Impakter
  • FINANCE
    • ESG News
    • Sustainable Finance
    • Business
  • TECH
    • Start-up
    • AI & Machine Learning
    • Green Tech
  • Environment
    • Biodiversity
    • Climate Change
    • Circular Economy
    • Energy
  • Industry News
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Food and Agriculture
    • Health
    • Politics & Foreign Affairs
    • Philanthropy
    • Science
    • Sport
  • Editorial Series
    • SDGs Series
    • Shape Your Future
    • Sustainable Cities
      • Copenhagen
      • San Francisco
      • Seattle
      • Sydney
  • About us
    • Company
    • Team
    • Global Leaders
    • Partners
    • Write for Impakter
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • FINANCE
    • ESG News
    • Sustainable Finance
    • Business
  • TECH
    • Start-up
    • AI & Machine Learning
    • Green Tech
  • Environment
    • Biodiversity
    • Climate Change
    • Circular Economy
    • Energy
  • Industry News
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Food and Agriculture
    • Health
    • Politics & Foreign Affairs
    • Philanthropy
    • Science
    • Sport
  • Editorial Series
    • SDGs Series
    • Shape Your Future
    • Sustainable Cities
      • Copenhagen
      • San Francisco
      • Seattle
      • Sydney
  • About us
    • Company
    • Team
    • Global Leaders
    • Partners
    • Write for Impakter
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Impakter
No Result
View All Result
Home Editors' Picks

Australian Bushfires Continue to Wreak Havoc

byAman Grewal
January 13, 2020
in Editors' Picks, Environment, Health
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Hundreds of wildfires have been raging across Australia for more than two months, destroying 7.4 million acres of land and hundreds of homes. While Australia typically experiences bushfires every year, this year’s fires began burning earlier in the season and with greater intensity than usual. Exceptionally dry conditions and extreme heat are fuelling the fires. Scientists agree that climate change is creating these extreme conditions and contributing significantly to the devastation of the fires. 

In the Photo: Bushfire in Australia. Photo Credit: Thomas Schoch

Smoke from the fires is creating hazardous conditions in Sydney where air quality is 11 times over the maximum hazardous threshold and temperatures have reached a sweltering 49.9˚C.

Sydney — Australia’s largest city — has been filled with toxic smoke from the numerous fires burning across southeastern Australia. Smoke from the fires is creating hazardous conditions in Sydney where air quality is 11 times over the maximum hazardous threshold and temperatures have reached a sweltering 49.9˚C. Sydney hospitals have seen a dramatic increase in emergency room visits for patients experiencing heat exhaustion and respiratory issues. Physicians have declared that the city is facing a public health emergency as a result of the bushfires. 

Children, elderly people, and those with chronic disease are especially vulnerable to the potentially deadly consequences of exposure to extreme heat and toxic smoke. As previously reported, health consequences of exposure to air pollution may be even more devastating than once understood. Short-term health risks associated with air pollution include increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and asthma attacks while long-term risks include respiratory issues, lung disease and stunted growth. For children, long-term exposure to air pollution has been compared to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day and can cause developmental issues among other health concerns. 

In the Photo: Satellite images of dust and pollution over Australia. Photo Credit: NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory

As this year’s blazes are burning with a greater intensity than has been seen in the past, typical methods employed by firefighters are no longer effective. Scientists warn that this year’s fires may become the new normal as climate change continues to wreak havoc with little government action to combat it. Instead of addressing the public’s concerns the Australian government has mitigated climate change’s role in the fires, citing that the majority of the fires have been set by arsonists. 


Related Articles: New Delhi Air Pollution Emergency: 10 Times the Safe Limit | Air Pollution: UK in a National Crisis Mode

These fires are continuing to draw global attention, spurring conversations on the subject of climate change as scientists agree that the increased intensity and duration of the fires are due to global warming. Citizens, scientists, and healthcare professionals are calling upon the Australian government to act as the country continues to suffer from the negative effects resulting from the fires. The government continues to be criticized as Australia remains one of the largest producers of coal in the world while the coal industry has been identified as a significant contributor to climate change.


Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com  — In the Featured Photo: Out of control bushfire in South West Sydney — Featured Photo Credit: Helitak430
Tags: Air pollutionaustraliaBushfiresClimate ChangeClimate Crisispublic health
Previous Post

We are losing the climate war. Can we fight back in 2020?

Next Post

Companies Must “Zoom Out” For a Sustainable Planet

Aman Grewal

Aman Grewal

Aman is born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She is a graduate from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Kinesiology with a focus on environmental science and international development. Aman is passionate about making a positive difference in mitigating the human impact on the environment. In addition, Aman is keenly interested in public health, animal agriculture, and food security. Aman leads an active lifestyle and enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family and dog.

Related Posts

fashion Sustainability
Business

Fashion Giants and Sustainability: 5 Brands Reshaping the Industry

June 13, 2025
g7
Climate Change

The G7 at a Crossroads

June 12, 2025
How advanced filtration could save our drinking water from forever chemicals
Education

How advanced filtration could save our drinking water from forever chemicals

June 10, 2025
Next Post
Companies Must “Zoom Out” For a Sustainable Planet

Companies Must “Zoom Out” For a Sustainable Planet

Recent News

fashion Sustainability

Fashion Giants and Sustainability: 5 Brands Reshaping the Industry

June 13, 2025
ESG news regarding rise in oil prices and fall of stock market after Israel strikes Iran, 241 billion euros to be spent on nuclear projects in the EU, first fishery solar project in Taiwan, fashion industry greenwashing

Gold and Oil Up, Stocks Down After Israel Strikes Iran

June 13, 2025
BlackRock on Trial: The Antitrust Showdown That Could Redefine ESG Investing

BlackRock on Trial: The Antitrust Showdown That Could Redefine ESG Investing

June 13, 2025

Impakter informs you through the ESG news site and empowers your business CSRD compliance and ESG compliance with its Klimado SaaS ESG assessment tool marketplace that can be found on: www.klimado.com

Registered Office Address

Klimado GmbH
Niddastrasse 63,

60329, Frankfurt am Main, Germany


IMPAKTER is a Klimado GmbH website

Impakter is a publication that is identified by the following International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is the following 2515-9569 (Printed) and 2515-9577 (online – Website).


Office Hours - Monday to Friday

9.30am - 5.00pm CEST


Email

stories [at] impakter.com

By Audience

  • TECH
    • Start-up
    • AI & MACHINE LEARNING
    • Green Tech
  • ENVIRONMENT
    • Biodiversity
    • Energy
    • Circular Economy
    • Climate Change
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Food and Agriculture
    • Health
    • Politics & Foreign Affairs
    • Philanthropy
    • Science
    • Sport
    • Editorial Series

ESG/Finance Daily

  • ESG News
  • Sustainable Finance
  • Business

Klimado Platform

  • Klimado ESG Tool
  • Impakter News

About Us

  • Team
  • Global Leaders
  • Partners
  • Write for Impakter
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2025 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • FINANCE
    • ESG News
    • Sustainable Finance
    • Business
  • TECH
    • Start-up
    • AI & Machine Learning
    • Green Tech
  • Environment
    • Biodiversity
    • Climate Change
    • Circular Economy
    • Energy
  • Industry News
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Food and Agriculture
    • Health
    • Politics & Foreign Affairs
    • Philanthropy
    • Science
    • Sport
  • Editorial Series
    • SDGs Series
    • Shape Your Future
    • Sustainable Cities
      • Copenhagen
      • San Francisco
      • Seattle
      • Sydney
  • About us
    • Company
    • Team
    • Global Leaders
    • Partners
    • Write for Impakter
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy

© 2024 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.