We can no longer tolerate climate change denial

The United States Weather Service, normally not an agency prone to colourful language, issued an extraordinary statement on Sunday regarding hurricane Harvey, saying, "This event is unprecedented and all impacts are unknown beyond anything experienced". It is now predicted the storm could eventually drop over 150 centimetres of rain in some areas, more than any other in the region's history.

America's efforts to combat climate change have
 been battered by President Donald Trump. 

Far from over, it is already clear that Harvey's impact is catastrophic. Six people are confirmed dead and that number is expected to increase. Cost estimates range up to $US100 billion.

Meanwhile flooding in Bangladesh, India and Nepal during the region's worst monsoon season in a decade has killed an estimated 1200 people.

Climate scientists are reluctant to attribute any particular weather event to global warming, though in this case the signs are that human behaviour contributed to the formation and severity of the storm and its impact.

Read the Editorial in The Sydney Morning Herald - “We can no longer tolerate climate change denial.”

'Concerning': Sydney's water catchment faces rising loss to mining, contaminants

Coal mining in Sydney's catchment is having a "cumulative and possibly accelerated" impact on water flows but its full effect is unknown because of a lack of monitoring.

Sydney's main reservoir, Warragamba Dam, was
among areas with the poorest results in the water audit

These are among the findings of the 2016 Audit of the Sydney Water Drinking Catchment, a study required by law every three years, that the Berejiklian government quietly tabled in parliament this month. Just a single copy of the report was available to borrow. 

The audit, which covers the 16,000-square-kilometre catchment that stretches from Lithgow in the Blue Mountains to near Cooma and stores as much as 2.6 million megalitres of water, found "reduced water availability" compared with the 2013 report.

It found mixed trends, with parts of the catchment improving but others worsening. Lake Burragorang – Sydney's main reservoir sitting behind Warragamba Dam – was among areas with the poorest results for surface flows.

Read Peter Hannam’s story in The Sydney Morning Herald - “'Concerning': Sydney's water catchment faces rising loss to mining, contaminants.”