Climate researcher Terry Dahl at his North Ward home. Picture: Evan Morgan

Researcher’s plan to highlight the risks of climate change

DANNI SHAFIK, Townsville Bulletin
November 27, 2017 9:31am

A CLIMATE refugee, now living in Townsville, is seeking answers as the Earth’s destruction continues to threaten to our future generations.

Climate researcher Terry Dahl, from North Ward, was forced out of his home 12 years ago in Tuvalu, a Polynesian island nation, with his wife and daughter.

Originally from Norway, Mr Dahl has been editing Climate News since 2000 and said he had experienced how dangerous climate change could be, claiming we have to act before it is too late.

“After we had to leave Tuvalu, I wanted to learn as much as possible about climate change,” he said.

“I wanted to inform everyone of what was happening.”

Mr Dahl fears for those left in Tuvalu left with no options for refuge. Tuvalu is a series of low-lying islands considered to be extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels.

“I could leave, but there are people there that can’t,” he said.

“There are a lot of people who have to move, but for many they cannot as they have nowhere else to go because of immigration regulations.

“My wife’s family would all like to go. They are afraid but they aren’t allowed to come here, so they have to sit there and hope they are alive the next day.”

Mr Dahl said the focus on growth was putting pressure on the planet.

“I watch the news and it just says how Townsville has to grow and the economy must get bigger and better,” he said.

“We can’t say that.

“We have to say we are OK now and we can’t get more and more, because that will get us in trouble.

“Are we not happy in Townsville? What do we want to grow into? Why do we want to grow?”

Mr Dahl said he would continue to highlight the risks of climate change to raise awareness and encourage the search for solutions.

“We just keep on saying we will do something, but will we?” he asked.

Mr Dahl’s concerns echo those of more than 15,000 scientists from over 180 nations who attracted media attention after co-signing a paper which expressed fears for the planet’s future if the population kept increasing.

“All the climate scientists agree, we have a big problem and we must do something, and we are still not doing anything,” he said.

Mr Dahl said people wanted money first and then worried about the climate later without realising their kids’ future would be affected.

The way the article looked in the paper, for online version above, click here

Har du kommentarer? Send en epost til terje@sydhav.no