2005: The Year of the Weather Makers?
The Australian Government hosted a major international meeting on climate change in Sydney over January, with the stated intention of finding ways to manage global warming.
Ringed Kingfisher, silhouette at sunset
© WWF-Canon/Homo ambiens/R.Isotti-A.Cambone
But WWF is very concerned about some of the assertions made at the meeting, which saw delegates arriving from six major nations in the Asia Pacific, including the US, China and India.
Of particular concern is the Government's intention to follow an energy path that would result in massive increases in greenhouse gas emissions over the next 45 years.
The Government's plan to bank on the regional partnership will result in an increase in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 of more than 100%.
Such an increase would lock Australia and the world on to a pathway towards a devastating 4°C-rise in average global surface temperatures - with most of this increase to occur this century.
This would be a disastrous outcome for Australia and the rest of the world.
According to leading scientists, a 4°C rise could result in thousands of deaths in Australia each year from heat-related diseases, a 148% increase in bushfires, a rise in the frequency of natural disasters and the loss of our treasured natural icons, such as the Kakadu wetlands and the upland forests in Australia's Wet Tropics, as well as our alpine habitats.
A roundup of climate records broken in 2005 starkly illustrates how global warming is already affecting many parts of the planet, and makes clear the argument that we simply cannot afford to risk a 4°C rise.
Record droughts around the planet A drought in the Amazon this year is a multi-decadal if not century record. The western United States also continued its multi-year drought.
Least icy arctic ever In September of 2005, the area covered by Arctic sea was the least ever recorded by satellites. Continuing a 9.8% per decade decline of perennial sea ice cover, which is the thicker ice that normally does not disappear in the summer. The present decline makes the current sea ice extent about 1.3 million km2 (500,000 square miles or roughly the size of Peru) smaller than the historic average (1979 to 2000).
Caribbean waters hottest on record Waters in the Caribbean were hotter for longer than ever before measured by regional monitoring systems. This resulted in extensive reef bleaching throughout the region, from Colombia to the Florida Keys. Only this year's record breaking hurricane activity limited additional bleaching.
Five records broken by 2005 Atlantic hurricane season In fact, although hurricane season officially ended on the last day of November, Hurricane Epsilon was still blowing in the Atlantic into December.
Most named storms Twenty-six named storms, exceeding the official name list and moving through the first five letters of the Greek alphabet, occurred last year. The United States National Hurricane Center predicted a large year but only estimated 18-21.
Most hurricanes Fourteen became hurricanes, meaning that winds exceeded 119 km per hour. The previous record was 12 hurricanes in one year.
Most category five storms This year had five storms with winds over 249 kph.
Most Expensive Hurricane Damage Figures are still not final for the 2005 season, however Hurricane Katrina alone is already estimated at "over US$100 Billion total losses".
Time to Take Action!
Events like these focus more attention on our need to take decisive action on climate change. Make your voice heard by contacting your local MP and expressing your concern.
Make the switch to Green Power, or find out other ways that you can reduce your impact.
For more information about the implications of climate change, check out Tim Flannery's new book The Weather Makers, available at your nearest bookshop.
