Reports today that another Antarctic ice shelf may soon collapse sends a strong message to the Howard Government to take action domestically and internationally to avoid dangerous climate change.

The collapse of the Antarctica’s huge Larsen B ice shelf in 2002 was unprecedented. Such an event hadn’t happened for at least 11,000 years. Now experts believe another ice shelf the size of Tasmania may collapse in the next two years because of global warming.

The CSIRO estimates temperatures in Australia could be up to 2ºC hotter by 2030 and up to 6ºC hotter by 2070.

According to the CSIRO, a further 2ºC increase over the next 30 years would be devastating for Australia, with more heatwaves and bushfires, extended droughts, reduced rainfall in southern Australia and extensive damage to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Howard Government’s complacent approach to climate change is like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

The message from Antarctica is ringing loud and clear.

Act globally - ratify the Kyoto Protocol, support mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions and take a lead role in international negotiations.

Act locally – establish a national emissions trading scheme and support our clean energy industry through a strong renewable energy target.

Nine long years of the Howard Government has left Australia unprepared for the impact of climate change.

Under Howard Government policies, Australia will increase its greenhouse pollution by 23% by 2020.

The Howard Government is mismanaging Australia’s response to climate change and has left Australia unprepared for our great environmental challenges.