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IS DANGEROUS CLIMATE CHANGE INEVITABLE OR CAN WE AVOID IT?
9 May 2008

This is the question being asked at a symposium in Canberra today by some of Australia's leading climate change scientists.

The symposium is titled 'Dangerous climate change: Is it inevitable?' and is the final event at the Australian Academy of Science's peak science showcase, Science at the Shine Dome.

A feature of the symposium will be Dr Neil Hamilton from the WWF's International Arctic Programme, discussing the effects of climate change in the Arctic and whether dangerous climate change is already upon us.

Dr Hamilton says: 'There is growing scientific evidence that the Arctic is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change with global relevance.

'Change is occurring at all Arctic system levels including the atmosphere and oceans, sea ice and ice sheets, snow and permafrost, as well as on biological species. For several key Arctic systems, notably sea ice and the Greenland Ice Sheet, recently observed changes are happening at rates significantly faster than predicted.

'At least one of the projected impacts became more of a reality in the summer of 2007 when the Northwest Passage was free of ice for the first time.'

Professor Graeme Pearman, who participated in the recent 2020 summit, will close the symposium by discussing whether we can avoid dangerous climate change.

He says: 'Recent knowledge has stressed the urgency of the issue. There are potential impacts for those who wish to experience our natural heritage, or to build businesses based on those experiences, and to those who are impacted in many ways by changing climatic conditions.

'There are both threats and opportunities related to re-engineering how we source and use energy. There are challenges in how we deal with the inequities of climatic impacts, where responsibilities lie, and who is capable of coping with change.

'Scientifically there is much we know about climate change (the climate system, the impacts and the mitigation options) and much we still have to learn. We need to develop and apply new knowledge, both within and between disciplines. Simultaneously, we need to build resilience in the face of this remaining uncertainty by managing risk thorough the application of the best available expert knowledge.'

Other topics and speakers are:

• Economic perspectives on climate change – Mr Blair Comley
• Predicting global sea levels – Dr John Church FTSE
• The challenge to Australia – Mr Roger Beale AO
• Can coral reefs adapt? – Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg FAA
• The vulnerability of socio-ecological systems – Professor Amanda Lynch (worked on the 4th IPCC report)
• A new geological epoch, the Anthropocene – Professor Will Steffen
• Water, drying and climate change – Professor Neville Nicholls
• The carbon cycle at the climate crossroads – Dr Michael Raupach

Science at the Shine Dome is the Academy's peak annual celebration of science. It attracts over 300 delegates to Canberra, and brings to the spotlight the great research and achievements of some of Australia's brightest scientists.

For more information on the event go to www.science.org.au/sats2008/symposium

Event:	'Dangerous climate change: Is it inevitable?' Science at the Shine Dome
Date:	Friday, 9 May 2008, 8.50am – 4.05pm
Venue:	The Shine Dome, Gordon Street, Acton, Canberra
Media contact:	Richard Bray: 02 6201 9452 or 0416 331 821; richard.bray@science.org.au

Media are welcome and interviews can be arranged through the media contact.

A professional photographer will be covering the event if you need images.