Antinuclear

VIDEO and AUDIO Climate Council links NSW bushfires to climate change

 “Of course, the link then to climate change is we now have a hotter climate in general than we had 50 years ago.

“There is more heat in the atmosphere because of the additional greenhouse gases that humans have put into the atmosphere. So that sort of link is really straightforward to make.

VIDEO and AUDIO Climate Council links NSW bushfires to climate change ABC Radio   VIDEO: Professor Will Steffen speaks to the media (ABC News)        AUDIO: Listen to the full story here (The World Today)   The World Today   By Simon Lauder and staff 25 Oct 2013,   As the Federal Government continues to reject claims that recent bushfires are linked with climate change, a report by scientists has stirred the debate further by saying the two are indeed linked.

The Climate Council, which was called the Climate Commission before it was recently de-funded by the Coalition Government, says climate change is increasing the probability of extreme fire weather days and is lengthening the fire season.

When questioned about it this morning, Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said there was “no debate” about the science and he said it was unfortunate that some people have used the New South Wales bushfire situation to make a political point.

Climate scientists say facts must be put on the table

The group of climate scientists, including Professor Will Steffen from the Australian National University, says with a lot of misinformation about, the facts need to be put on the table.

Professor Steffen was part of the Climate Commission, which was set up by the former Labor government to provide scientific information about climate change.

It was dismantled by the Coalition, but its members sought public donations to continue their work and now call themselves the Climate Council.

“Fortunately fire authorities do understand the science and are taking, I think, appropriate action to deal with these increased risks.”

He says the link between bushfires and climate change is straightforward. “Hotter, drier weather increases the risk of fires. It is pretty obvious we don’t have many fires during the winter time; we have a lot more fires during the summertime when the climate is hotter,” he said. To deny and say that nothing is happening and we don’t need to change anything actually would increase risk for people and property. Professor Will Steffen

“Of course, the link then to climate change is we now have a hotter climate in general than we had 50 years ago.

“There is more heat in the atmosphere because of the additional greenhouse gases that humans have put into the atmosphere. So that sort of link is really straightforward to make.”…. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-25/climate-council-links-bushfires-to-climate-change/5046164

October 25, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Audiovisual