14/02/2006 - A new study
funded by the Australian Government and
some State and Territory governments will
provide important new information to help
communities across south-east Australia
prepare for possible increased bushfire
risk which may follow from climate change
in coming decades.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, today released the
report Climate change impacts on fire weather
in south-east Australia, produced for the
governments by the CSIRO and the Bureau
of Meteorology.
"Bushfire is a natural and devastating
part of the Australian summer landscape,
with communities across our country regularly
struggling with the loss of lives, loss
of property and huge financial costs of
bushfires," Senator Campbell said.
"Victoria's devastating fires of 1983,
for example, cost the community $138 million
while the 2003 Canberra bushfires cost $342
million. The human impact of such disasters
simply cannot be calculated.
"The south-east region of Australia
is particularly vulnerable to bushfire -
along with southern California and southern
France it is identified as one of the three
most fire-prone areas in the world. It is
therefore critical that we prepare for the
potentional of increased fire risk associated
with the hotter and drier years we may experience
in the future."
The report found that should the average
summer temperature increase, there will
also be an increase in the frequency of
very high and extreme fire danger days,
especially in inland areas. At most places
an increase in fire danger in spring, summer
and autumn is also likely, which will move
the periods suitable for prescribed burning
towards winter.
"I am pleased that the Victorian, New
South Wales and Tasmanian Governments have
joined with the Australian Government to
begin the early planning needed to identify
and prepare for the potential of increased
fire risks associated with changes in rainfall
patterns, temperature, relative humidity
and windspeed," Senator Campbell said.
"This report is an important first
step in better informing governments, fire
management agencies and researchers about
those risks."
Funding was provided by the Australian Government's
Greenhouse Office, the New South Wales Greenhouse
Office, the Victorian Department of Sustainability
and Environment, the Tasmanian Department
of Primary Industries, Water and Environment
and the ACT Rural Fire Service.
The Australian Government provided funding
through its $1.9 billion climate change
strategy which aims to enhance scientific
understanding of climate change, build an
effective global response to climate change,
reduce national greenhouse gas emissions,
and prepare governments and communities
for the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
The report is available at www.greenhouse.gov.au
