Extreme weather events have been etched into Australian culture and history. While extreme weather events occur naturally from time to time, record breaking weather is becoming more common in Australia and around the world. Climate change is making many types of extreme weather events worse in terms of their impacts on people, property, communities and the environment. It is crucial that communities, emergency services, health and medical services and other authorities prepare for a changing climate. Professor Flannery will outline the influence of climate change on extreme weather and describe what it means for emergency services now and into the future.