Green | February 09, 2009 | 33 comments

Australian wildfire ferocity linked to climate change

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090209/sc_afp/australiaweatherfireclimate;_ylt=Aod7FaaEd87vMQG...

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JanforGore
Australia is naturally the most fire-prone continent on earth but climate change appears to be making the wildfires that regularly sweep across the country more ferocious, scientists said Monday.

The intensity of the firestorm that killed at least 126 people in Victoria state has stunned Australians, even though they have a long history of dealing with bushfires.

The government-run Bureau of Meteorology said Australia's dry climate and naturally combustible vegetation, including oil-rich eucalyptus forest, meant fire was an intrinsic part of the country's landscape.

The history books back up the theory -- 75 dead in the "Ash Wednesday" fires of 1983, 71 killed in "Black Friday" 1939 and dozens more stretching back to the early days of white settlement in Australia.

But the wildfires that hit Victoria on the weekend were the nation's deadliest and experts believe the problem is linked to climate change.

"Climate change, weather and drought are altering the nature, ferocity and duration of bushfires," said Gary Morgan, head of the government-backed Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre.

"This weekend's fires highlight the importance of scientific research in order to improve our understanding of the multiple impacts of bushfires."

Australian poet Dorothy McKeller described the country as a land "of drought and flooding plains" and University of Sydney bushfire expert Mark Adams said there was evidence it was becoming even more volatile.

"I have never seen weather and other conditions as extreme as they were on Saturday, the fire weather was unprecedented," Adams said.

"We don't have all the evidence yet to fully explain this day in terms of climate change, however all the science to date shows that we can expect more extreme weather in the years to come.

"That includes hotter days and drier landscapes across southern Australia."

Research by the Bureau of Meteorology and the government science organisation CSIRO predicts the number of days when bushfires pose an extreme risk in southeastern Australia could almost double by 2050 under a worst-case climate change scenario.

Australia's wild weather included a once-in-a-century heatwave that sent temperatures soaring to 46 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit) in the southeast just before the bushfires erupted, along with severe flooding in the north.

Environmental group Greenpeace said such occurrences would become more commonplace if climate change continued unabated.

"As climate change continues to gather pace, Australia is at risk of more frequent drought, higher temperatures, more frequent and intense bushfires, as well as increased severity of cyclones and flooding," Greenpeace campaigner leader John Hepburn said.

"The scale of this tragedy should be a clarion call to politicians for the need to begin treating climate change as an emergency."
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33 comments // Australian wildfire ferocity linked to climate change

  • bamboozled
    • 0
      bamboozled  

    • To holyshiite, who obviously resides in The Village:

      First off, we're not talking about climate change, we're talking about MAN-MADE climate change. At least understand what the issue is.

      The issue is NOT whether the earth is warming, it is THE RATE AT WHICH IT IS WARMING is unprecedented and KNOWN to be a result of HUMAN CREATED CARBON EMISSIONS.

      Secondly, you've gone beyond cynical to paranoid, suggesting that people would start a fire to prove global warming exists. Particularly since the point has been proven time and again by scientists.

      It could be considered insane to believe that the world is flat when scientists, astronauts, cameras and all known evidence has proven the world is round. You might want to see somebody.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
  • passjay
    • 0
      passjay  

    • Saw this story on the news. Sad to see really, because you'd never like to wish any pain or death on anyone within any circumstance. Speaking form the outside looking in....I hope to my heart that they pull through that situation asap.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • passjay:

      The destruction is so huge it is truly hard to comprehend. My prayers are with all and hope more understand how urgent it is that serious thought be given to what must be done on a global scale to keep this from happening again. I hope for rain and cooler temperatures there.

    • 3 years ago
  • holyshiite
  • holyshiite
    • -1
      holyshiite  

    • It's a crime scene, but I repeat myself. Climate change is such a complete scam. Of course climates change. THey have for millions of years. We have proof.

      The real agenda is to exert more unweildy restrictions on business. The same folks who complain about unemployment want to drive business to extinction and are using unfounded fear as a weapon. OK, Climate Change Is Real(whatever happened to Global Warming). We should do absolutely nothing about it.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
  • holyshiite
    • -1
      holyshiite  
    • holyshiite:

      JanforGore - stop spamming us with your tiring lies and junk science. Why did you leave off the final conclusion of the article? Because, it doesn't support your agenda. The real reason for the fire is failure to manage brush as it had been for "thousands of years". Don't forget, the fires were started in many locations by someone with a passionate agenda, much like yourself. Hey! Where were you this weekend?

    • 3 years ago
  • bamboozled
    • 0
      bamboozled  

    • There are still way too many who are willing to ignore scientists and listen to Rush and the other corporate shills. Or just argue for the sake of being right.

      We living in Australia are more acutely aware of what's at stake, due to many factors:

      -the island nations being swallowed by the ocean, sending refugees to Australia
      -the hole in the ozone caused by man-made chemicals that makes us more susceptible to skin cancer
      -turtles that are unable to survive because their prehistoric nesting grounds have been consumed by the ocean
      -the drought-stricken Murray-Darling water system that has wiped out farmers
      -the bleaching (i.e. death) of the Great Barrier Reef that's obvious even to tourists
      -the increasing devastation of bushfires

      As we are learning, all too slowly, money and the economy are not more important than human life. Economy is meaningless if we lose our ability to grow food, or catch fish, or drink water, or even have a bearable strip of land to live on.

      This show was on the ABC last night:
      http://www.abc.net.au/austory/default.htm

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Government shrugs off climate plan criticism

      "THE Federal Government has shrugged off criticism from its own climate change expert adviser that its emissions trading scheme is too weak and panders to vested business interests.

      High-profile economist Ross Garnaut, who was hired as the Government's climate change adviser, last week warned that there was "no public policy justification" for $3.9 billion in unconditional payments to electricity generators. He also condemned the Government's failure to embrace a more ambitious target to reduce emissions.

      Responding to the criticisms, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong yesterday said Professor Garnaut was entitled to his views, but said that the Government "makes no apology" for protecting the economy and jobs.

      "In terms of assistance to generators, the judgement the Government made is that it is necessary to secure the investment environment in the electricity sector," Senator Wong said.

      The Government last week unveiled an emissions trading plan aimed at cutting emissions to between 5 and 15 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020.

      "Minus 15 (per cent) off 2000 levels represents a 41 per cent reduction for every man, woman and child in Australia, over the period 1990 to 2020," Senator Wong said.

      Opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt said Labor had been caught out setting up false expectations that it would take tough action on climate change.

      In a reference to Monty Python's Life of Brian, Mr Hunt said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was "not the Messiah when it comes to climate change, he's just a very naughty boy".

      "It's about the impression of activity, clothing it with a moral purpose and then the failure to deliver practical action," he said.

      Meanwhile, the Australian Greens are arguing that the policy should be reviewed following Professor Garnaut's criticism.

      "It is essential that the Government admits that it has got the scheme completely wrong, and immediately review its weak targets and its shocking bias and generosity to the big polluters," Greens senator Christine Milne said.

      But the Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes said more onerous targets should not be inflicted on working families and that the subsidies provided to business under the scheme would prevent jobs from leaking overseas.

      "The Government is trying to deal with twin crises at one time — climate change and the economy," Mr Howes said."

      .

    • 3 years ago
  • Bren589
  • trinna13
  • holyshiite
    • -1
      holyshiite  

    • It's a CRIME SCENE. Pro 'Global Warming Due to Mankind" freaks started the fires. They will destroy anything to bolster their own power against capitalism. Criminals!

    • 3 years ago
  • pjacobs51
    • 0
      pjacobs51  
    • Image

    • Governments need to realize climate change IS an emergency! There are many ways to get the point across . . . join an organization, speak out, write your congressmen, get involved!

    • 3 years ago
  • darkhorsejim
    • 0
      darkhorsejim  

    • Unfortunately, this beautiful country with such wonderful people has become the window into our future. Maybe this horrible devastation is what it will take for citizens & nations around the world to realize Mother Nature is in charge - not us. How we react to these disasters will ultimately determine the future of mankind & the safest places to live. Self-sufficiency is a good start until enough gov'ts take climate change seriously enough to stop the killing & start working together for a more promising future of survival for all.

    • 3 years ago
  • Ayahuasca2012
    • 0
      Ayahuasca2012  

    • This is why we should all change our habits. Even if there is no guarantee that we are causing these events and changes. Even though a lot of evidence points to our activities having some effect.

      It really doesn't affect ones life much to change your eating habits, or to drive less, ride a bike, etc... But most people are self centered, impatient and devoid of personal responsibility.

      I have been making efforts to change my habits, I rode my bike to work a majority of last year, even when it was freezing cold and this year I intend to do the same.

      Go Vegan, try and recycle or reuse whenever possible. Support local business as much as possible. Buy your food from Co-ops or farmers markets, small farms or grow your own.

      We can make a difference, all it requires is a little effort and time!

      Edit: I'm sure some anti-environmental psycho will attack me for my beliefs but whatever...

    • 3 years ago
  • Bren589
    • 0
      Bren589  

    • Its so sad to see such a beautiful place burning. lets all hope they can get these fires under control soon. and pray for rain.My father who lives there says the air is so think that it is effecting his breathing. I too believe it is climate change. Some say that it is arson. Either way I pray the fires are out soon.,

    • 3 years ago
  • courage
    • -1
      courage  

    • when is this Cult going to run its course damn drink some koolaid.It used to be called Global warming but then it started getting cold so they changed it to Climate Change it is a lie

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • courage:

      Oh please, the continued attempts to continue this debate in light of the scientific evidence are downright ignorant and annoying at this point. The only lie is the big lie propagated by those whose balance sheets mean more to them than human life.

    • 3 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • courage:

      How about the fact that the UK is getting snow? How often does that happen?

      It was 50 degrees in New York yesterday too... i thought it was supposed to be the winter?

      Climate change is real and if you let a little controversy over the name get to you then you really are hopeless.

    • 3 years ago
  • Vierotchka
    • 0
      Vierotchka  
    • courage:

      fun_size, up until thirty or so years ago, England got loads of snowfalls and long & very cold winters. I remember one winter in the early sixties in which the masses of snow that had fallen remained until June - by then, the snow's surface was black with pollution.

    • 3 years ago
  • csmonut
    • 0
      csmonut  

    • You would think that with Rudd's country burning down around him he would want GHGs reduced drastically...like 1980, not the measly 5% by 2020.
      Where do these people get their ideas and information?

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • csmonut:

      And the first thing he did after being voted in was ratify the Kyoto Treaty. Then he seemed to do a bit of a turnaround. That's politics for you and that's why we cannot rely on politics alone to solve this.

    • 3 years ago
  • onechance
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • Image

    • In this article it states that Kevin Rudd wants to reduce GHG emissions by only 5% by 2020.That is truly pathetic. Just how much sway does the coal industry have in Australia? Is it worth more than a human life?!

    • 3 years ago
  • eden49
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • JanforGore:

      Your Prime MInister's GHG emissions target plan is pathetic. And so is the US's and unless governments start taking this seriously, there will be more loss of life. It is prescisely because I care about this planet and human life that I will criticize any Prime Minister, president, or any other political leader who does not see the true urgency of this crisis. I would not have posted this article if I did not feel saddened by this tragedy and frustrated by the total lack of action that led to its ferocity. Perhaps a litle less animosity on your part towards those who care and demanding a little more accountability from those who are neglecting this would be in order.

    • 3 years ago
  • eden49
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • JanforGore:

      You are simply determined to be nasty here. Nothing was said personally here about any of those who are victims of this tragedy. If you won't stand up and demand that your government (that is well aware of the effects of exacerbated climate change especially for Australia) institute stricter laws to protect its citizens, you are a hypocrite to come at me. Those who truly care for innocent people losing their lives and homes will be the ones who speak out to government and get involved to make the necessary changes to adapt to and to mitigate the effects of climate change in order to save lives. That is what this thread is about. Don't dare make it about your own grudges because I dared to question the lack of action of your government.

    • 3 years ago
  • SeaJade
    • 0
      SeaJade  

    • I spent many years of my youth living just outside of Sydney on the coastal plain. Back then, we thought 95 degrees in the height of summer was extreme - especially for all the Europeans that had migrated there. My sister still lives there, and every year the temperatures have been increasing... The interior of the country, which is desert could of course get hot, but not on the coastal plains where most of the population lives... Global warming is very real for these people. The fires are far more intense than even we experience on the west coast here because the oil in the eucalyptus trees is extremely volatile... To make matters worse, everybody "has to" turn on their air conditioners, adding to the negative cycle. (Solar air conditioners would surely be an excellent business SolCool.net distributes them here).
      I also worked extensively in the U.K. during the 1990's, mostly in the southwest region... Once upon a time, the English summers were mild and beautiful - an average of a lovely 75 degrees, 80 degrees would be very warm, and did it ever reach 90 degrees? I longed to experience these kinds of summers when working there, but year after year, even back in the 1990's, the temperatures were reaching high 90's and even 100 degrees.

      I watched an old classic movie last night called "Soylent Green" (1973) - it is clear humans have been aware of the greenhouse effect... (Naomi Oreskes speaks of this in her presentations re: Global Warming Deniers) I couldn't help but liken the Soylent Corporation to the likes of Monsanto and other corporations that are hell bent on destroying the natural world and treating most humans the same way ...

      Check out this web site:
      http://www.desmogblog.com

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Is it too late for Australia? I would still hope not.

      When will governments realize this is not a crisis we can put off for a yearly meeting every December to have nothing done about it?

      When will politicians stop spewing the same rhetoric about how instituting carbon caps will hurt the economy? Do they realize what the cost of the damage due to these more ferocious wildfires will be economically and in human life?

      How dare those in government and industry continue to only look at the bottom line regarding climate change instead of the longterm.

      "The scale of this tragedy should be a clarion call to politicians for the need to begin treating climate change as an emergency."

      The wildfires and extreme weather striking at Australia shows us a doomsday scenario of what it will be on a "normal" day should we continue to think we don't have to do anything to slow this down. And it is no longer just about using less energy or changing a light bulb. This now goes to political will and policy.

    • 3 years ago
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