Claudia Doman
31 March 2014: Three University of Canberra academics are among a handful of Australian researchers contributing to the latest International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released today.
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Professor Helen Berry was one of the contributing authors to the report's health chapter. Photo: Michelle McAulay |
The experts warn there is an "unprecedented threat" to human health and that Australia is "playing with fire" given that time is running out to develop a climate change adaptation strategy.
Professor of psychiatric epidemiology Helen Berry and professor of public health and Australian Research Council Future Fellow Colin Butler are contributing authors to the human health chapter of the report.
Chair of urban and regional planning Professor Barbara Norman is one of the contributing authors to the Australasian chapter, which discusses threats to infrastructure and issues for coastal and urban development.
Professor Berry and Professor Butler said human-driven climate change poses a great threat, unprecedented in type and scale, to wellbeing, health and perhaps even to human survival.
They said that during the next few decades climate change will mainly affect human health, disease and death by exacerbating pre-existing health problems, particularly in poorer and more vulnerable populations.
Professor Berry and Professor Butler discussed their findings in an article in The Conversation with their co-author Australian National University's Professor Tony McMichael today.
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Professor Barbara Norman warns that Australia is "playing with fire" due to lack of adaptation strategy. Photo: Belinda Pratten |
Professor Norman said the report highlights increasing impact of floods, fire and heat on communities and infrastructure, constraints on water resources and increased fire risk in southern Australia.
It also points out the increasing risks to coastal infrastructure including road and rail networks and low-lying ecosystems in Australia with continuing sea level rise.
"Australia is playing with fire; despite the science being stronger, Australia doesn't have an adaptation strategy," Professor Norman said.
The recently awarded cutting-edge research by Professor Norman and colleagues on the South East Coast of Australia's urban climate futures was considered in the IPCC report.
Professor Norman identified three key conclusions in the report:1. Climate change has significant implications for cities and coastal development.
2. There are major challenges in implementing adaptation measures.
3. The lack of an adaptation strategy for Australia is making it very difficult for small local councils to implement a consistent and coordinated approach across Australia.
