Despite the political smokescreen, scientists are in no doubt that global heating has contributed to Australia’s fire emergencyExplainer: what are the underlying causes of Australia's shocking bushfire season? As Australia’s unprecedented bushfire season continues to unfold, competing arguments have been made about the principal causes of the human and environmental tragedy – particularly around the role of climate change. The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has acknowledged that climate change has had an influence on the fires and has defended his government’s climate record. Backbench MP Craig Kelly denied any link between climate change and bushfires in a combative interview on British TV. Australia’s 2019 spring months of September, October and November were the worst on a record going back to 1950 for bushfire risk.

Source: The Guardian January 12, 2020 16:30 UTC