Gloucester and Climate Change There is no longer any doubt that the world's climate is changing. Thousands of measurements show that average temperatures are rising, ice is melting, oceans are warming and major weather events are increasing. The rising temperature causes changes in movement of our atmosphere and oceans. This in turn changes many of the conditions around which our weather, rural practices, lifestyles, health systems etc, have been operating. The most recent predictions for Australia tell us that we will have more severe and frequent droughts. Major food producing areas, especially those depending on irrigation are already threatened. Our local prediction, supported by experience over the last couple of years is that although we will have less snow feeding our rivers, we will get more storms. Thus if we adjust to the changes we will continue to be able to produce food products. The Gloucester Project places emphasis on our area attracting research and development funding so that not only will our community survive economically, we will significantly contribute to our nation's food and water supply. Already the news is referring to "FOOD CRISIS", "FUEL CRISIS", "ENERGY CRISIS". The Gloucester Project looks at all these related issues and proposes measures for our special area. We are paying more for food and fuel. Electricity prices are about to rise. We have a capacity as a community to take steps to adjust to all these impacts. Rural areas have to know about temperatures, water supply, seasonal variations and market conditions if they are to maintain the productivity of their food producing areas. The most fertile land needs to be brought into production. Crops and animals have to be selected and managed under changing conditions. Dwellings and other buildings have to be designed according to climate and severe weather events. Water storage and water use has to be adjusted to get best use of this resource in rural, industrial and domestic situations Microclimate planning on individual properties and sections of our region will help farmers, growers and residents to adjust to changes and to maximise the productivity of their land. Some of our citizens still don't believe that the climate is changing. Others try to persuade us not to insure against the risks. In some cases, these views are genuinely held. It is also known that some large enterprises fear that the changes will cause them to lose their economic advantages. We cannot become victims of such narrow interests. Governments and large industries throughout the world are taking this situation seriously. For instance Lloyds Insurance's risk report is a clear indication of how influential corporations view climate change effects. The Gloucester Project offers a plan for our economic and lifestyle future which responds to our climate and other advantages. We will seek research and financial support which climate change measures make available to help us.