Queensland may be known as the Sunshine State, but it’s also Australia’s ground zero when it comes to climate fuelled disasters. At the tropical end of the country, Queensland has long been prone to destructive cyclones, storms and flooding. But as climate pollution from the burning of coal, oil and gas intensifies extreme weather, Queensland has become increasingly prone to killer heatwaves and deadly bushfires too.

Key findings

1. Queensland is Australia’s most disaster-prone state, with climate change fuelling more intense bushfires, floods, cyclones, storms and heatwaves.
2. Once known as a cyclone state, Queensland has become increasingly prone to killer heatwaves and deadly bushfires, with the 2023 fire season the most destructive on record.
3. More severe tropical cyclones and storms have decimated Queensland’s coasts and communities over the past 12 months, fuelled by a warmer ocean and wetter atmosphere.
4. As global temperatures continue to rise, Queensland will continue to be hit by unnatural disasters – the severity of which will depend on how rapidly we slash climate pollution this decade.
5. To protect more Queenslanders from worsening unnatural disasters, the Queensland Government needs to stop approving new or expanded coal and gas projects, grow firefighting capacity and help households and communities better prepare for increasing climate risks.