Climate movement - resourcing the growing grassroots climate change movement in Australia.



Climate change is already with us. Average temperatures have risen by 0.7 degrees C since 1910. The 1990s were the hottest decade on record. In addition, a certain degree of future climate change is already locked into the system due to past emission histories. This means that as well as mitigating current and future emissions we will also require programs and policies which ensure we are able to adapt to these changes.



Using climate model simulations, CSIRO has predicted the following changes in climatic conditions for Australia:



- an increase in average annual temperature of 1-6 AøC by 2070 over most of Australia

- an increase in the average number of extreme hot days and decrease in the average number of extreme cold days

- a decrease in annual average rainfall in the south-west and in parts of the south-east and in Queensland

- an overall drying trend for Australia due to increased temperatures and evaporation and changes in rainfall

- an increase in maximum wind speed of tropical cyclones of 5-10% in some parts of the globe by 2100 and increase in precipitation rates by 20-30%.



Our understanding of the full range of climate change impacts is incomplete. What we do know is that without a doubt the social, economic and environmental impacts will result in huge lifestyle changes for Australians.