New Climate Council report on bushfires and climate change in Australia

2013 has been a year of record-breaking temperatures, below-average rainfall in many areas, and unfortunately, a severe start to the fire season in the Blue Mountains.

The Climate Council has just released a landmark report on the links between climate change and bushfires - to answer many of the questions now being asked increasingly frequently in the community.

In summary, the top six findings of the report's authors are:

• Climate change is already increasing the risk of bushfires.
• In southeast Australia the fire season is becoming longer, reducing the opportunities for hazard reduction burning.
• Recent severe fires have been influenced by record hot, dry conditions.
• In the future, Australia is very likely to experience an increased number of days with extreme fire danger.
• It is crucial that communities, emergency services, health services and other authorities prepare for the increasing severity and frequency of extreme fire conditions.
• This is the critical decade for action.

You can read more and share the report HERE.