QTPA Member Alert | QUEENSLAND AND “CLIMATE CHANGE” (28/6/2012)

QUEENSLAND AND “CLIMATE CHANGE”

Debate continues around the science of Climate Change.  Whether we agree or disagree increasing global land and ocean temperatures, rising sea levels the retreat of glaciers and ice sheets along with more extreme weather events all indicate that the climate is changing.  The burning of fossil fuels and the removal of natural vegetation have resulted in increased greenhouse gas levels, such as carbon dioxide, increasing the greenhouse effect. Fortunately natural turfgrass is a net carbon sink and one of the highest sequesterer’s. Based on information from the Federal Government’s Office of Climate Change and the CSIRO, the following implications for Queensland over the next century are detailed below.  This is of particular interest to the agricultural and turf farming community in this state.

• Queensland is getting warmer, the last decade was the hottest on record and this warming trend is expected to continue.
• Over the next 40 years, Queensland regions can expect increased temperatures of between 1° and 2.2°C and reduced rainfall across all of Queensland except Cape York.
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that global sea level will rise by 0.26-0.79 metres by 2100.
• In addition to higher sea levels, Queensland’s coastline may also be subjected to more frequent severe tropical cyclones.
• Increased numbers of hot days and warm nights and more heat wave events are also projected.
• Australia is known as the dry continent and severe climatic events such as drought and floods will continue.

From aturf production and supply perspective (erosion control) the following is of interest:

• Building structure and integrity is at risk from higher temperatures and increased intensity of extreme weather events.

• Coastal infrastructure is at risk from flooding and shoreline erosion due to sea level rise and storm tides.

• Increases in temperature and evaporation and reductions in rainfall are expected to significantly impact water availability for agriculture.

• Waterways and marine life will be affected by an increase in average sea surface temperatures along with water quality and the loss of high altitude wet tropics rain forests in Queensland.

• Changes in average rainfall and temperatures and increased frequency of severe or weather events, including droughts and floods, could reduce primary and agricultural production.

• An increase in the number of severe tropical cyclones in a Southward shift in the region in which cyclones develop will expose additional communities to risk, now including Southeast Queensland to a higher degree.

FOR YOUR INFO:

• Scientists from Sweden and America commenced investigation into increased greenhouse gas emissions in 1896.
• In 1850 the Antarctic ice core level of atmospheric carbon dioxide measured 285  ppm (parts per million).
• In 2010 the reading at Mauna Loa was 389 ppm. (an increase of 100.ppm)
• JULY 1 2012 Australia has a price on carbon.

JIM VAUGHAN, CEO