Minister Briefing Q1 2026
Quarterly Climate Risk Assessment
Centre for Sustainable Development Reform | March 2026
Key Findings
Global surface temperatures exceeded the 1.5C threshold for the third consecutive quarter.
- Mean anomaly: +1.62C above pre-industrial baseline
- Highest quarterly average on record for Southern Hemisphere
- Significant implications for agricultural productivity
Precipitation Changes
Rainfall distribution showed increased variability:
- 23% above-average in northern tropical regions
- 18% below-average in south-eastern agricultural zones
- Record low snowpack in the Australian Alps
Recommendations
Three policy intervention domains require immediate attention:
- Energy transition acceleration
- Agricultural adaptation funding
- Coastal infrastructure resilience