Global warming is affecting the whole world very badly. But some countries are at higher risk from climate changes. According to the Stern report, Australia is among the most-risked countries, as the emission of greenhouse gases is very high in Australia and it is one of the main exporters of coal, the burning of which emits Carbon Dioxide. Besides, Australia has a very big agriculture area and long coastline, due to which it bears the brunt of climate change and global warming. It has large dry and semi-dry regions, highly exposed to changes in temperature, rainfall and corrosion.
Australia’s ecology is very receptive to any change in the climate and assault by unfamiliar animals and plant species brought in by human doings. Its coastal areas are densely populated and tourism industry also plays an important role in shaping its environment. If left unrestricted, greenhouse gases emission will multiply many times over the 21st century. As a result, the annual average temperatures may raise 0.4-2.0 degree C over 1990 levels by the year 2030, and 1-6 degree C by 2070. In the coming years, average rainfall will decrease in southwest and southeast, while many regions like the northwest may get heavy rain falls. Global warming will raise sea level by 8-88 cm and this may erode and flood the entire coastline of Australia. All these changes will have varied impacts on Australia’s ecology, economy, and human lives.
Global warming also affects the rate and force of bushfires. According to a 2006 report, South Eastern Australia is one of the 3 most fire-prone areas in the world. The Black Saturday bushfires were the result of a period of record hot climate. More than 210 lives were lost in these fires and 1830 homes were ruined leaving 7,000 people homeless. Australia’s most varied ecosystems and natural habitats, when exposed to climate changes, become very weak. For instance, the Great Barrier Reef has faced a lot of blanching. Moreover, if the temperature increases 1 degree C more, it will cause a great loss of species and of related coral communities.
Therefore, the Department of Climate Change has set up the Australian Climate Change Science Program to study the reasons, nature, timing, and the impacts of global warming so that the country can take precautionary measures to reduce the intensity of its bad effects.
