Wednesday, July 27, 2005



The consequences of climate change

Anyone wondering why we should reduce emissions in an attempt to avert the worst effects of cimate change should look at what it will do to Australia:

Australia could be up to two degrees Celsius warmer by 2030 and face more bushfires, heatwaves and storms despite global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, a climate change report showed yesterday.

Australia is also at risk of stronger cyclones, fewer frosts, changing ocean currents and a more pronounced cycle of prolonged drought and heavy rains, found the government-commissioned report by The Allen Consulting Group.

(Emphasis added)

Australia is already suffering its worst drought in decades, which has severely affected economic growth and threatens to cause a serious water crisis in Sydney - and the long-term prognisis is that it is only going to get worse. The same could happen in New Zealand. And people still think we should do nothing...?

2 comments:

I notice they always seem to suggest "a more pronounced cycle". this just seems a little funny to me that this would occur everywhere except in as far as they mean tropical weather extending south some degrees (which isn't really the same as "drought and flooding").
A possibility is that reported studies assume extremes because
it is more likely to get reported (who cares if you argue global warming will cause nothing disasterous for your region)

Posted by Anonymous : 7/27/2005 11:46:00 PM

OK I can buy the equilibrium argument.
cheers

Posted by Anonymous : 7/29/2005 12:33:00 AM