Climate change isn’t a distant threat—it’s here, and Australia is feeling the heat, writes Ben Laycock.
The intense winds from Western Australia have brought extreme temperatures to Victoria, leading to devastating bushfires. Once a rare occurrence, such fires are becoming more frequent. Over the last century, Victoria has seen only a handful of major bushfires: the ’39 fires, the ’69 fires, Ash Wednesday in 1983, Black Saturday in 2009, and Black Summer in 2019. If current trends continue, we may soon need to expand that list significantly.
For thousands of years, Indigenous Australians managed the land wisely. They used controlled burns in cooler months to lessen wildfire risks in the summer. Today, we often overlook such traditional practices, distracted by modern life and technology.
Since the Industrial Revolution, extreme weather events like heatwaves have intensified dramatically. In this century alone, we now face the reality of severe heat every five years, a trend expected to shrink to every two years. Recently, Victoria experienced unprecedented heat: a week straight of temperatures over 35 degrees, a milestone since records began. Indigenous peoples didn’t have to deal with such extremes over their long history here.
In 1988, Jim Hansen from NASA warned us about climate change. We knew industrial activity was a problem, but our desire for progress often overshadowed the looming consequences. Now, some communities are already suffering the effects while others remain skeptical or indifferent.
What drives this cycle? Many of us instinctively want to get richer. When progress stalls, we express our dissatisfaction at the polls. We’ll invest in solar panels or electric cars if there’s a clear financial benefit. However, the average income in Australia is around $100,000, placing us in the top 1% globally. This status can foster a disconnect from the real impacts of climate change.
In 2020, the richest 1% of people were responsible for about 16% of greenhouse gas emissions, matching the total emissions of the poorest two-thirds of humanity. This means that while a tiny fraction indulges in high carbon lifestyles, the majority bears the burden. Hypothetically, if everyone lived like the wealthiest, planet Earth wouldn’t stand a chance.
So, who do we hold accountable? It’s easy to point fingers at corporations and political leaders, but often it’s our choices fueling their actions. Much like blaming a dealer while still seeking your next high, we share responsibility for the demand driving climate change.
In summary, the wake-up call is clear. If we want a healthy planet for future generations, we must rethink our priorities and practices. Solutions exist, but they require collective effort and deep reflection on what we truly value. Let’s strive for a future where we nurture both our aspirations and our environment.
Ben Laycock lives in Barkers Creek, Australia, and focuses on issues surrounding climate change.
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EXTREME HEAT, climate change, climate collapse, auspol, heat wave Australia, January heat wave, bushfires Victoria, bushfires Australia, extreme weather event, CO2 emissions, carbon pollution, industrialisation
