Colonisation and Climate Change in Australia (Overview)

Environment   Jul 18, 2017 by Erin McConnell

Prior to British colonisation, the indigenous people of Australia had lived here for at least 50,000 years. Around 600 different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups existed with different and diverse cultures. Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people felt a strong connection to the land and looked after it in many ways. For example, Aboriginal groups on the west coast of Tasmania set fires (firestick farming) in order to clear landscape and promote eucalyptus growth, which in turn provided habitats for animals that could be hunted. Many Aboriginal groups had a nomadic lifestyle and moved regularly in order to preserve the plants and wildlife of a particular area. This meant that they left a minimal footprint on the environment.

In contrast, when the British Empire established a convict colony in Australia in 1788 (after they deemed that Australia was Terra Nullius) they began to drastically change the landscape by clearing trees and reducing animal populations in an area. Environmental damage has increased significantly since this time in various ways.

The number of extinctions of Australian animals has risen dramatically since British colonisation. While a number of animals such as 23 species of Australian megafauna (giant land mammals, reptiles and birds) went extinct before 1788, there is debate as to whether this were caused by the first human colonisers or natural changes in climate. However, British colonists hunted animals, introduced feral animals which killed native species and destroyed the habitats of native animals, causing extinctions at a far higher rate.

“Mammal species started becoming extinct within about 60 years of [European] settlement, and extinctions at the rate of one to two species per decade have continued unabated since, such that a total of 30 of Australia's land mammals are now extinct - more than 10 per cent of the original endemic land mammal fauna.” – John Woinarski, researcher at Charles Darwin University, NT

Additionally, Australian forests have been greatly reduced since 1788, with over 40% of forests, 75% of rainforests and 90% of temperate woodlands having been cleared since that time.

More recently, Australia’s rising greenhouse gas emissions are a threat to the environment as they contribute to the gradual warming of the planet (climate change). Since 1990, Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 27.9%. In 2014, Australia contributed 1.4% of global carbon dioxide (and equivalents) emissions, making it the 13^th largest contributor to emissions worldwide. Additionally, Australia produces a higher amount of greenhouse gasses per person than any other country in the world, emitting 26 tonnes of greenhouse gasses per capita per year.

Increasing global temperatures caused by climate change affects Australia in many ways. Australian agriculture is negatively affected by changes in rainfall, flooding, heatwaves, reduced water supply and less winter chilling (for southern fruit and nuts), all of which can result from climate change. Extreme weather events such as cyclones, droughts and severe flooding can also result from increased temperatures. During 2016 29% of shallow water corals in the reef died from extreme coral bleaching, which is a result of rising sea temperatures. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Chairman Russell Reichelt stated that:

“We’re very concerned about what this [widespread coral death] means for the Great Barrier Reef itself and what it means for the communities and industries that depend on it.”

In 2005, the Australian government set a target emissions reduction of 5% by 2020 and 26-28% by 2030. However, there is uncertainty as to whether this target will be reached.

Electrical energy production produced 35% of Australia’s carbon emissions in 2016. Therefore, reducing emissions from this sector is a good way to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. According to Australian Government statistics, between 1990 and 2016, carbon emissions from electricity have risen by almost 50%. The majority of energy in Australia is generated by coal-powered power plants, followed by gas power. Unfortunately, renewable sources such as hydroelectric and solar power are the least generated form of energy. Renewable energy production increased between 2015 (producing 14.6% of national energy) and 2016 (producing 17.3% of national energy) and is expected to increase further in future.

However, Australia still has a long way to go in producing clean, renewable energy. Hydroelectricity makes up 42% of renewable energy in Australia, followed by wind power (31%). To produce these types of energy, expensive and sometimes environmentally damaging infrastructure such as wind turbines and dams must first be built. Although bioenergy is a renewable energy source, its production releases some carbon dioxide and is therefore not the cleanest energy option.

Solar energy currently produces 18% of Australia’s renewable energy. Solar panels can be installed on homes and business buildings, and although initially costly to install, they can provide reliable, cheap energy. I believe that solar energy is the future of Australian renewable energy. In 2016, 135,400 rooftop solar systems were installed around the nation. If solar energy continues to increase, Australia will decrease its reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels and release less greenhouses gasses into the atmosphere.

Sources:

http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-indigenous-cultural-heritage

http://austhrutime.com/fire-stick_farmers.htm

https://www.didjshop.com/shop1/AbCulturecart.html

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwjfuJj_-4DVAhWEzbwKHdPlB_sQFggqMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fweb2.cheltenham-h.schools.nsw.edu.au%2Fmoodle%2Fmod%2Fresource%2Fview.php%3Fid%3D2950&usg=AFQjCNHNbZBSv3N9tyUOkVPJSp5w8JJ3Ig

http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2015/02/australian-mammal-extinction-higher-than-thought

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-22/australia-greenhouse-gas-emissions-increasing-environment-report/8143110

http://www.futurefarmers.com.au/young-carbon-farmers/carbon-farming/climate-threats-to-australiaa-agriculture

http://www.climateinstitute.org.au/verve/_resources/TCI_Australias_Emissions_Factsheet_Final-LR.pdf

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-11/climate-change-what-top-15-emitters-are-promising/6686548

https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/policy-advocacy/reports/clean-energy-australia-report.html

Post comment