Climate change: Let's ponder what is heading our way

The representatives of 5.3 billion people have signed the Kyoto Protocol, which came into force yesterday. Australia did not, neither did the United States.

So what does it mean for Australia, its economy, society and natural treasures?

Acres of news print now and in the future will expound the benefits and deficiencies of such a global pact. It’s not an easy task. Who could accurately predict the protocol’s utility in the current climate of international uncertainties?

Saving light, beacon of hope, the biggest barking dog of all international talkfests, call it what you like. But do take the opportunity to ponder what is heading our way.

A key question is: Where do Australians stand on the monumental changes and challenges to our way of life? Signing up to Kyoto and making concerted efforts to mitigate climate change or not, change is still imminent.

We see five main points business and community leaders must keep uppermost in their minds as they assess the real risks over the coming years.

The first is an awareness of and willingness to take action on the twin realities of Adaptation and Mitigation of climate change. Like it or not, understand it or not, some species are adapting to global warming - as are the front runners of the international business ecosystem. Some will be successful, others don’t have a hope.

Humans are the only species that can mitigate the affects of climate change - the best, the most flexible and forward-looking among us are on to it already, but this task is impossible without monumental shifts in political courage and business leadership.

Ask yourself: What will you do on your watch? Take action to help prevent devastating losses - help aid the adaptation to a changing climate that humankind has already set in train? Or resign yourself to evolution, soon to be set in amber like a pre-history mosquito.

In Australia, one of our best hopes is that the States realise how much of the burden of climate change they carry. How will the Victorian, NSW and Queensland governments cope when the frequency of billion dollar droughts like that of 2002 is doubled or tripled with climate change? Water supplies to feed thirsty cities reduce, rural communities suffer, a way of life is lost and the States pay for it.

There is no doubt Federal leadership is essential if Australia is to make this quantum leap, equally there is no doubt both mitigation and adaptation lie in State political leadership. Welcoming in renewable energy, rejecting further polluting businesses and pushing through energy efficiencies must be at the top of their agenda. Water efficiencies and water use reform is a key adaptation they are already making.

The States and the Federal government must find a way to go forward on these critical issues “no matter what happens”.

This is the third and important point, “no matter what happens” means there is no greater agenda than the urgent mitigation and smart adaptation to climate change - egos, political spats, ersatz business trends and short term economic interests must not defeat us.

Also, another critical aspect to remember is that it is not just us. Australia is facing mass species extinctions, the force of which we have never seen before.

WWF estimates that up to 20 per cent of Australia’ s half million or so plants and animals could be threatened with extinction as a result of the failure to deal with these threats like climate change and land clearing in time. We must see a quantum leap in our nation’s efforts to deal with key threats such as declining water quality and wetland health, weeds and pest animals, states still allowing land-clearing, and climate change.

WWF is calling for a Biodiversity Commission to be established to report on and find solutions to the enormous loss of species we are facing.

A dedicated body to bear witness and take action on helping to build resilience and adaptation for species is the least we can do on our watch. To not do anything for those species we have condemned to climate change is a choice, of course. We want to give them a fighting chance. Do you?

The last point should be obvious, however, the glacial movement of some companies and political sectors shows that it is not as prosaic as you would think.

Climate change equals business opportunity. This next industrial revolution towards a carbon-constrained world will have winners and losers. If companies haven’t thought about clean energy, future pollution liability, energy efficiencies and how to make a buck sustainably then they are already set in amber. Rest in Peace.

On our watch, we must ensure - no matter what happens - that this clever country embraces the opportunities and finds a way to give the rest of life on earth a fighting chance.