Since the start of the school year in September, Australia has been ravaged by wildfires. Even after several months, a cooler climate, and a herculean effort by Australian firefighters, approximately 60 fires are still burning in parts of Australia such as New South Wales and Victoria. 

Australia is no stranger to forest fires. Every year, typically at the start of summer, there is a fire season where a hot, dry climate makes it very easy for fires to start. Fires are often started by natural causes such as lightning strikes on drought-affected forests; however, the intensity and duration of this season’s wildfires are simply unprecedented, and some experts point to the influence of global warming.

Australia is in the midst of a particularly extreme heat-wave, which broke the country’s record for both the hottest day and year in history. On December 17th, 2019, the average temperature across the country was 40.9°C, smashing the 40.3°C record set in 2013. This record would last only a day, as on December 18th, 2019, the average temperature across the country rose to 41.9°C. The record-breaking levels of heat, paired with strong winds and a shortage of rainfall, created very dry environments where fires are easier to start, harder to put out, and more likely to spread; thus, while these fires may be caused by regular and natural climate patterns, global warming has certainly amplified the intensity of these flames—to devastating effects.

As of January 29th, 2020, these fires have killed 34 people, destroyed more than 2000 homes, and burned an estimated 18 million hectares of land. The impact on Australia’s wildlife is also devastating: An estimated 1 billion animals have been killed, and millions of hectares of diverse habitats have been destroyed, hindering conservation efforts by decades. This level of destruction may push several species to extinction, especially the already endangered species such as the long-footed potoroo. Even if a sizable amount of the endangered members do survive the fires, a significant amount of their habitat will have been ruined.

The smoke produced by the continual fires also pose a serious health risk. Breathing in the smoke-polluted air is linked to a number of health complications, ranging from mild lung irritation to cardiac arrest and hospitalization. These effects can also be felt on an international level, albeit on a smaller scale compared to Australia, as the smoke is projected to travel around the world. Regardless, it’s a reminder of the shared stake that we all share in resolving climate catastrophes and maintaining the health of the planet, especially since emissions produced by our own country have likely contributed to the conditions in Australia.

The Australian Wildfires are a real-world example of the devastating consequences of global warming. What was originally regular and natural occurrences in Australia’s ecosystems—that is, wildfires—has now been amplified to extreme levels which are simply out of control. The devastation unleashed by these fires serve as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing the environment and cutting down greenhouse emissions, especially as we inch closer to the “point of no return”, where the damage done to the planet may become irreversible.