Climate change
Scientists believe the earth's climate is changing due to the increase in greenhouse gases—like carbon dioxide and methane— in the atmosphere. These gases are produced by burning fossil fuels and by land management practices such as land clearing.
The earth is predicted to get hotter under the influence of these greenhouse gases. According to a CSIRO report published in 2004, Queensland's climate is predicted to become hotter and dryer than anything experienced since European settlement. The changes in temperature, rainfall and soil moisture will affect infrastructure, agriculture, the environment and human health.
While we have to take action to reduce the production of greenhouse gases—by changing our lifestyles and the way we manage the land—we must recognise that the climate is likely to change as a result of the extra greenhouse gases already produced. We have to plan for the impact of climate change— a hotter, dryer and more extreme climate, more frequent and severe storms and tropical cyclones, and rising sea levels.
For more information about climate change, visit the Department of Natural Resources and Water web site.
Last updated 12 December 2008