[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Cape Grim weather data sounds alarm

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 17 May 2006

Cape Grim weather data sounds alarm

Winter Arctic sea ice shrinking 

Measurements of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere collected at Cape
Grim in north-west Tasmania sound an alarm about the pace of global
warming, Australian Greens climate change spokesperson Senator Christine
Milne said today.

The data is contained in a report by Dr Paul Fraser from CSIRO Marine
and Atmospheric Research to be presented to a climate change conference
being held in Sydney today and tomorrow.

It shows carbon dioxide grew by two parts per million (0.54 per cent) in
2005, the fourth consecutive year of above-average growth. In addition,
carbon dioxide has increased at almost twice the rate it did in the
early 1980s.

The data coincides with the release of a report by the US National Snow
and Ice Data Centre in Colorado, where scientists have reported that the
extent of winter Arctic sea ice was the lowest since the beginning of
the satellite record in 1979.

Winter sea ice extent, or the area of ocean that is covered by at least
15 per cent ice, was 14.5 million square kilometres for this March, as
compared to 14.8 million square kilometres for March 2005, the previous
record. 

"The finding has serious ramifications for polar bears, which were added
to the World Conservation Union's Red List of endangered species this
month," Senator Milne said.

"Polar bears rely on the sea ice for protective cover and for a platform
to hunt for seals, their main prey. Less ice means less food for polar
bears. Breeding rates are down, and many bears are not surviving the
lean summer months. As well, now that ice floes are so far apart, polar
bears are beginning to drown.

"Together, these two reports are further evidence that we are at a
critical stage with climate change and show why we need to act now to
avert the worst consequences.

"The Australian government has wasted a decade. It now needs to respond
with serious measures, including ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, investing
in renewable energy technology and establishing a national energy
efficiency target."

Contact: Katrina Willis 03 6234 4566 or 0437 587 562


Katrina Willis
Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone 03 6234 4566
Fax 03 6234 2144
Mobile 0437 587 562
www.christinemilne.org.au