Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Archives for September 17, 2005

A Christian Forester’s Views

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I received the following email from a reader of this weblog:

“Folks,

At times the church has been drawn into the forest debate causing concern among Christian timber folk, the church appearing to follow the anti forestry argument.

But now it is great to see perhaps a more balanced approach by the Church, with the Anglican Church publishing a very positive article from Christian forester Hans Drielsma.

Please take time to read,
http://www.anglicantas.org.au/tasmaniananglican/200508/200508-09.html .”

Now Scientific Basis for Climate Change?

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According to Opposition environment spokesman Anthony Albanese the latest issue of science journal ‘Science’ provides,

“A scientific basis for what the Government was told in its climate change risk and vulnerability report just two months ago”.

And when the 7.30 Report interviewed me they indicated that the science was already settled. So how does this report value add? Is it really definitive? Is the opposition a couple of months behind the government in accepting “the reality of climate change”.

Albanese is reported as stating, “Australia is at risk because of the higher incidence – in this case – the scientists have reported a doubling of category four and five cyclones and hurricanes.”

The same news reports states,

“The research, from the University of Georgia and the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, shows that high-strength cyclones have nearly doubled in 35 years in all five of earth’s ocean basins.

“Global data indicate a 30-year trend toward more frequent and intense hurricanes,” the researchers said.

However, scientists say they lack enough data to be definitive, because the period studied in the report is too short.

They also say other factors, such as El Nino current or humidity play a role in the intensity of tropical storms.”

Now why didn’t they include the data from the 1940s – the last time the US had lots of intense hurricanes?

Who has read the paper in the new issue of Science?