Australia state announces inquiry into catastrophic bush fires
4 years, 11 months ago

Australia state announces inquiry into catastrophic bush fires

Al Jazeera  

New South Wales’ six-month inquiry will look into the effect of climate change and how it responded to the emergency. New South Wales, the Australian state worst hit by this season’s enormous bushfires, has announced an independent inquiry into the continuing blazes, including the reasons why they started and the role that climate change may have played. The six-month inquiry that will begin this week will examine how state authorities prepared and responded to the “unprecedented” 2019-20 bushfire crisis, state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Thursday. SBS online reported Morrison had also been at odds with New South Wales Environment Minister Matt Kean over the fires and climate change.

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History of this topic

Two dead, dozens homes destroyed as bushfires rage across eastern Australia
1 year, 2 months ago

Two dead, dozens homes destroyed as bushfires rage across eastern Australia

India Today  

Two people were killed and dozens of homes were destroyed in bushfires raging across Australia's northern Queensland state, as firefighters travelled from across the country and from New Zealand to try and contain the out-of-control blazes. Residents have been told to evacuate from two massive bushfires in the southeast portion of Queensland, even as dozens of fires continue to burn …

Australian Authorities Warn Citizens of Horrific Bushfire Season
1 year, 3 months ago

Australian Authorities Warn Citizens of Horrific Bushfire Season

News 18  

Warm winds fanned multiple blazes on Wednesday in an unusually early start to Australia’s annual fire season, prompting a state leader to warn of a “horror” summer of bushfires ahead. “Be prepared for a horror summer,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told a news conference in Bega. “Bushfires love this environment and it is devastating for regional communities in …

Another Black Summer for Australia? Residents told to Flee Victoria Bushfires
1 year, 3 months ago

Another Black Summer for Australia? Residents told to Flee Victoria Bushfires

News 18  

Firefighters warned people on Tuesday to flee or take shelter if it is too late to leave as warm, gusty winds fanned “very challenging” bushfires in Victoria, eastern Australia. People who had not yet left from another seven neighbourhoods were told to take shelter immediately because “it is too late to leave the area safely”. “We are experiencing spot fires …

Australia is better prepared for bushfires now than before Black Summer, but firefighters say there's still more work to do
1 year, 3 months ago

Australia is better prepared for bushfires now than before Black Summer, but firefighters say there's still more work to do

ABC  

For the first time in three years, Australians face the risk of significant bushfires. "We're much better prepared than we were prior to the Black Summer," Dr Cope says. The royal commission recommended Australia invest in things called "downscaled climate models" — models that provide projections for areas down to just a few kilometres. "It was a royal commission put …

Australia, scarred by bushfires, on high alert for dangerous summer
1 year, 3 months ago

Australia, scarred by bushfires, on high alert for dangerous summer

The Hindu  

Four years since bushfires destroyed wide swathes of southeastern Australia, killing 33, the country is once again on high alert, bracing for what weather experts say will be the hottest, driest period since the so-called Black Summer. "Once we've actually dried out the landscape from the wet conditions it's starting from, it could be that we end up with a …

NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquiry wraps as Blue Mountains locals make last-ditch appeal on back-burn
1 year, 4 months ago

NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquiry wraps as Blue Mountains locals make last-ditch appeal on back-burn

ABC  

After almost two years, the New South Wales Bushfires Coronial Inquiry has withdrawn to consider its findings, after hearing that a back-burn that sparked a devastating fire in the Blue Mountains was "appropriate" in what were "undoubtedly difficult circumstances". Key points: The NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquiry has adjourned for Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan to consider her findings For almost two years, …

Australia faces more fires, drought as climate continues to heat
4 years, 1 month ago

Australia faces more fires, drought as climate continues to heat

Al Jazeera  

Country’s weather bureau says higher temperatures and less rainfall creating conditions for more extreme weather events. Australia’s climate is expected become hotter and drier, increasing the risk of drought and extreme weather events such as the bushfires that devastated swathes of southeastern Australia in the last southern hemisphere summer, according to the latest climate report from the country’s weather bureau. …

Bushfire royal commission's final report issues warning to Australia over climate change
4 years, 2 months ago

Bushfire royal commission's final report issues warning to Australia over climate change

ABC  

The bushfire royal commission's final report is a stark warning of a future marked by extreme weather impacts of climate change. "Extreme weather has already become more frequent and intense because of climate change; further global warming over the next 20 to 30 years is inevitable," they say. "The Bushfire Royal Commission has laid out the facts in no uncertain …

Australia wildfires probe recommends climate risk forecasts
4 years, 2 months ago

Australia wildfires probe recommends climate risk forecasts

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — An investigation into Australia’s catastrophic wildfire season on Friday recommended greater efforts to forecast the impacts of climate change on specific parts of the country, warning fire behavior was becoming more extreme. Discrepancies between states’ fire hazard mapping methods “make it difficult to measure risk at a national scale or to undertake comparative risk between regions.” “Improving …

Bushfire royal commission says governments need to coordinate for 'more intense' natural disasters
4 years, 4 months ago

Bushfire royal commission says governments need to coordinate for 'more intense' natural disasters

ABC  

Australia's a new emergency warning system needs to be finished quickly, the bushfire royal commission has said, after warning of "more frequent and intense" natural disasters in coming decades. Key points: The bushfire royal commission says a National Cabinet-style approach could work for emergencies other than COVID-19 The commission says work on a new Australian warning system needs to be …

Bushfire royal commission looks to the past to show a troubling future
4 years, 7 months ago

Bushfire royal commission looks to the past to show a troubling future

ABC  

Six months ago, Australia was burning. While these predictions are not new, the last bushfire season showed the potential destruction when multiple events happen at once — drought, followed by fire, followed by flood. Worse still, the commission heard even if we do reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, the effect of a warming climate has "partially locked in" future extreme …

Royal commission into bushfire crisis begins hearings with focus on impact of climate change
4 years, 7 months ago

Royal commission into bushfire crisis begins hearings with focus on impact of climate change

ABC  

As the country navigates its way out of the coronavirus crisis, you would be forgiven for feeling like it has been longer than a matter of months since it seemed the biggest issue facing Australia this year would be the fallout from the summer's bushfires. Key points: The royal commission was formed in the wake of the "Black Summer" bushfire …

The size of Australia's bushfire crisis captured in five big numbers
4 years, 10 months ago

The size of Australia's bushfire crisis captured in five big numbers

ABC  

Many Australians just lost their summer, thanks to the recent bushfire crisis. To put that in some perspective, in New South Wales alone more than 5.4 million hectares have been burned, said Ben Shepherd from the NSW Rural Fire Service. "An average fire season here in New South Wales is typically at around 300,000 hectares," Inspector Shepherd said. "The first …

Australia’s New South Wales free from bushfires for first time in more than 240 days
4 years, 10 months ago

Australia’s New South Wales free from bushfires for first time in more than 240 days

CNN  

CNN — The Australian state of New South Wales is officially free from bushfires for the first time in more than 240 days, according to the area’s fire service. On February 13 the fire service said all of the fires in New South Wales had been declared contained for the first time this season. “For the first time since early …

How extreme conditions drove Australia's record bushfire disaster
4 years, 10 months ago

How extreme conditions drove Australia's record bushfire disaster

ABC  

Highlighted fire scarring near Newcastle and Sydney on 30 January 2020 From above, Australia is a nation torched and scarred. Fires burn across Queensland and northern New South Wales on 14 September 2019 Imagery from the Japanese Himawari weather satellite shows plumes of smoke clearly visible from space. Highlighted fire scarring at Gospers Mountain, 21 December 2019 Satellite imagery from …

Australian fires ‘contained’ for first time in New South Wales
4 years, 10 months ago

Australian fires ‘contained’ for first time in New South Wales

CNN  

CNN — All fires burning in the Australian state of New South Wales have been declared contained for the first time this season. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service called it “great news” after “a very traumatic, exhausting and anxious bush fire season so far.” The fire service’s deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said it had been “a truly devastating …

Bushfire lessons available to act on ahead of royal commission, experts say
4 years, 11 months ago

Bushfire lessons available to act on ahead of royal commission, experts say

ABC  

The Government has flagged a national review around bushfires, but experts believe Australia can do better than another inquiry — and actually deliver outcomes before the next bushfire season. Key points: The head of the national fire council called for a "national commitment" to implement outstanding recommendations of previous inquiries He said any bushfire inquiry should focus on coordination, which …

Australia is burning. The Arctic is melting. Yet Trump keeps gutting climate change regulations.
4 years, 11 months ago

Australia is burning. The Arctic is melting. Yet Trump keeps gutting climate change regulations.

CNN  

CNN — Editor’s Note: A version of this story first published in September 2019. “Once we go beyond key tipping points – the melting of the major ice sheets – there is no going back.” Here’s a look at some of the most consequential climate policy rollbacks: Overhauling a landmark law requiring environmental assessments On January 9, the Trump administration …

Respite from Australian bushfire unlikely as weathermen rule out significant rain; temperatures may soar for few more months
5 years ago

Respite from Australian bushfire unlikely as weathermen rule out significant rain; temperatures may soar for few more months

Firstpost  

Australia’s weather agency sees no sign of cooler weather or significant rainfall in the next few months, an unwelcome forecast for authorities who have warned that only a large downpour will halt bushfires sweeping across the country Melbourne: Australia’s weather agency sees no sign of cooler weather or significant rainfall in the next few months, an unwelcome forecast for authorities …

Australians urged to evacuate as monster bushfires regenerate
5 years ago

Australians urged to evacuate as monster bushfires regenerate

Al Jazeera  

Hot temperatures and high winds expected to fan flames of blazes that have devastated parts of country since September. The Rural Fire Service in New South Wales state told fire-weary community meetings in coastal communities south of Sydney that northwesterly winds were likely to drive blazes towards the coast once again. “Don’t get complacent from the rain we have had …

Australian PM’s leadership criticized during wildfire crisis
5 years ago

Australian PM’s leadership criticized during wildfire crisis

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — As his country burned, Australia’s prime minister was cursed and jeered out of a town, called an “idiot,” a “moron” and worse, and skewered at home and abroad for his dismissive response toward climate change. The outpouring of frustration and rage from many Australians toward Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s lethargic wildfire response has been likened to the …

I'm doing what the Australian government won't – telling the truth about the climate crisis
5 years ago

I'm doing what the Australian government won't – telling the truth about the climate crisis

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This must have come as a …

Australia’s leaders unmoved on climate action after devastating bushfires
5 years ago

Australia’s leaders unmoved on climate action after devastating bushfires

The Hindu  

Australia's government is sticking firmly to a position that there is no direct link between climate change and the country's devastating bushfires, despite public anger, the anguish of victims and warnings from scientists. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Emissions Reduction Minister, Angus Taylor, say Australia does not need to cut carbon emissions more aggressively to limit global warming, even …

Storms bring relief — and danger — to Australian wildfire regions
5 years ago

Storms bring relief — and danger — to Australian wildfire regions

LA Times  

Thunderstorms and showers brought some relief for firefighters battling deadly wildfires across Australia’s drought-parched east coast on Wednesday, but also raised concerns that lightning will spark more fires before dangerous hot and windy conditions return. Around 2,300 firefighters in New South Wales state were making the most of relatively benign conditions by frantically consolidating containment lines around more than 110 …

Watch | Massive bushfires across Australia
5 years ago

Watch | Massive bushfires across Australia

The Hindu  

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called up about 3,000 reservists as the threat of wildfires escalated Saturday in at least three states. The fire broke containment lines Friday and was described as “virtually unstoppable” as it destroyed buildings and burned through more than 14,000 hectares of Flinders Chase National Park. Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fizsimmons said the 264,000-hectare …

Australia bushfire crisis: PM Morrison announces $2 billion for relief support
5 years ago

Australia bushfire crisis: PM Morrison announces $2 billion for relief support

The Hindu  

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced an additional 2 billion dollars over two years to a new agency to coordinate a national response to rebuild communities and livelihoods following the deadly bushfire crisis. “It’s a long road ahead and we will be with these communities every step of the way as they rebuild,” Morrison, who is facing widespread …

The bushfire crisis has given the Government a political 'out' to its climate change problem
5 years ago

The bushfire crisis has given the Government a political 'out' to its climate change problem

ABC  

The fires across Australia are taking a terrible toll. You need to lead It could be the turning point for Australia's climate change politics and policy that is so deeply in the ditch. The party of progress and social justice needs to stand for strong action on climate change, and for helping workers and communities in the transition that will …

'Millions of sparks': Bushfires raging across Australia prompt govt to conduct evacuations as authorities predict blaze may worsen with strong winds
5 years ago

'Millions of sparks': Bushfires raging across Australia prompt govt to conduct evacuations as authorities predict blaze may worsen with strong winds

Firstpost  

Wildfires raging across Australia have prompted one of the largest evacuations in the country’s history as what is already the worst season on record is likely to become even more devastating due to hot weather and strong winds Sydney: Wildfires raging across Australia have prompted one of the largest evacuations in the country’s history as what is already the worst …

Are the bushfires Scott Morrison's Hurricane Katrina moment that he can't live down?
5 years ago

Are the bushfires Scott Morrison's Hurricane Katrina moment that he can't live down?

ABC  

Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in US history. As people yell at the Prime Minister when he visits their devastated communities, or howl for his blood on social media, the story of Bush's failure to immediately recognise a catastrophe and the urgent need for leadership it represented tells us what problems are created by Scott Morrison's …

Australia's bushfire crisis is so big that it's useless trying to predict how blazes will behave, incident controller says
5 years ago

Australia's bushfire crisis is so big that it's useless trying to predict how blazes will behave, incident controller says

ABC  

Scientific modelling used to predict how bushfires will behave is "not coping" with the current fire situation in south-eastern Australia because the fires are so big, an incident controller says. Key points: As fires build they create their own weather, so data from the weather bureau becomes less relevant "Significant movement" of all fires in Gippsland is expected from Friday …

There’s a fire in Australia the size of Manhattan
5 years ago

There’s a fire in Australia the size of Manhattan

CNN  

CNN — Three fires have combined to form a single blaze bigger than the New York borough of Manhattan, as Australian firefighters battle what has been predicted to be the most catastrophic day yet in an already devastating bushfire season. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images A Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk "Romeo" helicopter refuels onboard HMAS Adelaide during Operation Bushfire …

Yuvraj Singh terms Australia bushfire tragic
5 years ago

Yuvraj Singh terms Australia bushfire tragic

The Hindu  

Former India World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh on Thursday termed the raging bushfire in Australia as tragic, and said it’s time some action is taken against the serious issue of climate change. In the backdrop of this critical situation, Australia is set to host New Zealand in the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting Friday. After Australia opener …

Australia fires: New South Wales declares a 7-day state of emergency
5 years ago

Australia fires: New South Wales declares a 7-day state of emergency

CNN  

CNN — The Australian state of New South Wales has declared a state of emergency and could begin forced evacuations from fire-stricken areas, as emergency crews battle deadly blazes and brace for a dangerous weekend ahead. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images A Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk "Romeo" helicopter refuels onboard HMAS Adelaide during Operation Bushfire Assist, on Sunday, January …

Bushfires In Australia May Get Even Worse With 'Horrible Day' On Horizon
5 years ago

Bushfires In Australia May Get Even Worse With 'Horrible Day' On Horizon

NPR  

Bushfires In Australia May Get Even Worse With 'Horrible Day' On Horizon Enlarge this image toggle caption Darrian Traynor/Getty Images Darrian Traynor/Getty Images As hard as it may be to believe, the bushfires ravaging large swaths of Australia are likely to get worse in the coming days. Citing a menacing cocktail of high temperatures and gusty winds, Australia's Bureau of …

Australia burns as government resists calls for climate action
5 years ago

Australia burns as government resists calls for climate action

Al Jazeera  

Experts say Australia is on ‘front line’ of the climate crisis and the government has to do more to tackle problem. “There is no argument … about the links between broader issues of global climate change and weather events around the world,” he said, speaking from the Rural Fire Services headquarters in Sydney. “The European Union, New Zealand and Pacific …

Australia fires: PM Scott Morrison says he will ‘accept the criticism’ for vacationing in Hawaii as fires raged back home
5 years ago

Australia fires: PM Scott Morrison says he will ‘accept the criticism’ for vacationing in Hawaii as fires raged back home

CNN  

CNN — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he regrets being away on vacation with his family as fires raged across South Australia, resulting in the deaths of three people earlier this week. “I accept the criticism.” More than 105 bush and grass fires continued to burn across New South Wales – a southeastern state of Australia — early Sunday, …

Bushfire outlook update makes for more grim reading for summer ahead
5 years ago

Bushfire outlook update makes for more grim reading for summer ahead

ABC  

We're already dealing with a fire season for the record books — crews exhausted, millions of hectares burnt, scores of houses destroyed — but an update of the danger ahead paints an even more ominous picture. Key points: The bushfire outlook from August warned of above-normal bushfire conditions for most of the east coast this summer, as well as parts …

Australian PM Scott Morrison refuses to take blame for environmental policies causing unprecedented bushfires, insists govt was 'doing enough' to tackle climate change
5 years, 1 month ago

Australian PM Scott Morrison refuses to take blame for environmental policies causing unprecedented bushfires, insists govt was 'doing enough' to tackle climate change

Firstpost  

Australia’s Prime Minister on Thursday denied his climate policies had caused unprecedented bushfires ravaging the country and insisted his government was doing enough to tackle global warming Sydney: Australia’s Prime Minister on Thursday denied his climate policies had caused unprecedented bushfires ravaging the country and insisted his government was doing enough to tackle global warming. As blazes that have scorched …

PM denies link to climate policies as fires scorch arid Australia
5 years, 1 month ago

PM denies link to climate policies as fires scorch arid Australia

Al Jazeera  

Fires have now sprung up in four states as firefighters battle to contain blazes that have killed six people. Australia’s Prime Minister on Thursday denied his climate change policies had caused unprecedented bushfires ravaging the country and insisted his government was doing enough to tackle global warming. As blazes that have left six dead and scorched swathes of countryside sprang …

South Australia bushfires: Schools close as ‘catastrophic’ fires threaten homes and lives
5 years, 1 month ago

South Australia bushfires: Schools close as ‘catastrophic’ fires threaten homes and lives

CNN  

CNN — Deadly bushfires have ravaged parts of Australia in recent weeks, whipped up by soaring temperatures, strong winds and the worst drought in decades. More than 100 schools have closed in South Australia as catastrophic fire conditions threatened seven districts across the state Wednesday, including the Mount Lofty Ranges and Mid North, near to the state’s capital Adelaide which …

Australia bushfires: Toll up to four in New South Wales after blazes break out along eastern seaboard last week
5 years, 1 month ago

Australia bushfires: Toll up to four in New South Wales after blazes break out along eastern seaboard last week

Firstpost  

Residents found the body, believed to be a 58-year-old man last seen on Friday, near the New South Wales town of Kempsey Burrell Creek: The death toll from devastating bushfires in eastern Australia has risen to four after a man’s body was discovered in a scorched area of bushland, police said on Thursday. Three others have perished in bushfires in …

Bushfire horror: Conditions set to worse in Sydney next week
5 years, 1 month ago

Bushfire horror: Conditions set to worse in Sydney next week

Daily Mail  

Dozens of fires are still raging on the east coast of Australia after an 'extraordinary' day saw infernos in suburban Sydney - as officials warn the worst is yet to come. The largest inferno, the Liberation Trail bushfire west of Coffs Harbour, covers more 150,000 hectares Wall of flame: A satellite image of the eastern seaboard showed the active fire …

The causes of unprecedented bushfires are complex but climate change is part of the puzzle
5 years, 1 month ago

The causes of unprecedented bushfires are complex but climate change is part of the puzzle

ABC  

As bushfires tear through New South Wales and Queensland, leaving a trail of destruction, we inevitably find ourselves asking: what can be done to stop them? So, with unprecedented extreme fire weather conditions upon us, what can we do to safeguard ourselves against a more flammable future? Unprecedented conditions Extreme fire weather creates fire conditions that exceed all known firefighting …

Australia is not prepared to fight the bushfires of the future, experts warn
5 years, 3 months ago

Australia is not prepared to fight the bushfires of the future, experts warn

ABC  

The bushfires of the future are already here. Key points: The national aerial firefighting centre, which two years ago flagged the need for an $11m funding boost, still has not received a decision from the Federal Government The Government has not guaranteed funding for the only national body researching the future of bushfires Twenty-three emergency services experts calling on the …

Bushfires continue to burn across east Australia
5 years, 3 months ago

Bushfires continue to burn across east Australia

Al Jazeera  

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology warns the fire danger remains high throughout Queensland. Meanwhile, fire conditions eased over the weekend in northern New South Wales, as the winds dropped, prompting the Rural Fire Service to downgrade its warning to an advice level. Before the warm-up that is expected this week, rain will move across much of New South Wales on …

Australia’s fires are an ‘omen’ of blazes to come
5 years, 4 months ago

Australia’s fires are an ‘omen’ of blazes to come

CNN  

CNN — Australia is battling over 100 wildfires across two states, with authorities warning that the severe blazes are an “omen” of a brutal fire season to come. In Queensland, 57 wildfires were burning as of Sunday, the state’s acting premier Jackie Trad said, while in neighboring New South Wales, 53 wildfires were burning as of Monday morning, according to …

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