Question 19:

How can we live with climate change?

Scientists believe that further climate change is inevitable. Without actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth's surface temperature is likely to rise by 1.1 to 6.4°C by the year 2100 with more heatwaves, fewer frosts, less snow, more storms, stronger tropical cyclones and an 18 to 59 cm or greater rise in sea level. Therefore, strategies enabling adaptation to changes in climate will play an important part in reducing the damages and increasing the opportunities associated with the impacts.

Damages can also be reduced by slowing global warming and sea level rise through the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations. The level at which greenhouse gas concentrations might be stabilised will depend on the actions the world takes to reduce emissions and how quickly this might happen. A reduction in emissions does not translate to an immediate reduction in concentrations because carbon dioxide has an atmospheric lifetime of 50-200 years. Once concentrations eventually stabilise, global temperature and sea levels will continue to rise for centuries because of the heatholding capacity of the ocean.

Coping with climate change and a warmer world will mean changing the way we live.

For example, urban planning in coastal areas will need to consider beach erosion and flooding caused by rising sea levels. In some regions, buildings will need to be designed to cope with more intense tropical cyclones and storm surges. Areas prone to flooding may need to increase their drainage capacity, while drier areas will need to use water more efficiently.

Some farmers may need to adjust their cropping calendar, fertiliser application or varieties of crops to cope with climatic changes. Climate change may affect market prices for some commodities.

Putting in place strategies to adapt to climate change has the potential to reduce the adverse impacts as well as to capture possible benefits. Adapting to climate change will, however, incur costs and will not prevent all damage. The ability of different sectors, communities and countries to cope with climate change will vary widely.

Many natural systems will have difficulty coping with climate change, particularly those systems that are already vulnerable. Some Australian species could become endangered or extinct. For example, coral reefs may experience more frequent bleaching as ocean temperatures rise, and the mountain pygmy possum could become extinct.