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Climate change is ‘supercharging’ bushfires in Australia, a group of ex-fire chiefs has warned.
The fires have been blazing along the east coast – killing at least four people, and affecting millions of others. Many animals have been killed by the flames, which have destroyed about 2.5 million acres of farmland and bush, exacerbated by dry conditions and high winds.
Now the ex-fire chiefs have challenged prime minister Scott Morrison over his lack of action over the issue.
‘Unprecendented’
“I am fundamentally concerned about the impact and the damage coming from climate change,” said former fire chief Lee Johnson.
“The word ‘unprecedented’ has been used a lot, but it’s correct.”
‘City greenies’
The Australian Greens have also questioned the government’s reaction to the fires this week – prompting outrage from deputy prime minister Michael McCormack.
He said: “We don’t need the ravings of some pure, enlightened and woke capital cities greenies at this time, when (people) are trying to save their homes.”
Bushfires and climate change
Scientists believe there is a link between bushfires and the climate breakdown, with Janet Stanley of the University of Melbourne saying: “Bushfires are not directly attributable to climate change.
“However, the fast-warming climate is making bushfires more frequent and intense.
“The mountain of irrefutable evidence linking global warming to bushfires makes the federal government’s failure to act – or even talk about the problem – extremely hard to explain.”
