The world’s largest independent conservation organisation – WWF-Australia – has just released harrowing predictions for Griffith in its bid to convince members of Federal Parliament to push for a cut to greenhouse gas emissions of 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

The alarming projections include 34 more days of scorchers each year, an average temperature increase of 5.4 degrees, increased droughts and greater locust and fruit fly risks.

The claims have infuriated local MP Kay Hull, who said the predictions are purely scaremongering.

“It is absolutely outrageous. Propaganda to the extreme,” she said.

The predictions come as a long-awaited report from the CSIRO casts a grim prediction for the future of water availability in the Murrumbidgee.

According to the CSIRO, decreased rainfall will see a significant reduction of surface water availability in the area in 2030, with the increased probability of drought.

WWF-Australia’s sustainable development program leader Paul Toni said politicians must realise that “they cannot negotiate with climate change.”

The current average temperature in Griffith was already 2 degrees above the world average, he said.

“Without strong targets to battle climate change, these conditions will only get more extreme,” he said.

“If we fail to set strong targets, then dangerous climate change is the inevitable result that will affect every country, regardless of our borders or political beliefs. This is the time for strong, decisive action.”

Mrs Hull said now was the time for common sense, not hysteria.

“We need to look at this sensibly. Local businesses, farmers and workers are already facing the financial global crisis and are trying to manage,” she said.

“My people cannot absorb the exuberant costs such action would take, and than be expected to compete in the world market against countries who don’t have these costs.”

Mrs Hull said she believed climate change was a real concern, but there were a million different actions that could be taken before resorting to such drastic measures.

“Should I be branded a climate change sceptic so be it, I am a realist,” she said.