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Climate Change Could Quadruple Homelessness in Australia
15 May
Summary
- Global heating may quadruple homelessness by 2036 without policy action.
- Climate change disproportionately impacts renters and the homeless.
- New housing policies must include climate change impact simulations.
Global heating poses a significant threat to housing affordability in Australia, with potential to quadruple homelessness by 2036 if emissions are not curbed and fairer housing policies are not implemented. University of Sydney researchers modeled the housing market, revealing that climate change impacts housing and rental costs under both high and low emission scenarios.
Vulnerable households are expected to be the hardest hit, particularly in a high-emissions future. This divergence in impact highlights the unequal effects of climate change on housing, disproportionately affecting renters and those experiencing homelessness.
Experts emphasize that climate change should be a central consideration in housing policy discussions. They advocate for targeted interventions prioritizing low-income renters and increased social housing. Furthermore, any new housing policies must be rigorously simulated for their climate change impacts to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities.
