Jumping to conclusions

This blog has enabled me to explore and share many facets of environmental change within Australia, one of the most critical aspects of the environmental sciences, not only within Australia, but also the world, is the communication of the science to the wider community. Australia continues to have both warming average air and sea surface temperatures, with fewer cold events and more hot events, along with disturbed precipitation. The primary driver of these changes is continued anthropogenic CO2 emissions.

The biodiversity of Australia (Fig.1) and its surrounding oceans is dwindling, primarily through a loss of habitat and rising sea surface temperatures. As well as this, the main climate drivers across Australia are changing, with ongoing variability of ENSO.
Figure 1. An Australian Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in Kakadu national park. Photo J Chapman

The Australian government is staunchly opposed to more encompassing environmental policies, but green and renewable initiatives are still going ahead, the Tesla battery installation for instance. Since my post on the hydrocarbon exploration drilling in the great Australian Bight, Chevron have pulled out of drilling proposals, giving security to at least one wonder down under (Fig. 2). 

Figure 2. Hellfire bay, Esperance WA. Part of the Great Australian bight 'wonder down under'. Photo J Chapman

I’m intrigued to see how government policy and public opinion changes in the coming years with ever increasing pressures and demands as Australia follows the rest of the world into a climate change driven, renewable future.

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