Ashok
Citizen Journalist
During this summer months, Australia broke an astounding 260 records to do with climate. There are 72 locales in the country where the highest July temperatures were recorded and there are 193 other places that have recorded the lowest ever rainfall totals in the month of June. The hottest July day on record was reported in Sydney, Southeast Australia; while Canberra went through the driest June on record. These however are just two examples.
Researchers argue that the record-breaking winter that the country has experienced was 60 times more likely due to climate change. Climate change, reports say has been induced by humans and not by natural forces. As per Australia’s Weird Weather Report; Hot and Dry, the nation went through the driest period since 2002. The high temperatures have led to an earlier beginning of the bushfire season in quite a few areas of Australia. Around one third of Australia is at risk from bushfires. Over the winter, not only the maximum heat temperature records were broken but low rainfall records were smashed too.
As a result of the reports, Professor Lesley Hughes, who is an ecologist and climate councilor has asked the government to ‘take meaningful action to strongly reduce Australia’s emissions from fossil fuels.’ The time for action cannot be better as politicians argue about ways to address the call for clean energy. In spite of the established success of renewables, never-ending debates about extending the tenure of old coal-fired power stations continue as there has been no planning for a transition.
It is to be hoped that in this instance, people who are making the decisions will take note of what science has to say. And in case the warm winter has not been a wakeup call, reports say that spring and summer are slated to be hotter than ever. Hopefully more than the weather will make the politicians sweat it out.
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