An Australian urban planner says climate change is a daunting reality for the country and significant changes to how people live are necessary to prevent towns becoming deserted.
Last year was Australia 's hottest year on record and temperatures are expected to rise further.
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said 12 locations in South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales recorded temperatures of 48°C or higher in December.
Western Australia urban planner Charles Johnson says people need to think about how they are going to live in drier conditions, including access to water and sustainable housing.
Mr Johnson said in 50 years' time metropolitan Perth would be a much more densely populated city, with more high-rise buildings and infrastructure used more efficiently, so the city does not expand into fire-prone areas.
He said if work isn't done to adjust to climate change, some towns will eventually be abandoned.
The Bureau of Meteorology diagram shows the mean temperature in Australia in 2013. Photo: AAP
