Murray-Darling Water Crisis - the future has arrived
20 Apr 2007
Statements made by the Prime Minister this week regarding the drastic water shortages in the Murray-Darling must be a strong call to action on climate change.
"There is no doubt the Murray is in very serious trouble, as are the industries which have banked on reliable water supplies in a highly variable environment," said Averil Bones, WWF Australia's Freshwater Policy Manager.
"The man-made future has arrived - plainly industry demands for reliability are at odds with climate reality."
All governments must act now to address over-allocation and plan for climate change. We must also keep to our international commitments to protect the health of the remaining wetlands that are currently a last vital refuge for unique fish and birds.
"Recognition at the highest level of the very real crisis we face is well overdue," said Bones. "The upcoming Federal budget must provide for the immediate release of the National Water Plan's $3b to buy water to maintain habitat for birds and fish.
"We are moving far too slowly to address over allocation and to plan for climate change if we hope to head off disastrous ecological declines or to guarantee provision of ecosystem services," said Bones.
"The future holds a new world of extremes," Bones said. "Scarcity - not security - is Australia's fate, unless water use rules reflect climate variability."
Find out more
Averil Bones, Freshwater Policy Manager, WWF-Australia
Mobile: 0437 864 153
Jacqueline McArthur, Media Communications Manager, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 9281 5515
Mobile: 0408 626 780
Email: jmcarthur@wwf.org.au
