Aussies demand action on climate change as drought and floods ravage nation

posted by DAISY in Climate Change

As Australia suffers some of the worst weather extremes it has ever seen, its people are urging their government to get serious about tackling climate change.

Temperatures in South Australia and Victoria soared above 110F for six consecutive days, claiming 37 lives, causing hundreds of bushfires and leaving more than 10,000 homes without power. The high temperatures, not seen for a century, are expected to reach Sydney by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, in north Queensland, 3000 homes have been affected by floods, with no reprieve yet, as meteorologists are predicting that cyclone Ellie will bring yet more rainfall. Residents have also been cautioned to watch out for snakes and large crocodiles that have been forced to seek dry land.

The extreme weather conditions are being widely attributed to climate change.

"Eleven of the hottest years in history have been in the last 12, and we also note, particularly in the southern part of Australia, we're seeing less rainfall," said Climate Change Minister Penny Wong.

"All of this is consistent with climate change, and all of this is consistent with what scientists told us would happen."

On Tuesday over 2,500 people formed a circle around Parliament House in Canberra in a peaceful protest to urge the government to take more action on climate change.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has faced criticism for pledging only a five per cent reduction in carbon pollution by 2020, a figure that Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown called "a global embarrassment and a recipe for global catastrophe," and for his support of the Australian coal industry, which supplies almost 40 per cent of globally-traded coal.

Australia is the driest habitable continent in the world and as such is expected to face a severe threat from climate change. There is particular concern for the fate of indigenous communities living in remote areas who may be worst affected by drought.

It's appropriate timing for March's climate change conference in Perth, Greenhouse 2009, which will discuss climate change science and how government and industry can help control greenhouse emissions.