Climate change is impacting on all Australians. However, in a new report Greening Australia has analysed data from the Bureau of Meteorology and found that people living in western Sydney are being hit harder by climate change than most.
Compared to other Sydneysiders who have the moderating influence of the ocean, those who live and/or work in western Sydney are experiencing a more rapid increase in extreme temperatures and weather events.
Most of us would not be surprised to hear that there has been a massive increase in the number of extreme heat days. In the 1960s, the average number of days per year above 350C in coastal Sydney was 4.4 and for the west was 9.2. Thus far in the 2000s, coastal Sydney has averaged 5.8 days over 35, and the west has averaged 15.4. This shows an enormous increase for the West, and a massive disparity in growth of hot days between coastal Sydney and the West.
Additionally, the highest temperatures have been on a significant upward trend. Many of us would remember New Year’s Day 2006 being over 450C. There has been a steady trend to hotter extremes. While the hottest January days in the mid 1960s hovered around 350C, today they are around 420C.
Those who lived near Prospect Reservoir in the 1960’s would have noticed little difference in January temperatures compared with coastal Sydney, a mere 0.7 degree difference. Through the 1990’s and 2000’s this difference has more than tripled and is now 2.4 degrees. January temperatures in Western Sydney are beginning to resemble those of Kempsey some 270 kilometres to the north.
There has also been a marked change in rainfall patterns, with a decrease in winter rain and an increase in summer rain. This means less of the moderate winter falls, which provide good soil moisture and baseload volumes for creeks, and more extreme rainfall events in the summer. Today’s storms are short and violent causing flooding and significant creek damage.
Greening Australia has spent more than two decades working in Western Sydney, making significant improvements in the local environment. We recognise climate change as the key issue facing all Australians, and not least those of us in western Sydney. It is encouraging to see local government taking a stand on this issue and we look forward to some major improvements in our natural environment. Our focus is on providing everyone with an opportunity to make a real difference on Climate Change.
Over the next few weeks, we will provide information about our programs to manage climate change and improve the landscape in western Sydney. We will offer multiple opportunities for everyone in western Sydney to get involved in practical, on-ground projects that will make a difference. This is a long journey; one that we must start now and one that we will continue on for decades to come. We can face this challenge as a community, and at the same time build a better society and a better place in which to live.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT - (570KB PDF)
READ THE FRONT PAGE REPORT FROM THE 'BLACKTOWN SUN' - 20 FEBRUARY, 2007
The analysis has been carried out by Tim Beshara of Greening Australia using raw data purchased from the National Climate Centre at the Bureau of Meteorology (10th Floor 700 Collins Street. Docklands 3008, Vic Australia).
