Australia’s current bushfire is a climate tragedy.
A 2019 Australian government report on wildfires and climate change said, “Human-caused climate change has resulted in more dangerous weather conditions for bushfires in recent decades for many regions of Australia.”
How does this work?
The drier the fuel (trees and plants), the easier it is for fires to start, and the longer those fires can burn.
Despite its global media coverage, the sheer magnitude of this bushfire is hard to put into perspective.
Twitter user, Bodie Ashton (@manwithoutatan), shared some helpful comparisons to help others grasp the scale of the issue.
- More Australian land is burning than exists in the entire country of Belgium
- 500 million animals have been killed
- 23 people have died
- In parts of Sydney, breathing the air is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes
- The smoke is causing breathing problems in my homeland, New Zealand, more than 2,000kms away; even the glaciers are turning brown due to the smoke, ash, and dust
- The average temperature across Australia is above 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit)
- The current bushfire started 3 months ago, and is likely to continue for at least another 3 months
- The fires are being fought by volunteers
This is a frightening insight into 1) the impact we’re having on our planet, and 2) the colossal climate challenge we have to face in the coming decades.
But today, all I can muster in response is that my thoughts and prayers are with all Australians.