'Bidgee's stark warning

Cooma Monaro Express
Thursday 11/1/2007 Page: 1

A CSIRO study into the impact of climate change on the Murrumbidgee Catchment Area has painted a grim picture ahead of more hot days, droughts, bushfires and intense storms.

The study also found that climatic change will further accelerate the demise of the Catchment's existing 125 threatened species and by 2050 there could be up to 96 per cent less snow cover in the Alpine region.

Friends of Renewable Energy spokesperson, Rashida Nuridin, said the time for contemplation is over and this study, which predicts 50 per cent less flow into the Murrumbidgee by 2070. gave legitimacy to the climate change issue.

"All the evidence gathered by scientists indicates climate change is happening and you can't dispute it," said Ms Nuridin.

"There could be a huge impact on the mountains, not only with reduced snow fall, but also the bio-diversity of the ecology." Ms Nuridin said there was a lot of talk about climate change but what was really needed was action.

"There's absolutely nothing at a federal level to encourage renewable energy and they need to offer an incentive to us. "The government are great at rhetoric when it's an election winner and climate change will be one of main voting platforms in the election this year," she said.

The CSIRO study was undertaken so the NSW government could have an increased awareness of those expected to be most affected by climate change and put the state on track to meeting its emission targets.

Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, agreed the Federal Government needed to do more and is calling on them to implement a national plan to address global warming.

"For the mountains it's frightening because of the potential ecological impact of an extinction of plants and animals and economically with the impact of the ski industry," said Mr Whan.

Mr Whan added there were several ways the Federal Government could tackle climate change in a national plan including having a national emission trading system scheme for greenhouse gasses, signing the Kyoto protocol and putting research money into solar, geothermal, and wind power opposed to nuclear.

"The Federal Government must also have an ambitious renewable energy target. It's two per cent now but needs to be at least 10-15 per cent within a decade." Independent Candidate for Eden-Monaro, Acacia Rose, said it's good that the NSW government is taking the lead on climate change and is encouraging NSW people to change to clean energy.