Synthesis of indirect impacts of climate change in the Murray–Darling Basin

This report documents the state of knowledge of the secondary, or indirect, impacts of climate change and prioritises topics for investigation in the MD-WERP climate adaption theme.

Science and research

MD-WERP theme	Climate adaptation
MD-WERP theme 1 project	Climate adaptation foundational science
Research lead	CSIRO
Authors	David Robertson, Georgia Dwyer, Rebecca E. Lester, Galen Holt, Joel Bailey, Martin Job, Matthew Coleman
Author contact details	David Robertson
Date of publication	October 2021
Report full title	Synthesis of indirect impacts of climate change in the Murray–Darling Basin
Keywords	climate change; Murray–Darling Basin; indirect impacts; water supply and management; catchment interception; bushfire; non-stationary hydrological processes; land-use change; fertilisation; cropping; farming; blue-green algae; hypoxic blackwater events; pest plants; animals
Summary of output	The Murray–Darling Basin has a wide range of social, economic, ecological and cultural values that are under threat from climate change. Projected higher temperatures and lower rainfall for the Basin will have direct impacts on the availability of and demand for water, the viability of some agricultural systems and the frequency and intensity of bushfires, among many examples. Secondary impacts will also arise that may amplify or modulate direct impacts, for example the changes in catchment runoff, and hence water availability, from changed bushfire regimes. This report documents the state of knowledge of the secondary, or indirect, impacts of climate change and prioritises topics for investigation in the MD-WERP climate adaption theme.
Key findings / recommendations	This report documents the knowledge of 9 indirect impacts of climate change on water supply, demand and management in the Basin used to prioritise detailed investigations during the co-design of the MD-WERP climate adaptation theme. These are: Catchment interception by farm dams Increased bushfire frequency and intensity Non-stationary hydrological processes Land-use change CO₂ fertilisation Cropping and farming system changes Blue-green algal blooms Hypoxic blackwater events Pest plants and animals Existing knowledge is found to be variable in its ability to characterise the magnitude and geography of likely indirect impacts on water supply and management. In addition, new and emerging sources of data are likely to provide opportunities to update existing understanding.
Target audience	Water managers, researchers, Australian Government, State Governments, local governments, community, water and environmental consultants

Report
Publication title	Published	File type	File size
Synthesis of indirect impacts of climate change in the Murray-Darling Basin	10 Feb 2023	PDF	410.44 KB

Published date: 19 May 2025