IPCC Climate Change Report: New Zealand Warned of Extreme Weather, Australia Still in Climate Denial

New Zealand is expected to feel the heat as climate scientists warn of rising sea levels, increasing number of extinct animal and plant species, and insufficient food supply. All these consequences of global warming and more were presented in an international gathering of world representatives on climate change.

It was the first time that human activity was reported as the main cause of climate change. Scientists said New Zealand will not be spared from the heat as its capital withstood its worst storm in 40 years and extreme drought in North Island. Kiwis also experienced the warmest winter ever recorded.

A report presented before the United Nations and prepared by top scientists from the around the world revealed that the effects of climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events.

In the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, scientists said the scientific community agrees that humans are the most responsible for global warming. They are 95 per cent sure of this no longer surprising fact.

Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations secretary-general, said the heat is on for countries to do something about the problem. He said that after the report has revealed the nature of the problem and the possible solutions to address it, nations must act.

The comprehensive report on climate change is viewed as a "wake-up call" to governments around the world. It up to world leaders to act now and work on reducing carbon emissions and utilising renewable energy sources.

Climate scientists have also warned that global temperatures will rise more than 2 degrees by the end of the century. When this happens, sea levels will rise between 26 and 82 centimetres. The world will experience extreme hot and cold weather.

NIWA scientist Dr James Renwick, co-author of the climate change report, said New Zealand will experience more extreme temperatures and more hot days than cold days.

Meanwhile, Australia continues to cling to its climate change denial even after the IPCC has revealed important information from its report.

Political analysts said that new Prime Minister Tony Abbott's government was based on the core policy of "denial of fundamental laws of science." Mr Abbott was quoted on record as saying "the science isn't settled" and the world is "cooling" which contradicts what top scientists have already said about the world's rising temperatures.

As the new prime minister of Australia, he has abolished the Climate Change Commission established by the previous government and asked to scrap the Climate Change Authority.

The previous government's plan to impose carbon taxes was a small but still significant step nonetheless, to boost Australia's long-term potential as a wealthy country.

According to David Spratt, co-author of the book Climate Code Red, the opposition must do something to bring back Australia's climate change policy or suffer the consequences even if they're still a long way off.