Hysteria on climate unwarranted

Press, 22 November 1989, Page 33

Hysteria on climate unwarranted

PA Rotorua Public hysteria on climate changes is not wanted, the Minister of Science, Mr Tapsell, told an international meeting of scientists in Rotorua. Evidence suggested strongly that it was time to look seriously at some of the changes taking place and limit the ill effects or reverse them where possible, he told a tripartite meeting on climate change at Rotorua’s Forest Research Institute.

Thirty scientists, 10 each from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, attended the three-day meeting to review existing research on climate change in their countries and make commitments to specific co-operative research projects. Mr Tapsell said, there was a growing realisation of the dangers from an unrestricted onslaught on the environment and a willingness by Governments to reverse some of the resulting changes. Less damaging alternatives for some industrial processes would have to be found. “That is certain to involve extra cost and we

will have to be prepared to bear it,” Mr Tapsell said.

“We should be prepared too, to face the fact that the developed Western nations have, in the past, been the major culprits. It is appropriate that they should now lead the march back,” He said it was not clear to scientists studying the “greenhouse effect” where most of the carbon dioxide in the world went to.

Large amounts were absorbed by oceans and forests — the importance of which was crucial to future action — but the extent was unknown. “Increased ultra-violet radiation through a loss of the ozone (layer) will affect people, plants and plankton,” Mr Tapsell said.

“The greenhouse effect would also affect plants. But it is not all doom and gloom — increased carbon dioxide will make many plants grow faster. “As temperatures warm, crops and pastures may need to be moved further south. We need to breed crop, pasture and horticulture cultivars able to take advantage of the changed conditions,” Mr Tapsell said.