Study Projects Eightfold Rise In Over 65 Heat Deaths In Sydney By 2050, Substantial Loss Of Beaches

[hatrack]

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- Climate change in Sydney will cause a significant rise in heat-related deaths of people over 65 years of age by 2050, as Australia's biggest city suffers more heat waves, bushfires and floods, a new environment report says. The report by Australia's premier scientific body, the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), forecast heat-related deaths for elderly people would rise from the current 176 a year to 1,312 by 2050.

"This might sound like a doomsday scenario, but it is one that we must control," said New South Wales state premier Morris Iemma in releasing the report on Wednesday.

Australia is already feeling the brunt of global warming with the worst drought in 100 years eating into economic growth. The CSIRO report found Sydney's maximum temperature was expected to rise 1.6 degrees Celsius by 2030 and 4.8 degrees by 2070 and average rainfall will drop by 40 percent by 2070.

The report said if temperatures rose by just 1 degree and rainfall fell by 5 percent, Sydney's four million residents would no longer enjoy a costal climate but feel as if they were living in a hot rural town some 175 km (110 miles) away. Rising sea levels will result in coastal erosion of up to 22 metes (66 feet) for a strip of beaches from Collaroy to Narrabeen in Sydney's north, eating away at many multi-million dollar homes now perched on the edge of the beach.

EDIT

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WEATHER/01/30/australia.climate.reut/

[danalytical]

1. Study Projects Eightfold Rise In Over 65 Heat Deaths

Is that the actual headline or did you shorten it? It doesn't make sense. Not that I am not concerned about the effects of global warming.

[hatrack]

2. No, I wrote my own headline - the one you cite is the one on the site

I thought it wasn't very clear.

[danalytical]

3. I don't get it

in 65 heat deaths. It's missing information. Do they mean last years 65 heat related deaths will rise to be 8 times that amount?

[Dead_Parrot]

4. it's heat-deaths in people over 65 years old

Not 65 deaths. It's one of those "Someone is mugged every 30 seconds, and they're getting pretty pissed off" moments. :)

[danalytical]

5. AHHHHH

I get it now. Thanks for clarification.