Environment minister Murray Watt has committed $14m in funding to help South Australia address the algal bloom that has devastated marine life and beaches. The algae is most likely a direct result of climate change – scientists were hoping the colder water that comes with winter would be enough to kill off the bloom which flourishes in warmer water, but that didn’t eventuate and the bloom spread, suffocating marine animals big and small. That’s not just impacted the environment, but also the local economy which has built up around the sea.

Watt hasn’t triggered the national disaster response though – that is mostly for technical reasons – the legislation has particular definitions around it and the bloom doesn’t meet the definition.

That’s another issue we will have to face with climate change – our existing definitions don’t really apply for what is coming.