government and communities to show leadership and consider this work in their plans to respond to climate change.
Some opportunities for action are already being addressed by government, community, households and business, to help the Hunter region adapt to the impacts of climate change and build a sustainable, productive and equitable future.
One example of action being taken is the Hunter Joint Organisation which brings together the 10 councils in the region to provide a united and local voice for our communities, including on issues around climate change.
Other examples include the projects supported by the Building Resilience to Climate Change grants and Increasing Resilience to Climate Change grants.
The Enabling Regional Adaptation work has already been used to inform government planning in the Hunter, through the Hunter Regional Plan 2041. Incorporating this work into regional and state plans ensures climate change risks specific to the Hunter are included.
If you have an example of how a community group, business or local government is adapting to climate change, email AdaptNSW so we can share your story.
Together, we can adapt to climate change impacts and continue to work towards a positive future for NSW.
How to adapt to climate changeCase studies from the Hunter
The Restore and Renew webtool provides simple, science-backed guidance to improve restoration projects across New South Wales. In the Hunter Valley, it is helping to rebuild climate-ready, genetically diverse populations of the River Red Gum.
Ensuring there’s enough water in the moat may not be a common challenge for those preparing for changing climate conditions.
The role of the Greater Cities Commission (GCC) is to coordinate and align the planning that will shape the future of the Six Cities Region. The GCC are using a tool that applies NARCliM regional climate projections to assess the socioeconomic risks of climate change for the region.