09/05/2005 - Southern
Australian cities like Sydney and Perth are
fast running out of water with all but the
city of Hobart now living with serious water
restrictions.
To quench this insatiable thirst there are
proposals for new dams in some of Australia's
remaining healthy rivers, proposals for pipelines
that traverse thousands of kilometers and
expensive desalination plants.
But according to WWF Australia these water
plans fail to take into consideration the
biggest threat to the country's water resources
- climate change.
Rising temperatures and changing rainfall
patterns, together with growing populations,
represent the greatest threat to Australia's
already-stressed water supplies.
Scientists predict significant reductions
in rainfall in many parts of the country as
a result of climate change. With an increasing
lack of rain, Australia will be unable to
rely on dams for the entire water supply.
And as rain becomes scarcer and temperatures
hotter, the need for water becomes greater,
with increased evaporation levels leaving
agricultural land parched and water courses
dry.
Making a difference
Climate change and Australia's water crisis
are inextricably linked. But every Australian
can take steps to minimise the problems of
rising temperatures and lack of water.
To prevent more drastic measures being pursued
at the expense of the environment the problem
of climate change needs to be addressed.
It is essential to reduce the reliance on
coal-fired electricity - the major contributor
of greenhouse gases - and embrace new cleaner
forms of power.
Not only do coal-fired power stations in
Australia produce more than 170 million tonnes
of carbon dioxide - the most significant greenhouse
gas - every year, they also use vast amounts
of water in their generation of electricity.
For every kilowatt hour of electricity used
in a home or business, one litre of water
goes up in steam in a typical coal-fired power
station, according to the California Energy
Commission. The average Australian home uses
7,000 kilowatt hours per year.
Renewable energy, on the other hand, like
solar and wind, doesn't require any extra
water. But instead of investing in this clean
alternative the Government of New South Wales
plans to build new coal-fired power stations.
WWF Australia is calling on New South Wales
Premier Bob Carr to choose clean power options
rather than more coal. To suppport this WWF
initiative, PowerSwitch! activists can send
a letter to the Premier to outline their opposition
to new coal-fired power stations.
