New South Wales is facing increasingly dangerous bushfire seasons, commencing earlier and lasting longer as a result of intensifying climate change, according to a new Climate Council report.

The ‘ Earlier, More Frequent, More Dangerous: Bushfires in New South Wales’, report shows climate change exacerbated the record breaking heat in winter and early spring, sparking dangerous fire conditions across the state and much of Australia.

“These severe conditions led the Rural Fire Service to declare an early start to the bushfire danger season across a number of regions in New South Wales,” said Climate Councillor and ecologist, Professor Lesley Hughes.

“New South Wales has already experienced many bushfires this season. The bushfire threat has also been exacerbated thanks to unprecedented temperatures in September, with parts of the state reaching more than 40 degrees for the first time on record,” she said.

Professor Hughes said NSW will continue to experience an increasing number of days with dangerous fire weather, placing fire services and medical professionals under increasing pressure.

“Communities, emergency services and the health sector needs to be prepared and resourced for worsening fire danger conditions now and into the future.”

“This spring and summer bushfire conditions are ‘above normal’ so preparation will be critical.”

Key findings include:

• Hot, dry conditions have a major influence on bushfires. The 2017 winter in NSW was one of the warmest on record and extremely dry, and was then followed by unprecedented September heat, including some regions reaching 40°C or more for the first time on record.

• Bushfire costs in NSW are likely to more than double by mid-century to over $100 million per year. These estimates are conservative, because they do not factor in climate change.

• ‘Above normal’ fire potential is expected for much of eastern NSW in the 2017-18 bushfire season, on the back of warm, dry June-September weather.

• Bushfires have a major negative impact on public health, the economy and the environment in NSW.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie warned the escalating fire risk in NSW also posed a significant threat to human health.

“Bushfire smoke can seriously affect human health, from respiratory irritants, through to inflammatory and cancer-causing chemicals. Young children, the elderly and those with chronic lung and heart diseases are at greatest risk,” she said.

McKenzie said the Federal Government’s dumping of the Clean Energy Target in favour of the vague ‘National Energy Guarantee’ plan, places Australia at risk of worsening pollution levels, exacerbating more intense heatwaves and bushfire conditions.

“The Federal Government’s energy plan is a classic example of policy on the run. The key tests of a robust energy and climate policy is – does it get down pollution and facilitate the transition to renewable energy? This policy does neither,” she said.

“Tackling climate change, through transitioning to clean, affordable and reliable renewable energy and storage technology is the only solution - this is critical to reducing the risk of worsening extreme weather events including bushfires.”

What do you think? Are you worried about the upcoming bushfire season?