2/12/2019
ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The world needs to urgently cut its planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions to avoid a “perfect storm” that will lead to simultaneous falls in food production from both farming and marine fisheries, researchers said if emissions continue to rise rapidly, nearly "90% of the world's population ... are projected to be exposed to losses of food production in both sectors" by 2100, according to a new study here by researchers from countries such as France, the United States and Canada.
This amounts to about 7.2 billion people. In contrast, less than 3% of the population, or 0.2 billion people, live in regions that would experience simultaneous productivity gains.
“Climate change has put humanity on a dangerous path that will become increasingly difficult to reverse if greenhouse gas emissions are not taken much more seriously,” Lauric Thiault, the paper’s co-author, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Almost 200 countries agreed in Paris in 2015 to curb temperature rises caused by burning fossil fuels, felling forests and other activities that emit greenhouse gases.
But economic development and industrialization around the world has resulted in an expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, such as power plants and pipelines.
Earlier this week, a report by the World Meteorological Organization said greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit a new record in 2018.
Reuters, 28/11/2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-food-climate/perfect-storm-awaits-farming-and-fisheries-if-world-doesnt-curb-emissions-idUSKBN1Y212O
"Times are a'changing. The younger generation is more advanced, we definitely want to do a better job than we did in the past."
To achieve that goal, Mr Parisi embarked on an ambitious revegetation project on his Fishery Falls cane farm, around 40 kilometres south of Cairns, in partnership with non-for-profit environmental group Greening Australia and local volunteers from Mulgrave Landcare.
It's possibly the biggest-ever restoration of a cane farm in the Great Barrier Reef catchment, with 7,500 trees completing a riparian and wildlife corridor and establishing the Mulgrave-Russell River catchment as one of the very few to have continuous trees along its creeks and tributaries.
Where Mr Parisi's forefathers once drained and cleared the land to plant cane, the enterprising cane grower is now devising ways to restore the wetland and retain water by building a lagoon. It will act as a large filter, allowing sediment and nutrients to settle to the bottom before flowing through to the river system and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef.
The changed landscape is clearly a source of pride to Mr Parisi, as he lists the many native species including barramundi, rainbow fish, two resident crocodiles swimming in the lagoon, and more than 40 birds known to frequent the area.
"We're trying to leave this place in a better position than when we found it," he said.
Greening Australia's project officer Lisa O'Mara said it was a "no brainer" for her organisation to work with farmers and Landcare to protect the reef.
Other groups such as Sugar Research Australia, BirdLife NQ and TropWater had also been engaged to monitor and measure the outcomes against 'real data' with a view to validating the value of using trees, in combination with a constructed wetland, to control and limit sediment and nutrient run-off.
"We're in paradise here and we have so much to protect, and I'm just so glad to be a part of it."
Reuters, 27/11/2019, https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-11-28/cane-farmer-len-parisi-reef-champion-award/11741222
Australia’s meat production is dominated by beef, half of which is exported. However, with the recent return of swine flu (H1N1) to the market, it is estimated that Chinese pork production will plummet 40 per cent by next year, equating to a loss of 15-20 million tonnes of meat. This means enormous potential for growth in Australian exports, but also means a rising price for meat (specifically pork) domestically as well.
ClimateWorks Australia, “Australia’s Land Use”, 2019, https://www.climateworksaustralia.org/land-use-futures/australias-land-use
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