2005 Hottest Year On Record In Australia -

[hatrack]

The Howard government is facing a king tide of pressure to commit to greenhouse gas cuts after figures showed the nation has sweltered through its hottest year on record. The government, which refuses to sign the Kyoto Protocol on reducing emissions, has been accused of neglect and an over-reliance on new clean energy technologies to solve the global warming crisis.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology's annual climate summary, released on Wednesday, shows 2005 was more than one degree warmer than the average temperature between 1961 and 1990, the standard timeframe used to track temperature change around the world. A one degree increase means many southern towns are now experiencing temperatures equivalent to those seen in communities located 100km further north. By the government's own admission, most of Australia's highland animal species will disappear if the average temperature rises by between one and five degrees.

Wednesday's figures showed the average temperature last year was 22.89 degrees - the highest average in Australia since comprehensive record keeping began in 1910.

Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell on Wednesday acknowledged climate change was the biggest modern-day environmental challenge. "I regard climate change as the number one environmental challenge," he said. But he defended the government's refusal - along with the United States - not to sign Kyoto saying it was not the solution and technology was.

EDIT

http://seven.com.au/news/nationalnews/133042

[phantom power]

1. OK, Ian. What's your plan?

I mean, if they've got some actual plan, involving "technology," that will make progress on this problem, I'm all ears. But it's just a bunch of hot air. Why, one might even call it a proxy for doing actual work.

[Dead_Parrot]

2. He's "Environmentally Challenged"

First recorded by Aldous Huxley in 1928, this is a neurological disorder (enviropenia) in which the patient believes hot air makes things cooler. Caused by the Spucatum Tauri Loquitur virus, which appears to be highly contagious above a certain income bracket. The only known cure - to date - is 80,000 shares in a wind farm, to be taken financially, although a size 9 boot taken anally may provide temporary relief.

The condition Hydrogenmesis (in which the patient spews about hydrogen constantly) appears to be related.