Sydney
Australia
Sydney is projected to face increasingly dangerous heat extremes, posing serious risks to residents and infrastructure. To combat this, the city implements a range of technology-enabled climate resilience solutions. These include wastewater reclamation and greywater recycling initiatives that optimize water use during heat events. The city’s planning sector incorporates decision support tools for climate adaptation and urban planning alongside urban heat island mapping. Health measures involve air quality monitoring and filtration systems to protect public health. Furthermore, buildings utilize reflective coatings like cool roofs and green roofs to minimize heat absorption. This comprehensive suite of current and proposed initiatives demonstrates Sydney's proactive commitment to address and mitigate the impacts of future climate hazards effectively.
Hazard Outlook
How will Sydney's projected climate hazards compare to other cities under a 3.0°C future warming scenario?
Maximum Temperature
Sydney's projected maximum temperature of 9.6°C is higher than most cities globally under a 3.0°C warming scenario.
Maximum Rainfall
Sydney's projected maximum rainfall of 11 mm is higher than most cities globally.
Elevation
At 32 m elevation, Sydney faces elevated risk from coastal flooding and sea level rise.
Longest Heatwave
Sydney may experience heatwaves lasting up to 2 days, lower than most other cities.
Heavy Rainfall Days
With 9 days of heavy rainfall expected, Sydney ranks lower than most cities for extreme precipitation events.
Exposure Summary
Adaptation Priorities
Sydney faces elevated exposure to max temp, max rain, elevation. These areas may warrant priority attention in adaptation planning.
Data source: Climate projections from the IPCC AR6 scenario analysis. See our methodology for details on how we process and interpret this data.
Deployed Solutions
Deployed climate adaptation technologies identified in Sydney.
NSW Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network
The NSW Government operates an ambient air quality monitoring system within the City of Sydney area, with a primary station installed at Cook &...
Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring and Public Information System
The NSW Government provides real-time air quality information through a comprehensive online platform that enables residents to access current...
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Decision Support Tool
The Urban Heat Island Mitigation Decision Support Tool represents an interactive three-dimensional platform that enables users to visualise and...
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Index Tool
An online, interactive urban heat mitigation index was developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living (CRC LCL) in 2019 to...
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Performance Index
The Urban Heat Island Mitigation Performance Index represents a decision-support framework developed to assist governments in establishing...
Recommended Solutions
Proven solutions from similar cities that could help diversify Sydney's resilience portfolio
Environmental Atlas Urban Climate Planning Advisory System
82%Since 2016, the Environmental Atlas, Berlin's map and information server on environmental issues, has provided a new climate model called 'Planning Advices Urban Climate' that identifies areas suffering from adverse climatic conditions and locations where the city has capability of relief.
Citizen Science Mobile Heat Mapping with Vehicle-Mounted Sensors
80%With the help of the Museum of Science, volunteers attached temperature sensors to their cars and bikes to collect data in Boston, Cambridge and Brookline.
Automated Water Meter and Leak Detection System
80%The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission deployed automated water meter technology and leak detection systems to reduce potable water losses from its distribution system.
Solar-Powered Atmospheric Water Generation Hydropanels
80%The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission completed a 2-year pilot project in May 2023 that tested atmospheric water generation technology to extract water from the air using solar power at two locations in the city.
Automated Water Meter Infrastructure for Real-Time Leak Detection
80%San Francisco's automated water meter infrastructure enables real-time leak detection and customer notification to reduce water waste across the city's 170,000 retail customer accounts.
Groundwater Monitoring and Modeling for Sea Level Rise Impacts
80%San Francisco's Port, Department of Building Inspection, and Office of Resilience and Capital Planning are conducting groundwater data collection and modeling efforts to better understand the impacts of rising groundwater at the shoreline, including liquefaction risks.
Onsite Wastewater Treatment to Drinking Water Standards System
80%The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission headquarters building at 525 Golden Gate Avenue features an onsite wastewater treatment system being upgraded to incorporate a permanent, purified water component that will demonstrate the ability to treat wastewater to levels that meet proposed drinking water standards.