Introduction
Definition of climate change
Various definitions have been advanced to explain climate change. One definition defines climate change as any transformation that occurs over some time, brought about by nature or actions by human. Statistically it could refer to noteworthy disparity by a mean condition of the climate or in its inconsistency, which lasts for decades or a longer time. These changes could be due to nature, external forces or changes in the atmosphere or the use of land. Finally climate change can be said to take place when modification takes place over some time for example after decades or a longer period. This could be measured by the mean state or unevenness of a regions climate. This may be due to nature, transformation of the atmosphere as well as human activity. (Levina & Tirpark, 2006 p. 13)
This study aims at examining the existence of climate change in Australia plus the challenges it faces due to the climate change as well as the measures taken to avert this problem.
Climate change in Australia
Australia is one of the driest continents in the world; it faces a danger of drying up such that it cannot support agriculture. According to Ross Garnaut (2007) an economist if the problem of global warming is not checked Australia could experience a fifty percent decreased in agriculture that is irrigation based by the year 2050. The change of climate in Australia is evidenced by the changing trends in temperature, rainfall and snow (Common wealth, 2007 p13).
Increase in temperature
Australia has experienced modifications in temperature since 1910 and especially in the mid 20th century. This is as evidenced by the increase in the mean annual temperature of Australia. This continent is becoming warmer and warmer as well as the oceans surrounding it. An example of a warming water body near Australia is the Tasman Sea. These temperature increases affect health, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, most of the natural systems as well subsequent economic consequences ( Garnaut climate change review, 2007).
Varying rainfall trends between regions and seasons
Since 1900, the total annual rainfall for Australia has been increasing from time to time inconsistently in the monsoon rainfall trend (Watson, 1998).There has been a divergence in the rainfall trends linking regions and seasons. The greatest increase of rainfall in the 20th century took place in tropical areas plus the eastern part of New South Wales (Garnaut climate change review, 2007). There has been a decrease in rainfall in south west parts of Western Australia as well as the eastern and the southern bounds of Australia. This demonstrates a shift towards the south of the low pressure systems and the cold fronts which bring rain to these areas.
There has been an assumption that the decrease of rainfall in the south parts of Australia has been brought about by the increase in the greenhouse gases. However there has been no conclusive study explaining the causes of rainfall decrease alongside the coast. Equally it is only a limited research which explains the causes of rainfall increase in the tropics of Australia. Cases of drying have been experienced in some latitude areas. In most parts of the world there have been extreme plus longer periods of drought covering large areas ever since 1970s’.
Decrease in snow depth
There has been proof of warming in Australia shown by the changes recorded in south east Australia snow depth since October where it has been dropping up to 40% for the past forty years. A large portion of global warming in the world as well as parts of Australia is due to human activities where people have been responsible for most cases of gas emission from greenhouses.
Challenge of climate change in Australia
Climate change has posed various challenges on Australia especially on the economy whereby Australia’s economy is sensitive to climate. Disparity in climate brings about damage due to extreme weather which produces noteworthy economic and social costs proving that Australia’s economy is sensitive to climate. Examples of climatic conditions that affect Australia’s are severe climatic conditions like cyclones and hailstorms as well as drought (Commonwealth, 2007).
The costs of drought on Australia
In the event of drought in a year, Australia incurs an estimated ten percent loss of gross value from Australia’s farm produce. An example of this is the 2002- 2003 drought experienced in Australia where it experienced a reduction of its agriculture output by twenty six per cent where the gross value decreased from 38.4 billion dollars in 2001-2002 to 31.5 billion dollars in 2002- 2003. Correspondingly, an estimate was made by ABARE showing that the present drought would lead to a reduction in the agriculture output by Australia in the year 2006- 2007 by an estimated 0.75%far from their expected achievement.
Economic damage brought about by extreme climatical changes
For the past 40 years most of the top twenty insured losses have been as a result of changes in climate for example tropical cyclones, hail, windstorm as well as bushfires. The typical expenditure of these climatic changes is huge and hence not all are covered by insurance cover. From 1967-1999, an estimated annual cost of disasters brought about by extreme weather conditions, was 942 million dollars. A 1/3rd of this were caused by floods, 28% by cyclones, and 30% by severe storms. Insurance costs for weather related disasters have continually rises in Australia.
Climate change and health
Climate change has had adverse effects on Australia’s population health which include risks of injury and health plus an effect on human biological processes. Some effects of climate changes occur due to pressure from extreme weather conditions where Australia’s population become prone to diseases like diabetes, dengue fever to mental health and diabetes (McMichael, 2007 p1). According to a study carried out by Australian scientists speedy changes in the environment and climate have a great threat towards the Australians health. A report released by Australia’s research team namely ‘Healthy Planet, Places and People’ established that most deaths associated with strokes, heart attacks plus respiratory diseases are due to an upsurge in heat waves that could increase twice or thrice by he year 2050. The cases of asthma in children and adults are also likely to rise in some groups where three in twenty children are asthmatic while one in ten adults is asthmatic. Incidences of mosquito- borne infectious diseases plus the geographic scope are likely to rise. Incidences of food poisoning are also likely to rise with almost six million cases of food poisoning being reported rising each year. Due to an increase in trade, population movement, population density and land clearing infections caused by viruses like avian flu and SARS are likely to increase.
Reality of climate change in Australia
According to McMichael (2007), it is only recently that scientists have noticed the consequences of a planet that is warming up towards health. He argues that due to the ever increasing outcome of human activities on the environment, the health of future generations is at stake. He argues that climate change is an example of environmental changes other than weather disasters and a planet that is warming up. Australia’s health is also at stake due to the short supply water flow, acidified oceans, ecosystems that have been disrupted as well degraded land. Therefore to combat this problems their has to be a better understanding of the risks associated with climate change and this can only be done through improved methods of research.
Professor Tim Flannery on the other hand was not at all surprised by the foreseen health impact brought about by climate change. He further argues that the issue of availability of water plus its quantity as well the changes in temperature and food availability changes in climate will have a great impact on life. He supports this by claiming a disastrous outcome in case no action is taken is likely to occur. Professor McMichael argues that though medical research and health has had its basis on the constancy of the ordinary environment around us, this is changing. These changes have been brought about by human activities that impair how the world works. Therefore it is necessary to understand changes brought about by people to the worlds environment and climate have an effect in the world and also to us human beings. Rebecca James the CEO of Research Australia also supports professor McMichael’s view where she is of the view that more needs to be done for Australia to adapt to the changing environment. Additionally she further argues that the realisation of health implications by scientists, brought about by global warming only occurred recently. It is therefore imperative for further research to be undertaken for Australians to have a better understanding of climate change impact on health. The likely implications of climate change on health are noteworthy. If researchers in the medical field fail to address the health threats, and the effect on our health, then the society and the economy will be at stake.
Reality of climate change on Australia’s agriculture
The realities of climate change in Australia can be felt in the agriculture sector. A prediction has been made by Australia’s scientists, where it has been predicted that huge losses in agricultural productivity are likely to be experienced, where crop yields, livestock produce and the growth of pasture would decrease as the costs in agriculture produce increase. The results of climate modification would be harsher as opposed to other countries which would to lead to failure in competition and this would translate to low output (Wreford et al, 2010, p78).
It has been noted that forestry and agriculture are very significant in Australia’s economy. Therefore any kind of disruptions in these sectors due to climate change would affect land management, trade and employment. Agriculture sector employed an estimated three hundred and sixty thousand people country wide in the years 2004- 2005. Recently it has contributed to three per cent of GDP, on the other hand forestry has contributed one per cent of Australia’s GDP. Forestry and agriculture would be affected in several ways due to a change in climate or a change in climate policies.
The degree of climate change effects will be subject to: modifications in climate variables like rainfall and temperature as well as the influence of climate modification on agricultural produce of Australia’s’ competitors. Climate change has a likelihood of resulting to long term climate trends and upsurge unpredictability of the already uneven climate. The probable effects of climate change on forestry and agricultural sectors include crop failure, a rise in fire danger, livestock heat stress that could result to death, land degradation plus damage to crops due to flooding (Watson et al, 1998 p 6). The losses incurred due to climate change result to a decrease in the gross regional product plus the agriculture sectors in some areas. In periods of drought, the experiences of the rural communities show that loss of income could result in a variety of effects which include family conflict, an increase in the workload as well as withdrawal from communities and social groups. Farms located in areas favoured by climate change take advantage of the situation and increase the prices of the output.
The widespread dependence of Australian population on agriculture has an impact on the climate. This is evidenced by the gases emitted by the greenhouses and hence the agriculture sector should ensure that it plays a part in combating this problem. According to a study carried out in 2005, agriculture contributes 16.8 % of emissions from greenhouse in Australia, and thus making it the second largest emitting region after stationary energy. The contribution made by greenhouses in gas emissions increases up to twenty three per cent with the utilisation of transport and energy from the agricultural sector (Wreford et al 2010 p 78).
Due to the gases being emitted by green houses course of action in the world must ensure Australia is influenced to the degree it has effects on forestry and agriculture. Farmers from New Zealand have relied greatly on grass feeding throughout the year in outdoor husbandry and this means that would gain significantly as they compete with nations that contribute to a large extent with gas emissions from agriculture, these countries include Korea, North America, Japan and Europe if a wide-ranging regime on carbon pricing was present. Efforts to alleviate the use of bio-energy from farmland would result to a rise in worldwide prices, particularly oilseeds and grains, as well as livestock products that would be utilized as inputs (Wreford et al 2010 p 78).
Ultimately LULUCF (the land use, land use change and forestry, zone has the prospective of being the remaining descend to gas emission from greenhouses like it was in the year 2005. Australia is about to meet the Kyoto goal of 108% on 1990 levels by the year 2012 (PMTG, 2007), through its reduction of land clearing and also through planting of trees. In the years 1990- 2005, a decline of 41.7% emissions with roots from forestry, fishing and agriculture was experienced due to a reduction in clearing of forests. As much as their have been a decrease in the emissions from agriculture, their have been an increase in emissions from other areas namely, mining, water and gas sector as well as electricity. Scope of social and economic impacts on climate change on the forestry and agriculture sector will depend on the biophysical impact that would result from climate changes, the plan in policy mechanisms to promote mitigation and adaptation, as well the efficient management of the opportunities present by climate change (Wreford et al 2010 p 78).
Measures taken to avert climate change in Australia
Measures taken by the Australian government to combat climate change
The Australian government has put great effort on ensuring that the problem of climate change is being combated in Australia. Climate change is a big challenge to Australia which is one of the reasons that Rudd’s government was elected as it vied on the platform of combating climate change in Australia. The first action taken by Australia’s government was to endorse the Kyoto Protocol that it would be partake in solving climate change. The Australian government has made move towards forming an economy that is based on reduced pollution with an assurance of more efforts being put into advanced technology, that produces less emissions, as well as providing tools for communities and families to deal with climate change as well as ensuring a reduction in the use of energy. The Rudd Government so far has managed to fulfil its promises of enlarging the, target of using renewable energy so that at least 20% of Australia’s electricity could be obtained from renewable sources by the year 2020. Exceptional funds have been set up to develop clean energy jobs as well as technology. Measures have also been taken to help businesses adjust to an economy with low emissions in, Australia (Rann, 2007). Australia has also put up an estimated one hundred thousand solar panels on rooftops in Australia. This amount, to ten times of the achievement made in the past ten years.
Most of the families in Australia have solar systems fixed into their houses hence ensuring Australia’s families have hot water from solar energy. Solar energy has been provided by the Australian government to ensure efficiency in businesses as well as Australian homes. Australia’s government has invested heavily in the transport sector to ensure a reduction in traffic congestion. This government has also invented forty million dollars to a bikes path national project of bikes which would ensure that would ensure job availability. Moreover, one hundred and sixty new as well as upgraded bike paths around the nation ( Rann, 2007).
Measures taken by industries in Australia to combat climate change
Industries in Australia account for a large amount of green house emissions and as such they should play a part in reducing the amount of green house gases. Slight progress has been made by the state in its quest to meet its 2050 goal of reducing carbon emission without involving industries. The government has joined hands with the cement, wine and electronics industries where an agreement has been reached between these companies and the government for the utilization of materials in these industries that have low emissions. Their has also been an establishment of a document requiring companies to register voluntary for the offsetting of carbon emissions would be made (Rann, p 34, 2007).
Conclusion
Climate change is characterised by changes in the weather conditions brought about by emissions from industries as well as emissions from agriculture. Climate change in a region occurs after a long period for example after a decade, meaning that an area experiencing climate change could be that it is highly polluted for climate change to occur.
Climate change poses a great challenge to Australia as is evidenced by the various effects of climate change on the weather for example the decrease of snow depth, increase in precipitation as well as the increase in temperature. These climatic changes harm health where it has been noted that climate changes impact directly on Australia’s population health. This is evidenced by the cases of tropical diseases being reported in Australia. The negative effect of climate on Australia also includes decrease in agricultural yields brought about by period of drought. The resultant effect would be an increase in prices of agricultural produce. It can be concluded that climate change poses a great challenge to Australia and hence the issue of climate change in Australia is a reality that has to be dealt with to prevent its negative effects. Though the problem of carbon emissions cannot be done away completely this emission must be reduced to ensure a low risks to various sectors due to carbon emissions.
Bibliography
Common wealth, 2007, Climate Change in Australia: regional impacts and adaptation, managing the risk for Australia. Web.
Garnaut Climate Change Review, Issue Paper 1 Climate Change: Land use- Agriculture and Forestry. Web.
Levina, E & Tirpark, D 2006, Adaptation to Climate Change: Key Terms. Web.
McMichael, A ,Powles, J, Butler C &, Uauy, R. 2007, Food, Livestock production, energy, climate change, and health. Web.
Rann, 2007, Tackling Climate Change: South Australia’s Greenhouse strategy. Web.
Watson et al, 1998, the regional impacts of climate change: an assessment of vulnerability, Cambridge Press, New York.
Wong P, 2010 , Challenges of a climate change future.
Wreford et al, 2010, Climate Change and Agriculture: Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation, New York, Publishing Oecd Publishing.