Australia: Climate threat to heritage sites

The Federal Government has warned that Australian icons such as the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park, the Tasmanian wilderness, Carlton Gardens and the Sydney Opera House could be damaged irreparably if the Coalition fails to support Labor’s emissions trading scheme.

Less than two weeks before a Senate vote on the Government’s climate change legislation, a government report to be released today has found Australia’s 17 world heritage sites could be devastated by lower rainfall, rising sea levels, higher sea and land temperatures, ocean acidification and extreme weather events.
The report, prepared by the Australian National University for the Department of Environment, said that with continued warming there would be “substantial reductions” in rainforests, declines in the abundance of native flora and fauna and potential damage to architecture.

It said temperatures in Australia were likely to rise by up to 5 degrees by 2070 under a high emissions scenario, with a 10 per cent fall in average rainfall, lower stream flows, worsening water security and quality and more cyclones. By 2030, sea levels were likely to rise by about 17 centimetres.

The Age