Global warming may threaten grape areas
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
September 12, 2000
The Conservation Council claims that South Australia's premier grape growing regions in the Barossa Valley and Riverland have the most to lose from global warming patterns.
A public information session in Adelaide last night was told South Australia will be more affected by temperature increases than other countries. The council says it would devastate crops that require a cooler climate.
Council executive officer Michelle Grady says unless world carbon dioxide emissions are reduced urgently the effect will also spread to grain growing regions in the north of the state.
"We think that farmers possibly have the most to lose, at least in the immediate term, when climate change effects are really felt," Ms Grady said.
"Australia will get hotter and it will get drier, the effects of climate will be far more extreme. We will see worse cases of drought, we will see more heat stress on crops, we will see floods."