The opportunity to effectively counter climate change is fast slipping through out fingers, a new report published by the Climate Commission has found.

The report has concluded that climate change is already a very real factor in Australian daily life, with the intensity and frequency of extreme eeather events increasing significantly over the last decade.

The nation’s rural communities, including key food-growing reegions, are set to bare the brunt of the worst effects of climate change, specifically in Australia’s south east.

Federal Minister for Climate Change, Greg Combet, said the report is a wake up call for the country.

"This report shows that climate change is no longer a problem for the future - it's already here," Mr Combet said.

The report found that last summer broke over 100 weather records across the nation, including the hottest most and hottest day on record.

The report shows that the climate has shifted, increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events.

"This highlights the need for strong and effective policies because the action we take today will largely determine the severity of climate change that our grandchildren will experience," Mr Combet said.

"The Climate Commission's report is a wake-up call for those who think we can afford to delay taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

 

The full report can be found here