Shepparton News says weather is a 'Wake-up call'

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n Editorial in today’s Shepparton News headed – “Weather wake-up call” – points directly toward the implications and complications of climate change and while encouraging people to educate themselves, it doesn’t actually mention climate change.

Today’s Editorial said:

Victoria is already burning and it is only October: springtime.

Last month Earth experienced its hottest September since records began in 1890.

Australia’s written records began in 1910, and our country has been warming since 1950.

Daytime maximum temperatures have increased by 0.8^oC since 1910, overnight minimum temperatures have warmed by 1.1^oC and sea surface temperatures by 0.9^oC.

According to future climate projections, winter and spring rainfall is expected to decrease by up to 15 per cent.

These figures all point to a serious change in our climate, and if it continues we will suffer more droughts which will only bring financial strain and heartache to our farmers and general community.

While the temperatures may be creeping up gradually, the results could be severe for regional areas like ours, and experts have been warning that we need to look at some emission-friendly energy-saving solutions.

Obviously, this needs to be done on a global scale and some countries are embracing renewable energy with gusto.

Take China for example, which is leading the renewable energy infrastructure change, and Denmark cracking the world record for gaining almost 40 per cent of its energy from wind.

Where does Australia fit in to this?

The Climate Council believes s we are among the worst offenders for greenhouse gas emissions in the world with the highest coal consumption per capita of any country on earth.

We cannot control the entire country, but at least we can and should be looking locally.

Many local organisations are tackling the issue from various angles, and as citizens we need to choose an approach that is right for us.

Whether it is solar panels for renewable energy systems, educating ourselves on the cause and effects, or monitoring our own carbon footprint – there are measures we can take.

The recent dramatic change in weather patterns is the best wake-up call we can get, and in a fire-prone region we should be hyper aware of the unseasonably warm weather.

News this week of the fire-fighting helicopter deployed to Shepparton earlier than normal to provide quick response in emergencies is comforting, but should also be viewed as another sign that we all need to take action.