Australia has been a “good” global citizen through its supportive role in the United Nations (UN), aid in other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and promotion of a range of regional agreements involving countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region.…
Global climate change is possibly one of the most significant environmental issues facing our society. It has been recognised as a global concern by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2002 Global Ecology and Biogeography). A case study of the Kosciuszko national park in Austrailia demonstrates the effects climate change can have on a protected area. The alpine zone around Australia’s highest peak, Mt Kosciuszko is of high scenic, scientific, education and natural conservation significance (crctourism). In alpine Australia, some of the effects of climate change are already evident and park managers have come to terms with increased threats from large-scale fires and noticeable reductions in annual snow depth and cover (Wyborn, 2009). This concerning issue is due to the rise in temperature which has directly affected both the alpine species and snow levels in this area. Research suggests that a temperature rise of only 10 degrees would threaten a number of alpine species currently living at the upper limit of their temperature range. (environment &Heritage 2011) . The predicted worst case scenario by 2050 could see a loss of total loss of 30-95% of snow and the possible loss of the alpine ecosystems (Environment &Heritage 2011).…
One of the contributions Kevin Rudd has implemented in Australia is the ‘Environmental policy’ also known as the ‘Climate change Policy’. This policy had an aim to reduce greenhouse gases and other environmental issues that…
The growing interdependence of nation-states has led to greater international attempts to reduce impact of human interference with the environment on a global scale. Although much Federal and State legislation exist in Australia aimed at regulating domestic use of the environment, to date, the international community has largely been ineffective in regulating use of the environment. Ongoing law reform is required in order to meet global targets and ensure intra and inter generational equity, reform which to date has largely been ineffective particularly in response to increasing climate change and global warning concerns.…
* - Member of the Board of the Climate Change Authority of the Government of Australia…
Australia’s Migration Policies and how they have changed over time. With a focus on the period since 1945 Migration laws in Australia have been updated and changed notably post World War II. These changes have affected Australia's political scene and economical value immensely since the 1940s and continue to have an effect today. The Australian population heavily fluctuated in the 1940s, taking citizens in at a capacity that was entirely new for Australia. Migration laws today have changed a considerable amount since then, with Australia ever evolving and adapting to the foreseeable needs of the nation.…
Decreases in stream flow, impacts on coastal underground water and intertidal habitats, and increased salinity will be critical issues for the management of our water supply and natural resources.…
The environment is a very meaningful issue to all Australians. It affects pollution, climate change, and most importantly, the drought. The drought affects the Australian Agricultural industry dramatically as it relies heavily on the decreasing water supply. Many Australians are farmers, and they are suffering the effects of global warming. Australians must save every drop of water they can, and must endure strict water restrictions, especially during summer. The environmental issues in Australia are very grave,…
Climate change and global warming are important issues that affect everyone on planet earth. The future of our planet is reliant on us solving this issue. Canada has done a lot to be an active contributor to the minimizing this problem such as signing the Paris agreement, which deals with greenhouse gases and emissions mitigation. It is very important for Canada as a developed nation to play a large role in this conversation. Canada may not be number 1 in greenhouse emission but our emission are rather disproportionate to our population in the world. Canada consume more energy than all African nation’s combined. Therefore I believe Canada could be doing more to address this problem. Canada can help reduce carbon emissions by investing and…
Throughout the past few decades the public has been made aware of the many threatening environmental changes happening to the world. This domino effect has proven to be the world’s most wicked problem because of how quickly things tend to escalate. Climate change alone has proven to have the most relationships with other environmental issues happening across the world and that is due to the interdependence of each and every issue. The first step in actually solving this issue is to not only to acknowledge these relationships, but to figure out a solution that can be applied globally.…
Recently, the carbon tax issue has been gaining increasing attention in Australia due to its…
“Climate change is one of the greatest threats of our time”(Government of Canada). Climate change is a shift in weather condition that is long-term. Human activities like burning fossil fuels release carbon into the atmosphere causing a buildup of greenhouse gases. The burning of fossil fuels currently accounts for about 70-90 % of human emissions that are greenhouse gases (Government of Canada). Greenhouse gas acts as a blanket surrounding the earth causing the earth to heat up and affect wind patterns, precipitation and storms. The recent development of technology that releases more carbon and deforestation has caused climate change to become a huge issue. As much as 40% of some greenhouse gases will last for 1,000 years in the atmosphere (Globe and Mail). Canadians need to take action to reduce greenhouse gases which leads to climate change because it causes problems with weather, bodies of water, and health. Firstly, because of climate change there has and will be more frequent and longer lasting extreme weather conditions like floods, heat waves, droughts and wildfires. Some areas will become drier causing droughts, and causing forests…
* The total length of Australia’s coastlines is 35 877 km with western Australia’s being the largest.…
On Earth, climate change is a major factor that is happening and affecting everything. Climate change is also affecting Canada’s many primary resource industries. One specific primary industry is the forestry industry in British Columbia. Out of all the industries in Canada, I think that the forestry industry is the most impacted by climate change. Climate change is affecting British Columbia severely because of the mountain pine beetle. The mountain pine beetle is a bug that is native to the forests of western North America from Mexico to British Columbia. It is a very small (5mm) black bug that is very hard to identify. The mountain pine beetle is responsible for destroying the trees that are harvested by the forestry industries by blocking…
For the past decade now there has been a long ongoing controversy, this controversy being this issue of global climate change. It has been a subject many people have been aware of yet few have actually talked about with the general public, as a result is has become one of the most undermined, yet widely discussed issues being held today amongst primarily scientists. Although scientist heavily debate on the subject, making suggestions on what needs to be done and pointing out the causes for climate change; we as a group need to take action in finding out what is happening to the Earth. It is only educating the general public is the only way we can come closer to reversing the damaged caused by global warming and climate…