- The Guardian
- Issue #2130
The inferno that has ravaged large spans of urban areas in Los Angeles, destroying thousands of homes and businesses, and taking with it more than 20 lives at the latest count, has shaken the world. Wild fires were once seen as largely confined to bushland and regional areas with the occasional encroachment on a city as was experienced by Canberra in the 2003 fires. Are we prepared for such an event in our cities? Are we prepared for climate change? When are governments going to take climate change seriously? Big questions at the heart of which lie the future of humanity.
The average warming of the earth in 2024 was 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the limit 1.5°C set by scientists by a large margin. Emissions continue to increase and are on a trajectory to reach a warming of 4°C as early as the 2060s. At present, country commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are not being honoured. Instead US President Trump has promised to press the accelerator on gas and oil production. In Australia, Labor has continued to expand fossil fuel production and a Dutton government would be even more dangerous as it hallucinates over nuclear power.
There are many factors contributing to the fires in LA and more may be identified when a full analysis carried out. Fire fighters were not adequately equipped to deal with the fires. Fire hydrants ran dry, private agri-business has control over much of California’s water (see page 14). Funding to firefighting services had been cut. The geography of the area along with strong winds helped spread and increase the intensity of the fires. Climate change hit LA with vengeance and is a taste of the new ‘normal.’ The rich with their own private firefighters were not spared.
Politics also made a major contribution to the uncontained spread of the inferno. For example, the sale of up to 10 of Russia’s powerful world-class Beriev Be-200 waterbombers to be used by an emergency services operator in California did not go ahead.
Those wishing to rebuild will need to deal with the large masses of toxic foam sprayed onto their properties. Farmers face land that is no longer suitable for crops because of the seawater used to put out fires.
The anarchic and corrupt nature of the capitalist system is a major factor. Cities are not planned with a view to addressing climate change or preventing fires, let alone being prepared for them. Science-based planning is required; it should not be left to corrupt developers and their crony politicians. We must recognise the knowledge of Indigenous communities and listen and work with them in bush-fire protection. They have lived in harmony with nature, as part of nature, for tens of thousands of years.
Instead of serious discussion about climate change and what should be done to prevent or limit future catastrophes, the media sensationalises and exploits the fires and the suffering of those caught in their path. There is little or no mention of the role of climate change, let alone its causes or what action should be taken.
The devastating droughts, the fires, the storms, the cyclones are set to worsen. The massive floods in Spain and Asia, the drought and famine in Africa, and the most recent storms and floods along the east coast of Australia are just a taste of what lies ahead. Governments are not prepared. They are not willing to take responsibility. Three years on from the devastating Lismore floods, many victims are still not rehoused nor adequately compensated. Some are still left high and dry with worthless properties.
Such fires could happen here. It cannot be left to business as usual, to corrupt governments and developers. We must pressure governments to act NOW. Fossil fuel production must be nationalised and wound back NOW. Those impacted must be compensated IMMEDIATELY. Science-based adaptation and mitigation measures must be taken NOW.
