Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Archives for August 22, 2005

Adapting to Climate Change

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The question that I asked last Thursday (18th August) – might it get wetter as it gets warmer – was not answered.

There was comment made that this question can’t be answered. There was comment made that the question is irrelevant.

Phil Done has said he will do a summary of that long thread as it progressed the climate change argument/our understanding of the science of climate change, in particular by listing points of agreement. I look forward to this summary.

But I am also interested in moving beyond the detail of the argument about the science and the impact/potential impact of greenhouse gases on global temperatures and consider how we might/can adapt to climate change.

As part of the thread of the 18th August David Brewer provided a link to a talk given by Brian Tucker in October 1986 on the ABC radio program “Ockham’s Razor”. Tucker said:

“And finally there is an assumption that the total cost to society of such a drastic reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions, including social as well as economic consequences, will be less than the cost of adapting to any change in climate, for if it is not, then adaptation is the major sensible policy.”

As I see it adaptation must be a component of any policy, anyway.

Yet there seems to be so little real discussion about adaptation – including how much easier it might be for the developed as opposed to developing world to adapt.

What are the issues? What are the risks? How might we adapt?

Quolls for Sale Instead of Cats?

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I have been in Melbourne over the weekend.

I had the most magnificent meal of Kangaroo Saturday night over-looking the Yarra River. The choice of dish was perhaps influenced by the book I am reading. Michael Archer (Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of NSW) and Bob Beale (journalist) in ‘Going Native’write:

“Why must kangaroo meat – tasty, free range, low-fat, low-cholesterol, disease-free, high protein and environmentally superior as it is – still battle for a respected place at the dinner table?”

Archer and Beale complain that Portugal is the world’s largest producer of Eucalyptus oil (pg12). And that the US was the first nation to domesticate the unique tasty and nourishing Australian native macadamia nut.

Their general thesis that we should do more with our native plants and animals is spot-on.

Archer tells how he once had a pet quoll and suggests that these native animals would make better pets for Australians than cats (pg 267).

The problem is that environmental organizations are generally against the ‘exploitation’ of our native fauna and flora for commercial gain including as pets.

‘Going Native’was published last year by Hodder. I bought my copy for $35 from Dymocks.