Climate change

A humans contribute more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, climate change worsens. This means humans are the main contributor of climate change. Australia is one of the major contributors to the climate change, eventhough the population in this country is not that many at 22 million only. Not only are they contributorsof the climate change, they will also suffer major effects that the climate change may bring in the world.

Coal Reserves

The very big amount of coal reserves in Australia is one of the leading reasons why the country is one of the major contributors for climate change. The country is also the main exporter of coal to countries such as Europe and Japan for a long time already. Burning fossil fuels like coal to create energy is one of the main reasons for climate change. As a big exporter of coal, Australia needs to burn a lot of coal, making them contribute greatly to the climate change. This is the main reason why Australia must have a social obligation to battle climate change, but there are a lot of sectors in this country that opposes the idea that they must be obligated to do something about climate change. The coal industry in Australia fears for the jobs of their employees and their profit, but you can get income protection payments if you lose your job. Also there are sectors that suggests that this industry should look for alternative renewable energy sources. They can lead the production of renewable energy like solar energy and still gain profit and give jobs for people.

Carbon Emissions

According to statistics, every people in Australia contributes greatly to carbon emissions. The large cities and the cheap coal are some of the main reasons why people in Australia can easily contribute to carbon emissions. Statistics show that Australians must take a stand against global climate change and be a leader to neighboring countries on moving against climate change, because you can’t buy life insurance for the Earth! However, there are political figures in Australia that counters any movement against climate change to maintain the booming economy of the country. They do not realize that climate change can make bigger losses in the economy in the long run if it is not stopped. An example of this is hoe Cyclone Larry wiped out billions from the Australian economy back in 2006. Larry is caused by climate change and the ones who suffered the most are the ordinary Australian citizens as commodities increased in prices.

Vulnerability

Australia is one of the driest continent in the world. This mean, Australia is very vulnerable to the onslaught that can be brought by climate change. Drought can effect this nation greatly if no move against climate change will be done. This will cause economic and psychological effect on the people of Australia. Drought will become a normal thing to Australia if climate change continues. Water shortage will also be a big problem especially in major cities. Ice in the Arctic and Antarctica are also melting because of climate change and this will result to the rising of sea levels. The first signs for this will be flood, which is now a common thing in some places in Australia.