Climate change presents a range of social implications for town planning on two counts: Firstly planning is a mechanism by which adaptation to climate change impacts is possible, and secondly planning influences the level of emissions produced by human settlements.

This is exemplified by a Queensland government report that emphasises impact on the state's coastal regions. Probably the most pressing consequence of climate change on coastal environments is the forecast change in sea level. Queensland's east coast is likely to suffer loss of mangrove habitat, beach erosion, and enhanced storm damage to infrastructure. The likely southern extension of the cyclone range and associated torrential rain events has serious implications for planning, building regulation and the operation of local emergency services.

According to the CSIRO, Cairns is particularly vulnerable to flooding, worsened by climate change. The cost to the community of coastal flooding could more than double in some areas in the next fifty years due to global warming. A 1-in-100 year storm and storm surge would inundate an area twice the size of presently affected areas if flood heights were to increase from 2.6 to 3.0 metres.

Despite these forecast impacts, there is no legislation from the State planning authorities on adaptation to climate change, nor is there any reference at the Federal level by the Australian Building Codes Board to making homes "climate-proof" or resilient to the impacts of climate change.

However in some states, there has been some acknowledgment of the pressing need for planning to adapt to climate change. For example, Victoria's Melbourne 2030 initiative includes a promise to "introduce changes to Victoria's planning and building systems that will be needed to help adapt to the impacts of climate change - following the completion of a three-year CSIRO research program funded by the Government". However are no specific commitments in this promise.

In terms of the role of planning in climate change mitigation, the Australian Government has resolved to eliminate the worst energy performance practices in new buildings by mandating a national minimum energy efficiency requirement.

The Building Code of Australia (BCA), is the natural place for minimum energy requirements of new buildings and major refurbishment. Following studies by the CSIRO Division of Building Construction and Engineering, the Australian Greenhouse Office released a scoping study for incorporating minimum energy performance into the BCA.

A 2004 report by Austroads on the impact of climate change notes a number of ways in which weather influences road maintenance costs. Rainfall, moisture, salinity and high water tables can accelerate wear, as do high temperatures. Given the projections of increased temperatures and flooding due to climate change, it is likely that road maintenance costs will be affected, although they may fall in some areas. The report also examines the impacts of sea level rise and storm surges on roads in coastal areas. Finally, it is forecast that indirect impacts of climate change, such as alterations in the location of population and human activity are likely to affect the demand for roads.

In relation to the effects of climate change on sewerage infrastructure, CSIRO and Melbourne Water conducted a study examining Melbourne's water, sewerage and drainage systems in what is believed to be among the first study to examine these systems in a combined manner. The study concluded that in the future Melbourne is likely to experience increased average and summer temperatures, reduced rainfall, and more extreme weather events.

Such changes would cause risks to Melbourne's water supply, sewerage system and drainage. As a result of the study, the Victorian Government is drawing up a new strategy for the greater Melbourne area, which is examining water conservation, recycling, aquifer storage, stormwater harvesting and desalination plants.

Climate change has the potential to increase energy use in most of the warmer Australian cities and coastal centres. As very hot days increase in frequency, the combined demands of hundreds of thousands of air conditioning units will place large peak demands on the electricity network.

Peak electricity demand is generally associated with cooling/air-conditioning during hot weather, however electric heating in winter can also generate very high demand in areas where gas heating is relatively uncommon. A recent CSIRO report estimates that a temperature rise of 1 degree (relative to 1990) would increase the number of days above 35 degrees by 18% in South Australia and 25% in the Northern Territory. Conversely, energy demand for heating will decline, particularly in Melbourne, where gas is the primary fuel for home heating. The overall effect is likely to be a moderate net increase in energy demand, and a significant increase in infrastructure costs incurred to supply peak energy demand.

The same CSIRO report indicates that an average temperature increase of just one degree will increase peak electricity demand in Adelaide and Brisbane by between 2 and 5%. Heating gas requirements in Sydney and Melbourne would fall slightly. An average temperature increase of 2-3 degrees could increase peak electricity demand by 3 to 15% in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne, and slightly decrease (-1%) peak demand in Sydney. An increase of 4 or more degrees, at the upper end of forecast projections, would increase peak electricity demand by up to 25% in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne. Peak demand in Sydney would be unchanged.

In addition to this potential increase in peak demand, higher average ambient temperatures will increase transmission losses in the electricity grid. Increased force of floods and storms will affect also electricity infrastructure such as pipelines and power lines. Heat and extreme weather events that interrupt electricity distribution is referred to as 'supply sensitivity' and has been documented in regions such as Gulf of Mexico.

The 2004 'Somerville Report' of an independent inquiry into Queensland's electricity distribution found that the period of intense heat experience in the summer of 2004 found that emergency cooling systems in some of the states transformers were inadequate and insulation damage had occurred in about half of the transformers tested. The Australian Greenhouse Office commissioned report on Risk and Vulnerability recommended that review of energy management in Australia be undertaken assessing stability measures required to ensure adequate supply of electricity.