Mass Migration A Likely Result Of Climate Change, Says Explorer And Author

Media Release

Mass migration a likely result of climate change, says prominent
explorer and author

Preparations must begin for providing clean water to a significantly larger Australian population if the climate change impacts predicted by environmental scientist, explorer and author Tim Jarvis come to fruition.

Evidence has increasingly emerged that Greenland and the Antarctic's ice sheets are melting and contributing to rising sea levels, as verified in the International Polar Year (IPY) survey released last month.

According to Mr. Jarvis, such melting is a result of climate change and could ultimately contaminate groundwater and freshwater estuaries and destroy productive land leading to significant changes in global population and migration.

Tim Jarvis is the author of "Mawson: Life and Death in Antarctica" and featured in the award winning documentary of the same name. Tim will be sharing his experiences as both environmental scientist and adventurer, and is expected to attract a full house of over 1,000 water and environment sector delegates registered to attend Australia's National Water Conference Ozwater '09, this Monday 16 March.

With Ozwater '09 sporting the theme 'From Challenges to Solutions' Tim's address couldn't be more timely. Mr. Jarvis has called for more immediate action to counter the affects of climate change on global freshwater supplies. "Sea levels rise and there is loss of productive land it is incredibly difficult to deal with," says Mr. Jarvis.

According to Tim, the solution is multi-faceted, and includes measures such as decreasing water use, introducing more water re-use, growing crops better suited to our climate rather than relying on irrigation, mapping population activities so they correspond with land capabilities and using land appropriately. Suppliers and governments also need to reassess water pricing.

"Desalination is not a silver bullet solution. It has a place in a suite of tools but it isn't the silver bullet solution," he says. The focus instead should be on improved storage and efficiency.

And while Australia faces significant challenges in water supply, Mr. Jarvis is keen to point out that the problem is larger than our back door. "Australia can't work on its water problem in isolation. Globally, one billion people don't have access to clean drinking water, so developed countries such as Australia need to provide knowledge and technology transfer," he says.

Ozwater '09 is hosted by the Australian Water Association (AWA) in partnership with the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.

"The water sector in Australia is at the pointy end of dealing with climate change," says Tom Mollenkopf, CEO of the AWA. "Changing rainfall patterns and increasing temperatures will have substantial impacts on water availability. However we're not just sitting around moaning about it. Significant work has been taking place in the water industry for many years now on adaptation and mitigation strategies to deal with climate change.

"This conference, with the expert contribution from renowned speakers such as Tim Jarvis, is part of our commitment to delivering the considered solutions required to address these challenges."

For interviews, media passes or information please contact
Edie Nyers
0401 806 277 or
[email protected]


SOURCE: Australian Water Association