Climate Change

Landclearing has also made a significant contribution to the build up of greenhouse gases.

These gases are like a 'doona' keeping the Earth warm. Radiation from the Sun, which has been reflected off the surface of the Earth, is prevented from completing its outward journey back into space.

As we put more and more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere it causes a 'double doona' effect, with serious environmental consequences. During the 20th century, the Earth warmed by about 0.6oC in response to this rising greenhouse pollution, with the 1990's being by far the warmest decade on record. Australia warmed by 0.7oC from 1910-1999. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has said that this rate of change is significantly faster than what would have occurred naturally.

Since 1950, with more cars on the roads, more factories and more electricity generation, greenhouse gas emissions have accelerated dramatically. Australia has one of the highest rates of greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the world. At current rates of increase, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere could more than double by the end of this century.

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CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTIONS

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an international body of over 5000 scientists, predicts that unless greenhouse gas pollution is substantially reduced we can expect a further increase in global temperature of between 1.4 and 5.8oC by 2100 (relative to 1990). Earlier this year the CSIRO made very similar climate predictions for Australia. By 2070 average annual temperatures are likely to increase by between 1 and 6oC over large areas of the continent.

To view a Map of CSIRO's Projections click here

It should be pointed out that these projections do not take account of specific measures that might be undertaken to reduce greenhouse gases. It is our actions that will largely determine whether the actual temperature in 70 years time is closer to the top or bottom of the predicted range. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which sets emissions targets for industrialised countries, is seen by many in the international community as an important first step along the road to a stabilised climate. To date the Australian Government has sided with the US governments in attempts to undermine the Kyoto protocol. For more information see www.climateaustralia.org

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IMPACTS FOR AUSTRALIA

A temperature change of a few degrees might not seem like much but very small changes can have huge impacts on the planet's physical processes and the life cycle of almost all living things - including humans. Exotic animal and weed species that are more able to adapt to climate change will proliferate at the expense of less adaptable Australian native species. There is likely to be an increased risk of forest fires in many parts of Australia, alpine habitats are likely to be diminished in size and rivers are expected to experience lower flows in areas of decreased rainfall. Coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, already a problem, is expected to worsen.

There will be potentially serious health and economic impacts for people as well. · Farmers will need to adapt to vastly different agricultural conditions, including water shortages in drought-prone areas. · Climate-related deaths from extreme weather events are likely to rise. There will be rising insurance premiums as more and more communities, particularly in rural and remote Australia, are affected by droughts or disastrous flooding and severe storms. · Beachfront housing will come under particular threat from rising sea levels, which the IPCC predicts will rise by between 0.8 to 8cm per decade over the course of the century.

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IMPACTS FOR THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

Some of the potential impacts of climate change for the Northern Territory foreshadowed by CSIRO in its 1998 and 2001 reports include:

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MORE INFORMATION

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