National Climate Risk Assessment exposes water security threats to farming
September 2025, Canberra, ACT: Today's release of the National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan exposes the risks to Australia’s agriculture sector from climate change, particularly water security for irrigation to grow food and fibre.
The report found that
‘changes in water security could significantly impact agriculture… and decrease reliability of water resources, resulting in reduced allocations’.
“Climate change poses a very real risk to irrigated agriculture,” said NIC CEO, Zara Lowien.
“Currently the water management system adapts to climate seasonality, through allocating water when it is available. The agriculture sector is amongst the last in line for water, with water prioritised for the environment and domestic uses – we are on the frontline.”
“If the climate risks extend beyond what can be achieved by just water-sharing, then it's time for a much bigger conversation looking at many options (like infrastructure), that works towards improved water security for all."
"The current approach of just taking water off those last in line (agriculture), has its limitations. Evidence in this Assessment together with the 2025 Murray Darling Basin Evaluation signals - it looks like we've hit them."
“Adapting to climate change will be a shared responsibility that will need integrated solutions and collaboration, a far cry from the current, single water policy approach being used in the Murray Darling Basin of just buying back water from farmers for the environment”.
While the Assessment acknowledged that water security challenges will impact agriculture through reduced water allocations, it fell short of assessing the likely extent of these impacts.
“The Assessment is right in pointing to the impacts to agriculture from reduced water allocations, but it is a major shortcoming that it did not detail exactly what those impacts are expected to be,” said Ms Lowien.
“We hope upcoming work by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority can provide that critical information in the Basin. However, there are irrigation-water dependent economies right around Australia, who need the right information to plan and invest for their futures too.”
“Australia’s irrigated agriculture sector is worth billions, and supplies Australia and our trading partners with food and fibre, including 93% of Aussie fruits and nuts and 83% of our veggies.”
“We are calling on the Federal Government to include water security for irrigation as part of their plans to develop a National Food Security Strategy,” said Ms Lowien.
“Water security for all, including agriculture is a critical piece of the climate change puzzle, we have a shared responsibility to come together to work through this challenge, and develop solutions – we cannot afford for anyone to lose,“ said Ms Lowien.
ENDS
