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Is human-induced climate change causing the current Australian drought?

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journal contribution
posted on 2025-05-11, 23:47 authored by Stewart Franks
Is the ongoing drought in the Murray-Darling Basin being made worse by human induced climate change? This is obviously a very important question for farmers, scientists and policymakers, the answer to which may have a big impact on future production and policy decisions. The simple answer is that there is no direct evidence that change in atmospheric CO₂ concentration over recent decades has had any significant effect on the severity or extent of the current drought, despite claims to the contrary. Like it or not, that is the current status of the science. Despite this, many would have us believe that the evidence that human-induced climate change is contributing to the current drought is irrefutable, and that the issue is proven and not debatable.

History

Journal title

Farm Institute Insights: Australian Farm Institute's Quarterly Newsletter

Volume

5

Issue

4

Pagination

3-6

Publisher

Australian Farm Institute

Language

  • en, English

College/Research Centre

Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

School

School of Engineering

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