My favourite TV series of all time is Star Trek (TNG &Voyager) but my second favourite is MASH.  I just came across a web site that reminds me very much of MASH.  Its about environmental issues -- so it sounds odd that it would remind me of the KoreanWar -- but it does.  Why?  Because the whole point of this new siteis that the  world is in such a mess that it needs the sort of triage that Captain Hawk-Eye is good at handing out – and Frank isn’t! 

So, if we agree (which you might not but I do) that the Gaian patient is in a near terminal state then you have to ask (as these web owners do) what actions are useful (to save things that can still be saved),hopeless (nothing can save this stuff) and unnecessary (this can get through italone)?

In Bali last December, the world accepted the reality of global warming and began thesearch for climate change action. Our politicians and business leaders are nowattempting to balance mitigation (reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases)against adaptation (living in warmer and hydrologically more extremeconditions).  Responses, at leastin democracies should follow from community-based prioritization comparing lossreduction investment against funding to improve ‘wins’.  As the reality of climate change bitesthis new web site says, a third response strategy may be required: triage.

Global climate triage is to be applied in the same way as in an situation such as MASH:emergency to allow the most productive use of inadequate support. As the world’s population comes to grips with climate change disasters, this web siteargues it will be necessary to stratify responses three-ways. There will besevere climate disruptions, which will be left untreated because they will berecognized as still able to recover ‘naturally’.  People living in these places and businesses affected by their local climate deterioration will not gain support. There will be a smallnumber of climatically induced emergencies where tax-payers’ money cangenuinely reduce suffering and where investment is deemed worthwhile.  These communities and enterprises willbe ‘saved’ at the expense of others.

This is pretty tough stuff but, if I think about the Murray Darling mouth now (in South Australia) then I can see their point. The urgency of the current environmentaldisaster around the Murray mouth today has brought Australia what might be the world’s first climate change triage challenge.  The question is – do we save the Coorong at all costs, leaveit to become something different as is already happening or invest heavily in ‘palliative care’, which will use up resources without ultimately changing its fate?   Check out the web site – www.climatechangetriage.net