Weekend Variety Wireless - Hour 3 - 11/08/18

There is an assumption that the main controller on how hot and how dangerous a climates going to get are human emissions. Lead researcher Professor Will Steffen from The Australian National University (ANU) joins Graeme Hill bringing stark warnings about tipping points and climate change. Like many complex systems, the earth itself has tipping points and once you cross those, internal feedbacks loops could drive much dramatic warming and other climate effects. An international study has found the Earth is at risk of entering a hothouse climate that could lead to global average temperatures of up to five degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial temperatures and long-term rises in the sea level of between 10 and 60 metres. Mr Steffen says such increases in temperatures and sea levels would be devastating for human civilisation and most ecosystems that support plant and animal life. Also, Environews. A landmark agreement. Forest & Bird and our largest farming co-operative Pamu sign an agreement on best practice for sustainability and conservation. F&B Chief Kevin Hague and Pamu Chief Steven Carden explain how they came to an agreement and what it will mean in practice.