Climate Change Arrival

I wrote that in 2013. Now it is 2020 and the climate has really turned against us.

Bushfires in every state and territory of Australia. Devastating mega-fires in Queensland, NSW and Victoria - burning for months and still going strong. Homes lost, lives lost, businesses lost, forests lost, wildlife lost.

The State emergency services swung into action but the Commonwealth Government was asleep at the wheel. The Prime Minister went on holiday to Hawaii. The Defence Minister went to Bali. When Prime Minister Morrison came back, he was business as usual with a nonchalant "We've done all we've been asked to do" he said. He was "entitled to a family holiday", he said. Nothing to see here, move along....

The public outcry was deafening and a couple of weeks later Scott Morrison finally woke up, suddenly committing ships, planes, boats, boots, temporary accommodation and two billion dollars. All necessary, all supported, all well received.

Just a few months too late.

Suddenly, everyone is an expert on bushfires, the loudest of them calling for more hazard burning and blaming arsonists and the drought. 

Yes, we have a drought, no, we can never do enough hazard reduction and there have always been arsonists.

It is a simple fact that Climate Change has arrived. It's been predicted by scientists for over a hundred years and it's pretty simple to understand the basics.

Greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane) in the atmosphere are responsible for blocking heat from radiating back into space. The gas amounts are small (about 0.1%) but human emissions increase the concentration and more heat is blocked from radiating out, making the planet warmer. It's a process that has been well known for over a hundred years.

This additional heating has underpinned the drought and a catastrophic bushfire season. 

The Prime Minister said recently that "Climate Change is real. Hard to believe he actually admitted that - but the next day he confirmed that his government's weak Climate Change policies (derided internationally) will not be changed. Without recognising the implications of Climate Change nothing is going to change - except for the worse.

He is happier to fund short-term disaster repair than he is to invest in long-term disaster avoidance.

I've noticed a petition for a Royal Commission into the bushfires - as if it it is a one-off event. Such a commissions would take years to tell us what we already know, including:

• Climate Change has elevated temperatures and produced a long drought and increased bushfire risk.
• It will get worse and it must be accepted and acted on. Future emissions must be reduced and Australia must lead the world, not drag it down.
• The current model of volunteer fire-fighting agencies has served us well but is now becoming obsolete and needs to be improved.
• More assets and human resources will be needed to manage bigger fires, for longer periods.
• A federal body will be required to coordinate activity and direct resources.
• Another federal body will be needed to provide temporary accommodation and other services.
• Disaster assistance funding, for affected people, farmers and small businesses, will need to be formalised. 
• A logistical approach is required to essential food and supplies.
• Improved water resources will be required. 
• Communications and power systems need to be more robust.
• Building codes will need to be more bushfire proof.
• Cities and towns need protective zones.
• Alternative methods are required to supplement hazard reduction burn-offs.
• Defence forces need to be on automatic alert for evacuation and supply logistics.
• Health issues - burns, long-term smoke inhalation and mental problems must be addressed.