Experts Warn of Climate Mayhem

[Jcrowley]

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Experts warn of climate mayhem

Marian Wilkinson and Stephanie Peatling
March 30, 2007

AUSTRALIA will be hit by more frequent and intense heatwaves, bushfires, floods, drought and landslides as global warming causes the temperature to rise this century, according to the confidential draft report of the world's leading climate scientists due for release next week.

The report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that a rise in the sea level from global warming "is virtually certain to cause greater coastal inundation, erosion, loss of wetlands".

It notes a model showing the beach suburbs of Collaroy and Narrabeen facing a 20-centimetre sea level rise, combined with a storm event causing up to $250 million worth of damage.

The bleak chapter on Australia and New Zealand, already in the hands of the Howard Government, finds that both countries are "already experiencing impacts from recent climate change".

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/experts-warn-of-climate-mayhem/2007/03/29/1174761669481.html

[sasha031]

1. Howard doesn't run New Zealand

I was speaking to some from there the other day, great guy, New Zealand is very liberal, but yes they are going to have a terrible time like the rest of us.

[truthisfreedom]

2. Excuse me, but the sea doesn't just rise 20 cm in one country.

If it rises 20cm (2/3 of a foot) there, it rises 20cm everywhere.

[mike_c]

3. I think the reasoning there is that since Australia is on the underside...

...of the globe, more water will accumulate there than on the top half, since water flows downhill. I mean, look at a map, willya'?

:rofl:

[sam sarrha]

4. sorry if you have ever seen a world map from australia.. the southern hemisphere is on the top

there is not bottom or top.. only a relative position to any of 3 other objects

[mike_c]

5. I cannot believe the tongue-in-cheekness of that post was not instantly apparent....

Sigh.

[sam sarrha]

6. i was just saying that Australia is on top and the rest is deeper cause it fills from bottom up

[mike_c]

8. d'oh-- of course- why didn't I think of that...?

Curses.

[JoFerret]

10. You have obviously never heard that the River Nile

is the only major world river that runs uphill.

[mike_c]

12. er, um, yeah it does, doesn't it-- damn....

:rofl:

[all.of.me]

7. lol !!!

:D

[JoFerret]

11. It's surprising to me that Austarilia

...does not fall off altogether. Gravity and all that - the pull of the sun as it revolves around the earth everyday.

[lovuian]

13. I understand your point but let me put out another theory here

perhaps certain places on earth will get more than 20cm and others will get less
there is a thought that more water will settle near the equator due to the gravity fields

[JoFerret]

9. Great film recommendation

Great film all about the disinformation that created the gap between what scientist know about global warming/climate change and what the general public believes. Lays out the disinformation that created the gap. In addition it is funny and in the end has some glimmers of hope.
Watch it if you can

[WindRavenX]

20. i have a feeling that movie would make me want to pull out my hair

The general public is extraordinarily scientifically illiterate on pretty much the most basic of basics in science.

[Lisa]

21. thanks for the rec!

We're always looking for new stuff to use in the climate policy course, offered at my university.

[gauguin57]

14. Now wait a minute. Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck and Savage have all told me

that global warming is a figment of my diseased liberal mind.

They tell me that EVERY FREAKING NIGHT on right-wing radio.

There's a disconnect here someplace.

;-)

[thinkbridge]

18. Now there you go showing off your liberal language

:) The word is "evil", not "diseased" -
just like the Middle East and depression and that state of
being where you have thought processes.

Also, please note that they are not really blaming your
"liberal mind". They "know" that
"it's all a publicity stunt" by "liberal
media".

Trouble is, I have yet to find the "liberal media"
... I thought that network shucked the label when they fired
Phil Donahue ...

[Theduckno2]

15. Experts warn of mayhem, Bush sees opportunities.

Although I have never been there, information on the bleaching of the coral in The Great Barrier Reef always saddens me.

[ronnie624]

16. "Among its findings are:

* Water security problems are very likely to increase by 2030;

* Coastal development is likely "to exacerbate risk to lives and property from sea level rise and storms";

* Major infrastructure will be at risk from both increased temperatures and storm activity;

* By 2050 there is likely to be faster road deterioration, degraded beaches and loss of great heritage sites like the Barrier Reef and Kakadu;

* A rise in deaths from heatwaves; and

* An increase in the probability of species extinction.

* Water security problems are very likely to increase by 2030;

* Coastal development is likely "to exacerbate risk to lives and property from sea level rise and storms";

* Major infrastructure will be at risk from both increased temperatures and storm activity;

* By 2050 there is likely to be faster road deterioration, degraded beaches and loss of great heritage sites like the Barrier Reef and Kakadu;

* A rise in deaths from heatwaves; and

* An increase in the probability of species extinction."

[ronnie624]

17. "John Howard told Parliament on Thursday

that Sir Nicholas's calls would destroy Australia's economic growth and cost jobs. But Sir Nicholas has strongly argued during his visit that not acting on climate change will be more damaging in the long run.

Yesterday, in a bid to answer the Government's critics on climate change, Mr Howard and his Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, unveiled a $200 million plan to help South-East Asian countries fight greenhouse gas emissions by protecting their forests.

But Mr Howard is still refusing to follow the lead of European leaders, who are promising to slash their greenhouse emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020 and up to 60 per cent by 2050.

:eyes:

[lovuian]

19. Howard Blair and Bush and use to be Bersceloni were NWO

buddies

Many countries are like us a few powerful rich men are in control and they really could care less about millions of poor people dying

[ronnie624]

22. Far too many it seems,

simply cannot grasp the drastic implications of radically changing the chemical dynamic of our biosphere. We could very easily, and in a short period of time, bring about the extinction of our own species.

Pollution, deforestation and carbon emissions, are issues that must be urgently addressed, if our species is to survive, even a short term future.