Drought is expected to occur 20 - 40 percent more often in most of Australia over the coming decades.6, 18 If our heat - trapping emissions continue to rise at
high rates, 19 more severe droughts are projected for eastern Australia in the first half of this century.6, 17 And droughts may occur up to 40 percent more often in southeast Australia by 2070.2 Unless we act now to curb global warming emissions, most regions of the country are expected to suffer exceptionally low soil moisture at almost double the
frequency that they do now.3 Studies suggest that climate change is
helping to weaken the
trade winds over the Pacific Ocean, with the potential to change rainfall patterns in the region, including Australia.20, 21,16,22