The Gold Coast has been named the single most exposed urban area in Australia to rising sea levels, with the city facing a projected $84.4 billion in economic losses this century.
A new report by the Climate Council warns that climate pollution is driving up ocean temperatures and swelling coastal waters, threatening communities across the country.
They predict more than 32,000 properties locally are at risk of coastal flooding, with low-lying suburbs including Mermaid Beach, Runaway Bay, and Paradise Point expected to face the most severe impacts.
Nationwide, the report estimates that rising seas and storm surges will cost Australia $855 billion.
Climate Councillor Andrew Watkins said events like Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred have already shown how vulnerable the coast is, costing the city $35 million in beach repairs alone.
“When Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred hit in 2025, families watched their beaches disappear overnight,” Watkins said.
“It cost the city of Gold Coast $35 million in beach repairs, and communities up and down the east coast are still recovering from the damage.
“This is how sea level rise packs a punch, by increasing the impacts of storm surges and coastal flooding that’s hitting communities harder, and more often.”
With extreme sea levels projected to occur on a monthly basis by 2090, the Climate Council is urging political and business leaders to accelerate emissions cuts and better prepare coastal infrastructure.
