Climate change now 'the most significant threat' to Australia's wet tropics

Wet Tropics Management Authority offers grim assessment of impacts on region's biodiversity and economy

Climate change is escalating as "the most significant threat" to Australia's wet tropics world heritage area, with an update to parliament reporting the outlook for the bioregion is a cause of "great concern".

The grim assessment of the critical north Queensland rainforest region is outlined in an annual snapshot of the protected area prepared by the Wet Tropics Management Authority, which urges greater national and international effort to address the causes of climate change.