Australia faces multiple risks from current and future changes in the climate. We need to understand which are the most significant and how they will affect our society, way of life and economy. Without this, we cannot take effective actions to manage our climate change risks.

We need to know what Australia most values and wants to protect in the face of a changing climate. This report contributes to:

• an understanding of national climate risks
• a better understanding of the complex and cascading risks that will cause damage to our environment and society
• insights into the wider social and economic impacts of hazards, such as bushfires, floods and disease
• an evidence base for the National Adaptation Plan, which will set the frameworks to drive adaptation in Australia.

For the first time, Australia will have a shared understanding of the most important risks facing the nation from climate change. The analysis from the Risk Assessment will inform national priorities for climate adaptation and resilience actions through the National Adaptation Plan, and will provide a framework for wider public and private assessments of climate risks.