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The human cost of climate change

25 March 2009

Professor Neville Nicholls

The unprecedented Melbourne heat wave in late January and early February has focused attention on the human and economic cost of extreme weather events.

But are these extremes increasing in frequency or intensity because of man-made climate change?

Professor Neville Nicholls, an international authority on climate change, will draw on his latest research to discuss why the heat wave killed many people and how weather and climate extremes are changing across the world, at a Monash Future Council public lecture on Wednesday 1 April.

Professor Nicholls' research found at least 100 people died in Melbourne during the heatwave – a 45 per cent jump in deaths – and more died in other parts of Victoria, in South Australian and Northern Tasmania.

"The heatwave at the end of January was a human tragedy albeit an invisible one, Professor Nicholls said.

"It's something we're seeing more frequently all over the world.

"Our inability to slow the rate of emissions of greenhouse gases or even adapt to our warming world, means we are already seeing more deaths, and these are not people who would have died anytime soon, had it not been for the heat."

In a report released last year, Professor Nicholls found that deaths in Melbourne among people over 65 years of age jumped by at least 15 per cent when the average daily temperature was more than 30 degrees.

During the recent heatwave, average daily temperatures in Melbourne were more than five degrees higher than this.

Professor Nicholls' lecture will be held at the Monash Council Chambers from 1-2 pm next Wednesday.

For further information, contact Kate Rigby on +61 3 99052246.