NCCMA Internet - Climate

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) acknowledges that climate change is happening and is committed to working with the community and landholders in addressing the potential impacts of climate change on the region's natural resources.

We are working collaboratively with the community, landholders, and other Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies to support, communicate and undertake climate change research and awareness raising activities. These activities help build a better understanding of:

natural climate variability and human induced climate change
how climate changes may impact our natural resources
what land management actions can be taken to help minimise the impact of climate change.

The North Central CMA also supports carbon emission reduction activities in the region. Internally, we will reduce carbon emissions from our own base operations with the aim of achieving 'carbon neutrality' (i.e. achieving zero net carbon emissions) in 2008. Currently, 100% of our electrical power is sourced from renewable green energy.

Our organisation also recognises that climate change impacts need to be considered when planning its activities, and that these plans need to be flexible enough so that we can incorporate the latest scientific findings and adapt to climate conditions as we move forward. The North Central CMA will continue to facilitate knowledge sharing as this unfolds.

The impact of Climate Change

The region's climate is fundamental to its character. It is a key factor influencing the nature and distribution of the region's native flora and fauna, its water regimes, farming systems and even settlement patterns.

The Climate change in Australia: technical report 2007 confirms that the Earth is warming in response to the release of greenhouse gases. By 2030, temperatures will rise by about 1 ºC over Australia - a little less in coastal areas, and a little more inland - later in the century, warming depends on the extent of greenhouse gas emissions. If emissions are low, warming of between 1 ºC and 2.5 ºC is likely by around 2070, with a best estimate of 1.8 ºC. Under a high emission scenario, the best estimate warming is 3.4 ºC, with a range of 2.2 ºC to 5 ºC.

Further, the report indicates there will be changes in temperature extremes, with fewer frosts and substantially more days over 35 ºC.

The report also predicts that decreases in annual average rainfall are likely in southern Australia - rainfall is likely to decrease in southern areas during winter, in southern and eastern areas during spring.

As with temperature, the report indicates that rainfall projections for later in the century are more dependent on greenhouse gas emissions. Under a low emission scenario in 2070, the best estimate of rainfall decrease is 7.5 per cent. Under a high emission scenario the best estimate is a decrease of 10 per cent.

The report indicates that although there will be more dry days, when it does rain, rainfall is likely to be more intense.

These changes are expected to have a major impact on ecosystems, affect the pattern of agriculture and reduce water supplies.

Responding to Climate Change

The goal for Climate change for the north central region as outlined in the Regional Catchment Strategy is:

The north central region will have zero net greenhouse emissions. It will introduce management practices that improve the resilience of natural ecosystems and agricultural and other land uses in the face of climate change.

The North Central CMA's climate change initiatives revolve around:

improving the resilience of natural systems and land uses to climate change and
reducing the regional contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.

Details on some of the completed and current initiatives and projects are listed in the project section below. Most of these projects were undertaken in collaboration with other NRM agencies, researchers, local community groups, and farmers.

In addition, the North Central CMA is also currently working on reducing the carbon emissions from its base operations with the aim of achieving a 'carbon neutral' status in 2008.

We will be regularly updating this website to keep you informed on our progress towards reaching our 'carbon neutral' goal, as well as providing you with updated information on the progress of current and future climate change initiatives.

The North Central CMA will continue to work in partnership to research further steps that we, landholders and community members can make to assist the environment.

The impact of Climate Change

Responding to Climate Change

Other informative websites