THERE has been no measured increase in the rate of sea-level rise, according to Professor Robert Carter, and therefore Eurobodalla Shire Council does not yet need to plan for it.
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Speaking before he addressed a community meeting in Batemans Bay on Monday night, Dr Carter said the rate of sea-level rise had actually decreased in recent years.
A controversial marine geologist, author of two books on climate change and self-declared “climate change sceptic”, Dr Carter’s position on global warming has been largely criticised by other scientists.
He was brought to Batemans Bay and Narooma this week by Surf Beach resident Neville Hughes to explain “the other side of the argument” on sea-level rise.
Dr Carter was one of 11 international sea-level experts who took up Mr Hughes’ concern regarding council’s sea-level policy, and offered his services to council to explain those deficiencies, only to be met with silence.
Dr Carter told the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner most projections on sea-level rise used computer modelling, and the computer modelling was wrong.
This, he said, was due to the models being based on the fact that carbon dioxide emissions are causing dangerous global warming.
Dr Carter said the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere had increased by 10 per cent in the past 17 years, which amounted to 33 per cent of all the carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution.
However, he said there had been no warming of the planet since 1997.
“There has been no warming effect, in fact there has been slight cooling,” he said.
“These are scientific facts, these are agreed.
“What that tells you is that the theory that our rate of carbon dioxide emissions will cause dangerous global warming is wrong.”
Dr Carter said the Fort Denison tidal gauge – which has recorded sea-level measurements for the past 120 years – measured a 7cm rise for the entire 20th century.
“What planning changes had to be made during the 20th century to local by-laws and so on to cope with that huge increase in sea-level? The answer is zero,” he said.
“The expectation is that the next 100 years will produce another 7cm.
“It’s not at all clear to me why council would want to introduce new regulations to cope with something which has not been a problem.”
Dr Carter urged Eurobodalla Shire Council to revert to its old policy – that being none.
“The changes it (council) made in 2010 were completely unnecessary, and all they’ve done is introduce burden and costs for people, plus affecting property values,” he said.
“The sensible thing to do is to presume there will be the same amount of rise in the next 100 years as there was – that’s 7cm. It does not require any special policies.
“It will be fine for the next 100 years – just keep an eye on it.”
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