ID :
150851
Tue, 11/23/2010 - 18:37
Auther :

Annual storm tides by 2070: report



Builders could be forced to follow national planning laws on rising sea levels as a
report warns of dangerous annual storm tides within 60 years.
Even a moderate rise in sea levels would have a "significant multiplying" effect on
the frequency of high sea-level events, a Climate Change Department study released
on Tuesday says.
By 2030 storm tides, which occur once a century, could become one-in-20-year events
before developing into an annual occurrence by 2070.
"Climate change may also alter the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather
events, including tropical cyclones, rainfall distribution and wind, with subsequent
changes in wave climates and storm surge," the report says.
With more than 85 per cent of Australia's population living by the coast, the
potential for climate change to destroy commercial assets is high.
Since 1993, sea levels have risen by up to three millimetres a year in the south and
east of Australia, and by up to 10 millimetres annually in the tropical north.
A separate House of Representatives committee report on climate change has also been
released, spelling out ways of adapting to coastal threats.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the government was backing nine of the
report's 47 recommendations, and had agreed in principle with another 19 ideas.
It has agreed to consider the benefits of adopting a nationally consistent planning
benchmark for rising sea levels.
But a recommendation for the Building Code of Australia to be revised, to make
structures in cyclonic zones more resilient, was only given in-principle support.
Other calls were given the nod, including the continuation of research into places
most at risk of wave erosion, and a national assessment of vulnerable coastal
infrastructure.
The government also agreed to urgently commission more research into the
socioeconomic threats posed by climate change in coastal communities.
The Climate Change Department has also agreed to commission a vulnerability
assessment on Kakadu National Park and Torres Strait islander communities.
Independent MP Rob Oakeshott, a member of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's multi-party
climate change committee flanked Mr Combet as he released the reports at Parliament
House.
His appearance came after the opposition, who rebuffed a request to send two MPs to
the committee, accused the government of gagging the committee members.
The MPs - also including Mr Combet, independent Tony Windsor, Treasurer Wayne Swan
and Greens deputy leader Christine Milne - have signed confidentiality deeds.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt told AAP on Tuesday the move to have
committee members sign confidentiality agreements followed "a growing pattern of
secrecy".
Four outsiders - Ross Garnaut, who helped design the emissions trading scheme for
the Rudd government, climate expert Will Steffen, energy expert Rod Sims, and social
policy expert Patricia Faulkner - are also on the committee.
The minutes of the first meeting of the committee - released on its website - said
"confidentiality deeds" had been discussed and "members agreed to finalise these in
advance of the distribution of papers for the second meeting of the committee".
Members signed the deeds before the second meeting was held on November 10.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This email is intended for the use of the addressee only. If you receive this email
in error, please delete it immediately. This email may contain information which is
confidential and/or legally privileged. You must not use or disclose the contents of
this email, or add the sender's email address to any database, list or mailing list
unless you are expressly authorised to do so. The statements or views expressed in
this email are those of the individual sender and are not those of Australian
Associated Press Pty Ltd (AAP). These statements are not binding on AAP, except
where the sender expressly and with authority, states them to be. AAP is unable to
review the contents of all the email on its system. To the extent permitted by law,
AAP disclaims all liability for any loss or damage caused by the contents of this
email. www.aap.com.au


Delete & Prev | Delete & Next
Move to:

X