Australia's fires, our floods and the climate crisis

Yes, it was considerably lower and yes, the cities have encroached on bush land.

People were dying in the streets apparently - but the men were wearing suits and the women long dresses and presumably corsets.
Scientists say that today's heatwaves are more extreme.

www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-21/1896-heatwave-killed-435-climate-scientists-cant-compare-today/11809998

One of the greatest causes of pollution is travel. Cars and planes are the biggest source. We have got so used to using our cars for every trip, and taking holidays abroad. Are we willing to give it up?

I think it's only a matter of time before we are all driving around in electric carts, similar to golf carts. There would surely be fewer accidents too, as speed would be reduced.

It's perfectly possible to reduce pollution, it's just a matter of putting our minds to it and tackling the problem seriously.

Interesting. Thanks Callistemon. What was the population of Australia in the 1800s? I'm guessing quite a lot lower than today. If bushfires are inevitable and essential for some vegetation, is the big problem that human life is encroaching on areas which should be left for nature to take its course?

Australia is building huge wind farms - whether or not these are eco-friendly because each turbine costs more in fuel to produce than it ever generates is a moot point.

Many people do have solar panels on their roofs, but yes, they could make more use of the solar power.

Temperatures in the 1800s were hotter and lasted for longer periods than the present one.
Aboriginals have always known how to manage the fires and the Government should take more note of their advice which can, in fact, be contrary to what the Green Party advocates. The Aboriginal communities have far more experience of this.

I agree that we do not learn, the shops are full of 'plastic tat' and unrecyclable rubbish.

Yes PamelaJ1

Watched a carols programme early last evening, home videos interspersed the songs, showing happy children ripping the wrapping paper off numerous gifts under the tree from Santa and family. Probably sound a real killjoy, but my thoughts were all about the rubbish being generated to be chucked away at a later date. Things like this never occurred to me when my own children were growing up. When I look at the stuff that the GC’s have discarded as they get older....what a waste of money and resources.

The Chinese government is well aware that it needs to change. It has begun to take steps to use cleaner fuels and reduce pollution. It's also suffering from a labour shortage in some areas (as a result of the one child policy), so employers are being forced to pay higher wages. That means they have to charge more and, as a result, are having to think about improving quality. There's already a shift towards more high-value and "cleaner" products, such as technology, education and services. There's likely to be some resistance because low-skilled, less educated workers are going to end up being "left behind". That's one of the reasons that China invests heavily in education.

Coal is one of Australia's biggest sources of export income and mining employs thousands of people. A serious commitment to and investment in renewables would provide more jobs, but would affect exports.

If we are serious about climate change then we have to make changes that we won’t like.

If we really want to then we can stop buying stuff that we don’t
need. Then China and India will stop producing the rubbish that fills the shops. We will pay a proper price for the reduced products that they make. They will have a better life and we will all have a healthier one.

I know Calendargirl there have always been fires. I remember reading an old newspaper from about 1800. An early settler was writing home to the Scottish newspaper and he spoke of the wild fires and also the "Natives" deliberately encouraging fires.

It has reached a new level now as the cities expand away from the sea.
Here we continue to build on floodplains and to lay concrete everywhere, including our gardens, so that water can no longer soak away.

Thanks craftyone I didn't know that about the giant mine planned. Oh dear. It is even worse than I thought.

pollution is made made, climate change is sun driven and there has always been climate change

Australia has given permission for a massive coal mine, called carmichael and that is the first of many. It will be the size of the uk and most of its coal will be exported to india. Pollution to line more pockets. All those nasty fumes go into the very air that we all breathe and where will the waste go? This pollution is hidden by the companies, they hide under fear-driven terminology ie climate change. When in reality it is pollution that is killing the planet and the fragile ecosystems

Our daughter lives in Australia. Not excusing climate change, but they have always suffered from bush fires, nature’s way of re-generation.
Of course, the fires now are horrendous, yes, climate change, record temperatures, lack of rain.