Episode 3: It’s Getting Hot in Here

Bushfire season in Australia has ravaged the east coast, with Sydney’s iconic skyline obscured by a constant haze of smoke. It has been a spark in the political tinderbox. While some have argued that emergency response and climate policy should not be conflated, others have rallied, urging us to confront our new normal. Just what does the effects of a changing climate do to our ability to manage bushfire risk, is it really the Greenies fault for blocking hazard reduction burning, and what options for the future are there? Breaking it down today is one of the 24 ex-fire chiefs taking a stand - Neil Bibby, ex CEO of the Country Fire Association. Special appearance from Denis Rose, speaking on how integration of traditional management practices can offer us a different approach.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & KEY QUOTES
‘This is not normal’ Briefing paper by the Climate Council - https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/bushfire-briefing-paper/

Neil Bibby
The problem is a disease. The fires are just a symptom of that problem and the disease ... is climate change".

"The furphy that its the greenies causing the problem is just that".

"if you're going beyond the level where you can safely light a fire it's impossible to keep up with the traditional way of doing fuel reduction burning”.

"you can't build in a flood zone, why can you build in a fire zone".

"I cannot see volunteers lasting much longer on the fire grounds in New South Wales and Queensland... not with the months they've been working there”.

Denis Rose
"I think that people are starting to learn that we can control fire in a different manner than what we've been accustomed to and we certainly need to with the climate predictions being what they are"