Is Australia Burning?

No, the entire continent of Australia is not on fire, but enough of it is on fire to make it an unprecedented disaster.

Five hundred million animals - which represent the most unique species on the planet - have been killed,  with 19,297 square miles - an area almost twice almost the size of Maryland - already consumed by fire.  At least two dozen people have been killed, which seems low compared to all that has already been destroyed, but it could still get much worse for everyone.

The Australian government has been attempting to react to the crisis in a responsible manner, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison has appeared to seem uncaring and callous in response to the fires, thanks in part to having been vacationing in Hawaii at the time the worst of the blazes started and having appeared to be in no hurry to get home to handle the crisis. Also, the government's attitude toward climate change - which is clearly the cause of these fires -  has been almost as nonchalant as the U.S. government's attitude toward the issue.  It turns out that Australian fossil-fuel interests have been just as influential over policy set in Canberra as their American counterparts have been over policy set in Washington.  Early efforts to address the problem included a carbon tax, which seemed to be working in  lessening emissions, but the Morrison government has had it repealed.   Morrison and others have dismissed the idea that climate change is responsible for the wildfires, explaining that Australia has always had wildfires at this time of year, their summer.  Yes - but not like this!

Alas, Canberra doesn't seem to be prepared to take climate change any more seriously than Washington does.  Greta Thunberg has her work cut out for her. :-(  But if one event changes the global discussion about climate change - even in Congress and, dare  I say it, the White House - this may be it.