Media: Hurricane Sandy Exacerbated by Climate Change

Hurricane Sandy Exacerbated by Climate Change

Hurricane Sandy Exacerbated by Climate Change

Media Contact: Amanda McKenzie 0408 117 040; Hannah Angus 02 6159 7332

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 12.01AM AEST SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2012

Please note: advanced excerpts of the report will be available from 12pm AEST on Friday 2 November 2012.

The Climate Commission has created a brief paper to be released on Saturday 3 November 2012 that states that Hurricane Sandy has been exacerbated by climate change.

Climate Commissioner Professor Will Steffen said, “The terrible devastation of Hurricane Sandy has prompted many in the public and the media to ask the Climate Commission about the influence of climate change on Hurricane Sandy. This paper briefly outlines what we know.”

The Chair of the Climate Commission’s Science Advisory Panel Professor Matthew England states, “The evidence suggests that climate change exacerbated the severity of Hurricane Sandy.”

“The shifts in climate towards higher temperatures and more moisture in the air are becoming the “new normal” which is influencing the nature and intensity of weather patterns around the world.”

“Storm surges had a particularly devastating impact on areas of the USA coast. A warmer world is a world with higher sea levels that make storm surges much worse.”

Professor Steffen said that “The experience in the USA demonstrates that often our infrastructure is simply not equipped to deal with an overheated climate and more intense extreme weather events.”

The independent Commission was established to provide an open and trusted source of information on climate change science and solutions. The Commission brings together internationally renowned climate scientists with policy and business leaders.

Professor Steffen and Professor England will be available for interviews.

Download the report.