By: Adithi Vimalanathan '22
Over the past few months, Australia has been ravaged by an extended bushfire season that has consumed much of its territory. Since September 2019, the fires have grown to destroy 27 million acres. As a result, the Australian population has suffered immensely - 29 people are known to have died and an estimated 2,500 homes have been destroyed. Despite heroic efforts by volunteers, firefighters, and the general public, the fires have still managed to run ablaze.
The wildfires have placed enormous stress on the Australian landscape, radically reshaping the unique wildlife and ecosystem of this region. Entire forests have been destroyed, bringing displacement and death of the flora and fauna. In the state of North Wales, an estimated 800 million animals have been killed, and those that have managed to escape have little chances of survival due to ravished conditions. Many animal populations, such as that of the koala, have nearly been driven to extinction.
Australian fires have much connection to the modern issue of climate change. There has been much debate on whether the fires are a product of (or have been prolonged by) the debilitating conditions of our atmosphere. The fires, in fact, began during a record-breaking heatwave, which was prompted by the recent increase in greenhouse gas emissions and global temperature. Moreover, they were strengthened by a drought which also has roots in the worsening climate. Regardless of this debate, it is certain that the fires have done much to exacerbate the burden of climate change. According to the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, they have released 400 megatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The Australian wildfires fires serve as an unnerving reminder about the dangers of climate change and our increased responsibility to preserve wildlife, ecosystems and our environment as a whole.
Click here to donate to WWF: https://lp.panda.org/bushfire-appeal
Click here to find more ways to make donations and help Australia: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/agents-for-change/how-to-help-the-victims-of-australias-wildfires
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