Global warming in Australia

Global Warming in Australia

The issue of globalization and its effects on the world has become an ever-increasing subject for debate. Although it is considered that only highly industrialized countries and regions are affected by this process of globalizations, areas such as Australia are not out of reach either. In this sense, the global warming phenomenon is increasing and spreading throughout the world, regardless of the geographical area.

The effects of global warming in Australia are an alarm signal for its dwellers. There are several areas of interest that have experienced the effects of global warming lately in Australia.

An important segment of the Australian life is related to the actual quality of life in major cities such as Sydney. In this sense, the signals in reference to the way in which life could change in the next decades in Sydney are alarming. More precisely, a 2007 report pointed out that life in "Sydney could be completely transformed by the year 2070. In just one generation, Sydney could slide into a near permanent state of drought. There could be a dramatic rise in deadly bushfires. Temperatures would rise 10 or 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or more. Heat-related deaths would soar from nearly 200 to more than 1,200 a year" (Litke 2007)Therefore, it can be pointed out that one of the first changes to be seen in terms of global warming for Australia would be a change in the climatic behavior of the continent. This is not necessarily a particular consequence, but for Australia it is essential as the temperature and the climate are already unbearable in certain parts of the year. Such a change in temperatures would also impact other segments of life, from the human to the animal life.

Another consequence of global warming for Australia is, as mentioned above, related to the wildlife, the vegetation and the particular areas for survival of plants. More precisely, given the change in the temperature of the air, certain species of plants and animals would no longer be able to adapt in their natural habitat. This represents a major concern for the wildlife specialists as this lack of possibility to adapt implies even the extinction of certain species. Thus, "Such species will need to follow their climatic envelopes by migrating to cooler and moister environments, usually uphill or southwards in the southern hemisphere. There is some evidence that plants and animals are already responding to warmer temperatures. The treeline (above which there are no trees) near Mount Hotham in the Victorian Alps has reportedly moved up in altitude by 40 meters in recent years"(NOVA Science in the News 2005). Such changes point out that while some species tend to adapt, others cannot. Also, it suggests that the issue of global warming and its potential effects on the Australian land are is no longer a mere subject for further discussions, it represents a clear threat to the future of wildlife.

In clear connection with climate change, with the impossibility of plants to adapt, or their struggle to do so, is the economic effects global warming would have on the population and on Australia as a state entity. There are large parts of the continent that bases its subsistence on agricultural practices. It is by no means the sense of rural ancient agriculture; yet, despite the technologies at the disposal of the agricultural system, this may reduce its capability and productivity simply because the cropped plants cannot adapt to a different environment. In such a situation, the agricultural output is lowered and effects on the economy could become real in several decades. More precisely, "changes in precipitation and, subsequently water management, are particularly critical factors affecting the future productivity of the Australian landscape. The declines in precipitation projected over much of Australia will exacerbate existing challenges to water availability and quality for agriculture as well as for commercial and residential uses"(CSIRO 2006). Therefore, despite the fact that the immediate effects of global warming tend to follow the natural landscape, by the simple fact that human resources would have to be stretched to deal with issues that would otherwise be dealt with through natural means determines an increased pressure on the reserves of the human activity and financial means. This in turn would develop a certain lack of balance in terms of financial allocations for agriculture, in particular watering.