Don't forget climate change as Hong Kong sizzles amid political tension

Even as tumultuous events in Hong Kong occupy media attention in recent days, there have been developments arising from ongoing climate change which will have far greater ramifications than any election.

Although autumn is well under way, the days remain hot and steamy. September was significantly warmer than average for Hong Kong, and it follows the world's warmest (northern) summer since records began in 1880, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

New images symbolising the changes appeared last week, showing thousands of Pacific walruses on the coast of Alaska. Usually, the walruses rest on sea ice, but the summer sea ice has now retreated north, leaving them with no choice but to gather on the shorelines.

Scientists believe the Arctic will soon be ice- free in summer. There has been a marked decline in Arctic sea ice in recent years. The US-based Polar Science Centre reported that this August's Arctic ice volume was 55 per cent lower than in August 1979 when its records began.

This week also saw the publication of a report on whether extreme events of 2013 could be linked to climate change. The report, published by the American Meteorological Society, assessed a selection of extreme events globally and found that extreme heat events were made more likely by human-induced climate change, while a cold event was less likely. Those heat events included Australia's hottest year as well as heat waves affecting Europe, Japan, Korea and China.

So far, scientists have required hindsight to link specific events to climate change. But US-based non-profit science journalism organisation Climate Central has just announced a new initiative, which aims to identify almost in real time whether global warming plays a role in extreme weather. "In the media, we are seeing this notion that you cannot attribute any individual event to climate change, but the science has really evolved," Climate Central chief scientist Heidi Cullen told Reuters. The system combines sophisticated climate models with historical observations and previous research, and is set for launch by the end of next year.

Concerns about climate change are spreading. On Wednesday, the published an editorial calling on the World Health Organisation to declare climate change a global public health emergency. "Deaths from Ebola infection, tragic and frightening though they are, will pale into insignificance when compared with the mayhem we can expect for our children and grandchildren if the world does nothing to check its carbon emissions," the editorial said. "And action is needed now."