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February 19, 2010
Penny Wong's speech to the National Coastal Climate Change Forum in Adelaide is significant.This is not because of its reflections about Copenhagen, or the defence of both climate change science or the Rudd Governments' emissions trading scheme, but because it addresses the need to adapt to the effects of climate change.
The Minister says:
even with strong emissions reduction action we face a stark and sobering fact – the opportunity to avoid climate change altogether has passed. It has been lost to us – this generation no longer has that opportunity.Any effective climate change response now also needs to address the question: how do we adapt to the impacts of climate change that we cannot avoid?...
The speech highlights that one of Australia‟s principal adaptation challenges is preparing our coasts since these coasts play a major part in our economy, our environment, and our way of life:
climate change threatens coastal homes and the viability of coastal industries and ecosystems.With our coasts at the front line on climate change, facing sea level rise, storm surges and inundation, they also must be at the forefront of our efforts to adapt to climate change. Australia‟s coastal zone in particular will experience the full range and impact climate change.
It refers to Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coasts report and the National Coastal Risk Assessment.
As is pointed out development around the Australian coast assumes that sea level and storm events would function as they have in the past and our housing estates, business sites and public utilities have been designed as if the coastline and tidal levels would not change. Such assumptions are no longer valid.
The Australian, of course, is not at all convinced. It ain't gonna happen.
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Pleased to see that Minister Wong's speech recognises climate change will alter our environment