Droughts, Storms, Rising Seas? Don't Worry, Says Oz Environment Minister

[hatrack]

The federal Environment Minister says a climate change report warning of more erratic weather and rising sea levels is not cause for alarm.

The new government report on climate change says there could be more droughts and storms, higher temperatures and rising sea levels in the next 30 to 50 years.

The Climate Change: Risk and Vulnerability report predicts more possible threats to water supplies, ecosystems and agriculture.

Environment Minister Ian Campbell says the report is evidence that even if all greenhouse gas emissions were stopped tomorrow, climate change would continue because of the build-up in the atmosphere. Senator Campbell says the warning could be painted as alarming but there is no need to panic.

EDIT

http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200507/1422274.htm?riverina

[Nihil]

1. Two adjacent sentences from the same person?

> Environment Minister Ian Campbell says the report is evidence that
> even if all greenhouse gas emissions were stopped tomorrow, climate
> change would continue because of the build-up in the atmosphere.
> Senator Campbell says the warning could be painted as alarming but
> there is no need to panic.

Hey, we're fucked but, as we can't do anything about it, there's no need
to panic!

That's what comes of asking politicians for a statement at the end of
the barbie rather than before it ...

[phantom power]

2. In the navel-gazing universe of politics, this is logical.

If there is nothing we can do, then the politicians can't be held accountable. Since nobody needs to worry about accountability, there is no need to panic. QED.

[Dogmudgeon]

3. In one respect, he's right

Panic will not help at all.

I suspect he's just shilling for industry, but the best approach to solving this (or any other) problem is with a clear mind and a determination to prevail.

--p!