In recent weeks, alarming glimpses into the contents of the federal government’s National Climate Risk Assessment have leaked out. National environment and climate editor Nick O’Malley reported this month that one insider had briefed former Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner-turned-climate campaigner Greg Mullins on some of its predictions. “Horrifying,” was how Mullins described what he’d heard. He feared the data was so shocking that the government would water it down.

On Monday, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen released the assessment , and it pulls no punches.

The picture it paints of Australia’s future is grim, with escalating effects at each of three global levels: 1.5 degrees, 2 degrees and 3 degrees of warming above pre-industrial levels. The global level is now 1.2 degrees.

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