Our environment, so iconic around the world and so fundamental to who we are as Australians, is under threat like never before, writes former Australian of the Year Tim Flannery.
Australia never had a "catastrophic" fire danger rating until 2009. It was introduced in the wake of the then unprecedented Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria. Catastrophic conditions were forecast for the first time in Greater Sydney last month – on November 12 to be exact.
On Thursday, a little over a month later, while parts of Australia experienced record heatwaves into the 40s celsius, catastrophic conditions were forecast for Greater Sydney yet again, coupled with extreme heat for the entire state. TheConnecting the dots ... the carbon we burn makes it hotter, and exposes us to more fire.This is the second time a catastrophic bushfire danger rating has been declared over such a densely populated area, covering almost 5 million residents across eastern NSW.
Already, it is estimated that more than 2.9 million hectares has been burnt in NSW and Queensland, with 2.7 million of that in NSW, where its perimeter runs to more than 19,235 kilometres. That's almost the equivalent of three return trips between Sydney and Perth.Scientists have been warning for decades that Australia is exceptionally vulnerable to risks from a changing climate, including reduced rainfall, extreme heat and bushfire.
In NSW and Queensland, world heritage areas including Gondwana rainforests have been damaged by fires. These rainforests are a living link to the vegetation that covered the southern supercontinent Gondwana about 180 million years ago. The Gondwana rainforests include the largest areas of subtropical rainforest on the planet, some warm temperate rainforest and nearly all the world’s Antarctic beech cool temperate rainforest.
The Gondwana rainforests had been considered too damp to burn. In other words, these rainforests have not burned in millions of years. It is yet unclear what areas have been burnt, and what level of damage has been done to the outstanding universal values of these areas. In any case, they won't recover well.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How much closer to their doors must the fire burn? It's immoral not to connect the dotsOpinion: Our environment, so iconic around the world and so fundamental to who we are as Australians, is under threat like never before, writes Tim Flannery
Read more »
'Hottest day' ever: Berejiklian warns NSW ahead of heatwaveYesterday was Australia's hottest ever day with an average of 40.9 degrees across the country. The next few days will bring even hotter temperatures and 'concerning wind conditions' that are likely to cause havoc on large, uncontrolled fires across NSW
Read more »
Dumping coal to stop bushfires caused by lightning and arson is 'just crackers' | Sky News AustraliaSky News host Peta Credlin says 'any idea closing down coal-fired power stations' will somehow stop bushfires caused by lightning strikes and arson 'is just crackers'.\n\n'It's human nature to think today's problems are the worst ever because memories are short and our sense of chronological history is poor,' she said.\n\n'The fact remains, the Black Thursday bushfires in Victoria way back in 1851 destroyed about double the area burnt out this year in New South Wales'.\n\n'And it's hard to see what role mankind's carbon dioxide emissions played then,' Ms Credlin said.\n\n'So let's hope for rain, because that Australian perennial drought is the real culprit here, along with the Greens on local councils putting the kibosh on hazard reduction burns.\n\n'But let's not think that the world is about to burn less coal anytime soon or that burning less coal is going to put out fires!'\n\nMs Credlin said tougher penalties for arsonists, more preventive burns, re-opening fire tracks in national parks and adequate funding for volunteer fire-brigades are 'what makes the difference', not commitments in Paris 'that only mugs like us bother to keep'.\n\n\n\n
Read more »
Scott Morrison facing online criticism for pre-Christmas overseas vacationThe Acting Prime Minister defends the Prime Minister after he takes his family overseas for a holiday as fires continue to burn across Australia.
Read more »
Three firefighters 'enveloped by fire' taken to hospital after suffering burns to bodies, airwaysThree firefighters have been taken to hospital with burn injuries after their crew was 'enveloped by fire' near the Bargo area, south west of Sydney
Read more »
Sydney continues to choke on toxic smokeToxic bushfire smoke is plaguing most of NSW, with those with poor health and breathing difficulties urged to seek help if necessary. 9News
Read more »