Climate change
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Climate change
The Australian
THE AUSTRALIAN: Climate change 'has killed 160,000'
February 3, 2005
MORE than 160,000 people died worldwide last year as a result of climate change and it is time the federal Government addressed the issue with a national summit, a peak environment group has said.
The Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change conference began last night in Britain just two weeks before the Kyoto Protocol comes into effect on February 16.
Australia and the US are the only two developed nations that have refused to ratify the international agreement which commits signatory countries to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Australia was particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures, that could see major cities in permanent drought, an Australian Conservation Foundation spokesman said.
Climate change threatened the Australian way of life, the spokesman said, calling for a national summit of all stakeholders and governments to tackle the issues.
The federal Opposition wants Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as a priority.
"There's no point in the PM just having a talk-fest," Opposition environment spokesman Anthony Albanese said.
"The first thing that John Howard could do is ratify the Kyoto Protocol."
The Government also needed to provide incentives for investment in renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, he said.
According to a World Health Organisation report presented at the conference, a 2C rise in average global temperatures could put 2-3billion people at risk of water shortages and disease.
The paper, which was co-authored by Australian National University scientist Tony McMichael, found more than 160,000 people died last year through the effects of climate change since the mid-1970s.
"In Australia, the main risks to health and survival are from extreme events -- floods, storms and, of course ... drought," Professor McMichael said.
A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Ian Campbell said a greenhouse summit was scheduled for April, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, involving "key scientific and industry figures".
But the Government would not change its mind on the Kyoto Protocol, she said.
THE AUSTRALIAN: Climate change 'has killed 160,000'
February 3, 2005
MORE than 160,000 people died worldwide last year as a result of climate change and it is time the federal Government addressed the issue with a national summit, a peak environment group has said.
The Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change conference began last night in Britain just two weeks before the Kyoto Protocol comes into effect on February 16.
Australia and the US are the only two developed nations that have refused to ratify the international agreement which commits signatory countries to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Australia was particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures, that could see major cities in permanent drought, an Australian Conservation Foundation spokesman said.
Climate change threatened the Australian way of life, the spokesman said, calling for a national summit of all stakeholders and governments to tackle the issues.
The federal Opposition wants Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as a priority.
"There's no point in the PM just having a talk-fest," Opposition environment spokesman Anthony Albanese said.
"The first thing that John Howard could do is ratify the Kyoto Protocol."
The Government also needed to provide incentives for investment in renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, he said.
According to a World Health Organisation report presented at the conference, a 2C rise in average global temperatures could put 2-3billion people at risk of water shortages and disease.
The paper, which was co-authored by Australian National University scientist Tony McMichael, found more than 160,000 people died last year through the effects of climate change since the mid-1970s.
"In Australia, the main risks to health and survival are from extreme events -- floods, storms and, of course ... drought," Professor McMichael said.
A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Ian Campbell said a greenhouse summit was scheduled for April, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, involving "key scientific and industry figures".
But the Government would not change its mind on the Kyoto Protocol, she said.