Professor Karoly will bring his knowledge of climate change to Shepparton

The intimate and intricate challenges of climate change will be explained in Shepparton on Tuesday, November 23.

Melbourne University’s Professor David Karoly (below left) will talk about the implications of climate change and, in particular, its impact on Victoria.

Prof Karoly, a lead author in the third and fourth assessment reports for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is currently with the School of Earth Sciences at the university.

All of his research, he says, has confirmed that the main cause of global warming over the last 50 years is due to increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

His address on Tuesday will be at the university’s School of Medical Health auditorium in Graham St, Shepparton, starting at 7:30pm. Admission will be free.
Prof Karoly will provide an update on the extensive scientific basis for observed climate changes over the last 100 years and the reasons why most of the observed increase in global temperatures is due to increasing greenhouse gases from human activity.
His address is entitled “Climate change: an update on the science”.
He will also describe the likely climate changes over the next 100 years and what we need to do if we want to slow the rate of global warming.
Prof Karoly will discuss coming global changes and how they will affect Victoria.
Those with any questions about the November 23 lecture should direct them to Robert McLean at 5822 1766 or via email at robed@sheppnews.com.au.

Listening in Echuca and sipping latte in Melbourne

On Monday last week, I listened in Echuca as farmers complained of city based latte-sipping people giving them advice; on Tuesday, the following day, I was doing just that, sipping a latte in Melbourne (below right).

And what follows will undoubtedly be interpreted by some as just that, advice. However, rather than advice this is simply an observation.

I was just one of more than about 1200 at Monday’s Murray Darling Basin Authority’s community consultation to discuss its guide to its plan for the basin.
I was not alone at Echuca’s Frontera Basketball Centre, obviously, but that sense settled on me when it quickly became obvious that my sentiments were decidedly different from most others at the meeting.
Many who took the floor during question/comment time often said “All in the room would agree” with this or that lumping me in with the great ruck of thought at the meeting.
Immediately I considered a personal protest declaring my independence, but sensing a lynching – mine – would soon follow, I swallowed my objection and so, through my acquiescence, joined those protesting.
However, most farmers I know love what they do and wouldn’t swap their way of life what I witnessed on Tuesday – latte-sipping people in business attire taking a break in sunny Collins St from the rigours of their world.
That being true, there seems to be an inexplicable anger directed at city people by those from the country, who assume, wrongly, that their city cousins enjoy the good life at the expense of country folk and in doing that, have the audacity to tell them how to manage their farm.
Such a view is unwarranted and although it might bring those who hold them some momentary comfort, it is poorly thought through as farmers without consumers is about as effective as a ship without the sea.
The Collins St latte-sipper and the true country farmer, as opposed to the Collins St farmer, are obviously different in every sense, from their way of life to their skills, but they mysteriously need each other and have an unfathomably equality that allows for, and ensures, the flourishing of society.
That would be something, I’m sure, each would think, in quiet moments, about the other.

Climate change puts pressure on leadership

Leadership emerged as the most needed community quality by one of the groups that meet in Shepparton to consider and discuss climate change and adaptation in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The group, the first of about three to meet in Shepparton over two days, was part of a series of community consultations organized by the Australian National University and Flinders University on behalf of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Just five people, including an industrial organization representative from Bendigo, a drought consultant from Echuca with the Department of Primary Industries, a Tatura fellow with links to the Catchment Management Authority and that town’s revitalization group, a retired dairy farmer and myself.
None of the five were eager to see any new groups established, but generally felt that existing organizations, such as the City of Greater Shepparton Council, needed to take on the responsibility of helping the community, and in turn the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, understand to live with and work its way through climate change.
The seven-strong team, two of which, Professor Chris Miller (above) and Mavis Zutshi, were at the first Shepparton meeting, are conducting similar sessions Tamworth, Narrabri, Euroa, Renmark and Pinnaroo.
Findings from all six towns will be collated and in Shepparton’s case explained at a public meeting in July.
Groups were asked to consider worst case scenarios, how their communities would react if the scenario continued?, what skills and resources the community could bring to bear to cope successfully such circumstances?, how long could they survive is there was a lot less water?, and what direction might the community take in those circumstances?
Thoughts, obviously, were varied, but generally that first group seemed to agree that surviving such a challenge rested with leadership.