Wildfires Are on the Rise 🔥🚨
Global wildfires have become bigger, hotter, and more frequent thanks to climate change. A recent Australian-led study at the University of Tasmania analyzed 44 years of disaster data and found that 43% of the worst fire events have happened in just the last decade! 😱
Feeling that smoky haze in Delhi mornings or the smog rolling over Jakarta during dry spells? It’s all tied to these bigger trends. 🌫️
Skyrocketing Costs & Fatalities 💸
Economic losses are soaring – disasters now cost over four times more than they did in 1980. Fatal fires (10+ deaths) have tripled, and 2018 alone piled up $28.3 billion in damage, five times the 44-year average. 😬
Hotspots and Extreme Conditions 🌍
Mediterranean-style forests (think southern Europe, California, southern Australia and Chile) and temperate conifer forests in western North America are feeling the heat hardest. Half of all catastrophic wildfires struck under record-breaking fire weather, with:
- Severe fire weather 2× more common
- Atmospheric dryness up 2.4×
- Severe droughts up 3.4×
Moving from Panic to Plan 💡
The study urges urgent action: blend Indigenous fire management techniques (like cultural burning) with modern tactics such as fuel reduction, stronger building codes, and smart evacuation planning. 🌱🚒
For young changemakers across South and Southeast Asia, it’s a wake-up call – climate action isn’t optional. From supporting local fire-safe communities to pushing for green policies, every step counts. Let’s keep our planet and our future safe! ✊💚
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
