Climate report sparks call to action

The federal government says its alarming new report on rising sea levels underlines the need to have an emissions trading scheme agreed to without delay.

The Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coasts report says up to 250,000 Australian homes are at risk of inundation by the turn of the century.

The findings are based on a sea level rise of up to 1.1 metres by 2100, and more extreme weather events.

As a result, the report says, more than $60 billion worth of residential property faces flooding.

In addition 120 ports, 1,800 bridges, power stations, water treatment plants and airports close to the coastline are also under threat.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says the findings can't be ignored.

"The science tells us our climate is changing faster than first projected and the impacts are likely to be more severe," she told reporters in Sydney.

Australia must immediately reduce its carbon emissions, she said.

"Which is why we are determined to pass the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme."

The scheme will be agreed to in the lower house when parliament resumes on Monday.

But it faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where the government does not hold a majority.

Senator Wong says negotiations with the coalition, which is demanding agriculture be excluded, carbon capture technologies be included and more help for industry, are "moving forward".

The government hopes to see a "resolution" before the United Nation's climate change talks in December, she said.

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said the government would accept the coalition amendments if it was serious about climate change.

He said including carbon capture technology in the scheme would allow farmers to capture millions of tonnes of emissions and to save water.

"Our amendments (are) a win-win for farmers and the environment," he said in a statement.

But the Australian Greens said Labor's scheme will do nothing to prevent the report's dire predictions.

"The government should take the report on notice and redesign its legislation to adopt strong targets," Senator Christine Milne said in reference to the proposed emission reduction targets of between five and 15 per cent by 2020.

"(The report) highlights the massive damage bills the community will face if the government's weak response prevails."

The federal government also used the report's release on Saturday to announce a new council to further investigate the risks of climate change to coastal areas.

Leading scientist Dr Tim Flannery, who will head the council, says coastlines are already being affected.

"We can no longer ignore the need to reduce emissions and manage the challenges that climate change poses to our way of life."

Meanwhile, a global consultancy firm says the report is a wake-up call for industry and business to plan ahead and avoid costly and unplanned expenditure.

"In most cases considering climate change impacts when designing new infrastructure will be cheaper than reacting to impacts," spokesman Michael Nolan said in a statement.