FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Available for interview: Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie, and Founder of Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (and firefighter with California experience ) Greg Mullins
THE CLIMATE COUNCIL WARNS the devastating winter fires that have claimed five lives and a thousand homes in California so far, have been made more dangerous and deadly by climate pollution.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said: “Australian hearts go out to those living in Los Angeles who have lost loved ones, pets and property this week. Sadly, too many Australians know what it’s like to experience deadly fires and the long recovery afterwards.”
“We know this is the climate crisis in action. These fires follow California’s hottest summer on record, and record breaking heatwaves. Climate change has contributed to reduced rainfall and higher temperatures, making local vegetation drier and more flammable.
“Climate pollution, from burning coal, oil and gas, is driving longer, more intense and overlapping fire seasons in California and Australia.“
Californian Governor Gavin Newsom said this week (18:54) the state’s fire season, which used to take place from May to October, now extends throughout winter. “November, December, now January — there’s no fire season; it’s fire year,” Governor Newsom said.
Australia’s Emergency Leaders for Climate Action has previously raised concerns about overlapping fire seasons placing strain on domestic resources, as fire fighters in the US, Canada and Australian share large fire fighting aircraft.
Says Amanda McKenzie: “We are worried about the ability to share aircraft and personnel now and into the future as the climate crisis worsens. Beyond the loss of life and livelihood, lack of access to the tools we need to fight fires reinforces that slashing climate pollution this decade is so critical.
“These fires are a terrifying realisation for Australians watching events unfold in California, that fire crews are coping with longer and longer fire seasons. We must drive down climate pollution this decade, by ramping up our switch to renewable power.”
ENDS
About us:
The Climate Council is Australia’s leading community-funded climate change communications organisation. We provide authoritative, expert and evidence-based advice on climate change to journalists, policymakers, and the wider Australian community.
For further information, go to: climatecouncil.org.au
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Contact details:
For interviews please contact Jacqui Street jacqui.street@climatecouncil.org.au or 0498 188 528
Or the Climate Council media team on media@climatecouncil.org.au or call 0485 863 063.
