Australia Wildfires Burn 865K Acres, Destroy 300 Buildings

Are fossil fuels making bushfires worse, or are they just a natural part of Australia's environment?

Published 3 days ago

Australia Wildfires Burn 865K Acres, Destroy 300 Buildings

story

Above: A bushfire burning near the town of Longwood, northern Victoria, on Jan. 7. Image credit: Kylie Shingles/CFA Wandong Fire Brigade/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Climate-concerned narrative

Climate pollution from burning fossil fuels is turbocharging bushfire danger across Australia, making fires more extreme and harder to control. Hotter temperatures, longer droughts and declining rainfall are creating catastrophic conditions that fuel megafires and deadly fire-generated thunderstorms. The evidence is undeniable: nine of Australia's hottest years have occurred since 2005, fire seasons are lengthening and millions now live in harm's way.

Climate Council

Climate-skeptic narrative

Bushfires are a natural and essential part of the Australian environment that have occurred for thousands of years. Hot, dry and windy weather combined with available fuel creates fire risk, a reality Australians have always managed. Lightning strikes and natural weather patterns drive bushfire activity across different regions during traditional seasonal peaks. Indigenous land management practices have historically reduced risks and shaped landscapes.

Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience