The heat is on: why we need to prevent climate change

Abstract

Climate change represents a huge threat to all countries including Australia and New Zealand, with the likelihood of significant disruption of natural systems. It will also harm such economic activities as agriculture, grazing and tourism. While the New Zealand Government has signed the Kyoto Protocol and is progressing with their response strategy, Australia is not developing response measures that are realistic and appropriate to the seriousness of the economic threat. A government that was concerned about long-term effects on its country would already have a coherent response strategy. Instead, the Australian approach is still one of denial, delay and creative accounting. Future generations will be justifiably angry about the neglect of this great environmental problem.