Climate change threatens Opera House

The magnificent sails of the Opera House have been named amongst the Australian World Heritage locations threatened by climate change, with an Australian National University report predicting dire consequences for an array of national icons, including Kakadu, the Great Barrier Reef, and Fraser Island.

Potential climate threats to the Opera House include sea level rise and flooding due to storm surges, while potential impacts include sea level rise affecting the building structure and fabric. “Sydney Opera House would appear to be at risk from projected sea level rise, as the forecourt of the building is only 3.5 m above sea level,” the report said. It added that higher temperatures and changes in humidity, as well as extreme weather events, could accelerate the deterioration of the building’s fabric.

The report comes as a federal stoush over emissions trading heats up in Canberra. “We need to act now to protect Australia’s unique environment, especially these World Heritage sites that support so many Australian workers in the tourism and hospitality industry,” said Minister for Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong.

World Heritage properties are included on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) compiled list because of their “outstanding universal value”.

A spokesperson for the Opera House said the institution had been aware of the problem for some time. “We’re considering the implications of the report,” he said. “It’s a long-term issue – we’ve got time to get our strategy in place.”

Meanwhile, City of Sydney Council is also considering the problem. At the council meeting on July 6, it was noted the City is currently undertaking a number of local flood studies. These studies incorporate the proposed sea level rise benchmarks from the Draft Sea Level Rise Policy Statement, released by the State Government in February, which benchmarks a sea-level rise (relative to 1990 levels) of 40 cm by 2050 and 90 cm by 2100.