Climate Change
1. DEFINITION
According to the United Nations, climate change is “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods” . (1)
2. CAUSES
Green House Gases (2) –
3. BIBLE REFERENCE
Scripture predicts climate change on a global scale.
Isaiah 51:6 “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earht beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But My salvation will last forever, My righteousness will never fail.”
Isaiah 24: 1-6 See, the Lord is going to lay waste the eart and devastate it; He will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants – it will be the same for priest as for people, for master as for servant, for mistress as for maid, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor. The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered.
The Lord has spoken this word. The earth dries up and withers, the world lanuishes and withers, the exalted of the earth languish. The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statues and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear the guilt. Therefore, earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left”.
Luke 21:25-26 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming in the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken”.
Revelation 16:8-9 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
4. FACTS
The below describes how climate change will impact Australia : (3) – Water Supply – Decreases in stream flow resulting in water shortages, potentially rising river salinity levels, decreased water quality, intense rainfall causing flooding, increase in blue-green algae. – Natural Ecosystems – Significant damage to wetlands, montane forests, mangroves and reef systems, reduction of tropical rainforests, coral bleaching, reduced coral growth rates, flooding of coastal environments meaning loss of breeding habitats, a reduction in alpine habitats, less snow and shorter snow seasons. – Agriculture — Winter fruits having lower yield, there is lower milk yield, increased tree growth, increase in pests and weeds, decreased mangroves. – Severe Weather – Increase in tropical cyclones, storm surges and flooding, increase in bushfires. – Human Health – Injury and death from heat waves, tropical cyclones and floods, illness from food or water borne diseases, increased diseases from mosquitos. – Tourism — A decline in tourism due to coral bleaching, damaged beaches and coastal resorts, shorter snow seasons. – The 20 hottest years on record have all occurered in the last 25 years. – According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this era of global warming “is unlikely to be entirely natural in origin” and “the balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence of the global climate”. – The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years. – Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level. – The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.
5. AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY:
How the Australian Federal Government is helping control climate change : (4) – Australia has allocated $1.8 billion to reduce green house gas emissions. – Australia has the target of limiting greenhouse gas emissions to 108 percent of 1990 levels. – Australia is a member of the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). – Australia is also a member of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate. – Australia takes part in the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), the Methane to Markets Partnership (M2M), the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme (REEEP).
6. HOW YOU CAN ACT
Award winning scientist and environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki makes the below suggestions : (5) – Reduce your electricity and heating at home – Pick appliances that are energy efficient (use the energy star rating) – Ride a bike, walk, take a bus or organise a carpool – Purchase the spiral fluorescent light bulbs, as they save energy and are 75% more efficient than standard light bulbs – Recycle, recycle, recycle! – Choose a fuel efficient vehicle – If you are purchasing a house, make sure it is close to transport and amenities, so you don’t have to drive frequently.
You can limit your carbon dioxide emissions by making simple changes. Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” website recommends we:
– Change to a light bulb that is more environmentally friendly – Drive less and use public transport – Recycle more – Check your tyres – Use less hot water – Avoid products with a lot of packaging – Adjust your thermostat – Plant a tree – Turn off electronic devices7. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING
Australian Government (2003), “Climate Change: An Australian Guide to the Science and Potential Impacts”, in Pittock, Barrie (ed), Australian Greenhouse Office
Australian Government (2006) Climate Change, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
http://www.dfat.gov.au/environment/climate/
Accessed: 20 August 2006
Australian Government (2002), “Living with climate change — an overview of potential climate change impacts on Australia”, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Greenhouse Office.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia (2006), Global Warming, Microsoft Corporation.
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761567022/Global_Warming.html
Accessed: 20 August 2006
Suzuki, David (2006), Climate Change, David Suzuki Foundation,
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/
Accessed: 20 August 2006
United Nations (1992) “Framework Convention on Climate Change”, Article 1
United Nations (1998) “Kyoto Protocol to The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”
(1) United Nations, 1992, Framework Convention on Climate Change, Article 1
(2) Global Warming, Microsoft, Encarta, Online Encyclopaedia 2006, Microsoft Corporation
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia 761567022/Global_Warming.html
(3) Australian Government, 2002, Living with climate change — an overview of potential climate change impacts on Australia, Department of Environment and Heritage, Australian Greenhouse Office, pp. 14–29
(4) Australian Government, 2002, Climate Change, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
http://www.dfat.gov.au/environment/climate/
(5) Suzuki, D., 2006, Climate Change, David Suzuki Foundation,
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/
