Southern Australia is experiencing rapid population growth and density, and when paired with increasing weather extremes presents a consequential concern for life and property. Rising temperatures have led to an increased risk of health issues such as heart-related mortality,
infectious diseases, and pollen allergies.The effect of large-scale extreme events such as prolonged heat waves not only impacts human activities but
mortality rates; this presenting critical reasons to
address climate change. Whilst Australian rainfall has always been variable and influenced by weather patterns such as
La Ninã and
El Niño, there are underlying trends that implicate global warming as the cause of drier winter seasons across south-eastern and south-western Australia. Since 1970, the region has experienced 20% less rainfall than in the period of 1900–1969, and now since 1999 that has increased to 26% less rainfall. Although southern Australia has experienced declining rainfall in the colder months of April to October, the northern counterpart has seen increasing rainfall since the 1970s. The prevalence of
flash flooding is set to continue to intensify, brought by a 7% increase in short-duration extreme rainfall events. An increase in the simultaneous occurrence of two or more extreme events, known as compound extreme events, has largely impacted Southern Australia's
agricultural industry. In each year of dry conditions and synchronous heatwaves, a typical cropping farm will experience a substantial loss of approximately $125,000 whilst in a regular year profit exceeds $230,000. Simultaneously, drought years lead to reduction of
livestock herd sizes as we see lower birth rates alongside discretionary forfeiture of dairy cows to the
beef trade.
Climate change and bushfires In the past decade, southern Australia has experienced a surge in sweltering
summers, coupled with low rainfall leading to a longer and more devastating
bushfire season. Scientists have stated that the increased regularity and intensity of these conditions is a direct cause of
climate change, including increasing temperatures. The region is experiencing an increase in yearly fire days, decreased annual rainfall, increases in mean sea level pressure, and
tropical cyclones.
2019-2020 summer bushfires Whilst
climate change is not the sole contributor to Australia's devastating fire experience, since the 1950s, it has caused an increase in their occurrence and intensity. Such effects have been seen in the
2019-2020 bushfires which ravished mainly
NSW and
Victoria but additionally
South Australia and Southern
Western Australia. 2019 was the driest and hottest year on record, with the annual average temperature increase measuring at 1.52°C.
Australia covers 134 million hectares and as at 18 February 2020, more than 19 million hectares of land was burned. 33 people died, including the death of 3 US firefighters whose Air Tanker crashed whilst battling a bushfire in NSW. Approximately 48% of
South Australia's
Kangaroo Island land was burned.
WWF commissioned scientists estimate that nearly three billion animals were killed or displaced by the 2019-2020 fires, not including
insects. Across
NSW, up to 81% of Koala land was burned, and a parliamentary inquiry found that without urgent government intervention and protection, the koala will become extinct in NSW by 2050. Not only do bushfires destroy Australian
flora and
fauna, the
NSW independent commission into the 2019-2020 "
black summer" bushfires found that over 400 Australians died prematurely as a result of smoke inhalation. Evidence has shown that sustained poor air quality increases the risk of
respiratory illnesses, some
cancers, and
heart disease.
Indigenous Australians are more susceptible to the health detriments of bushfire smoke due to the demographic prevalence of chronic health conditions. The report implicated the role of
climate change and outlined the imperative necessity to address climate change as the proponent for increased bushfire risk."
Countries that clearly have so much to lose from bushfires and other climate change damage and so much to gain from a more rapid transition to a renewable energy economy – must do more. Countries like Australia, and within them leading states like NSW" – Gwen and David Jagger.Temporary bushfire relief is expected over the 2020-2021 summer season as the region enters into a
La Ninã climate pattern.
Other major bushfires Other major bushfires within the southern region include 2009’s Victorian
Black Saturday where over 2,000 homes were destroyed, and 173 people died. Additionally, 2003’s Victorian and Canberran Alpine bushfires claimed the lives of 10,000 livestock animals and 1.2 million hectares of land. == British nuclear testing ==