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What is climate change?

Climate change is a long-term change in average temperature and weather patterns. It can be measured across regional and global scales and across thousands of years. Climate change impacts every part of Victoria’s water management.

Implications of climate change for Victorian water management include:

  • more intense downpours, with greater risk of flash flooding in urban areas
  • decline in alpine snowfall, reducing tourism opportunities in ski fields and water melt that flows into catchments
  • decline in rainfall particularly during the cool season (May to October)
  • shift the resilience of dry land agriculture and runoff into farm dams and waterways
  • less water in waterways to keep them healthy
  • less available groundwater
  • increased reliance on climate-independent water sources (desalination and recycling.)
  • rising sea levels causing erosion
  • double the number of very hot days
  • longer fire seasons
  • loss of flora and fauna.

Essentially, there is much less rainfall and less water entering streams, rivers and our water storages at the right time of year.

Looking forward and looking back

Victoria’s growing population also means higher demand for water throughout the year. Changes to weather patterns may result in availability of water being less reliable.

This can make it more difficult to meet different demands, such as for towns, farms and others. Understanding the causes and impacts of these changes helps Victorians prepare and better plan mitigation and adaption strategies.

Climate change can also change how Victoria experiences damaging weather events (drought, flooding, storms). For example, the Millennium Drought (1996–2010) saw unprecedented dry conditions.

At this time, many of Victoria’s storages and lakes reached their lowest level or were empty. For some people, this meant shorter showers.

But for others it meant the difference to feeding livestock and growing crops. Because of this and much more, all Victorian water corporations must produce a climate change action plan.

Case study

The State of the Climate Report (released by the Bureau of Meteorology in partnership with the CSIRO) draws on the latest national and international climate research, monitoring, science and projection information.

It is released every 2 years and describes changes and long-term trends in Australia’s climate.

Watch the video

State of the Climate 2024 - Bureau of Meteorology (2 min 15 sec)

Read the report

State of the Climate Report (released by the Bureau of Meteorology in partnership with the CSIRO)

Meet the expert

Sandra Dharmadi is a Senior Policy Officer with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). Here she discusses her work studying Victoria's changing climate and how it helps inform how we manage water.

Source: DEECA

Photo essay

Further resources

Below you can find a variety of resources to further research on improving understanding of climate change in Victoria.

Victorian Water and Climate Initiative findings (2017–2025) – research to understand our climate and water resources better.

Victoria’s changing climate – understanding Victoria's past and future climate.

Climate change and Victoria’s water sector – committing to net zero by 2035.

Climate Change impacts for the environment – helpful graphic explanations for how Victoria’s climate is changing.

Climate and weather – the latest climate update information from Agriculture Victoria.

Blue Carbon Lab – innovative research solutions.

From Cod Logs to Frog Bogs – CSIRO catalogued 400 ways to help species survive a warmer world.

State of the Climate – The CSIRO's latest research.

Adapt Grampians – a regional hub for information sharing, learning and inspiration to ensure we adjust and thrive in our changing climate.

Adapt Loddon Mallee – a regional, learn-by-doing approach to climate change adaptation.

Adapting your home to climate change – Understanding homes and climate change.

Barwon Water’s environment and climate change – how this water corporation is achieving new targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

Gippsland Water climate change strategy – how this water corporation is achieving new targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

Agriculture Victoria emissions series – hear from farmers who have reduced emissions.

Green Your Laneway Project Tour – see how City of Melbourne are greening the city.

Melbourne Water Urban Cooling Project – planting trees to provide shade and cool Melbourne.

The sponge effect – Melbourne Water demonstrates how climate change affects catchments.

Tackling climate change – Gippsland Water are setting ambitious climate change targets.

Victorian Water and Climate Initiative science webinars – learn from the scientists and researchers.

Page last updated: 17/09/25