(AU) Fossil Fuel Industry Levy Should Pay For Bushfire Impact, Climate Action Group Report Says

ABC News - Philippa McDonald

An report by experts is out today and aims to improve bushfire responses. (AAP: Dan Peled)

Key Points A group of 150 experts and bushfire survivors came together in June and July to discuss improvements to bushfire preparation There are more than 165 recommendations in the Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan report out today One key recommendation is a climate disaster fund financed by a fossil fuel levy

Former emergency leaders, climate scientists, doctors and community members are calling on the Federal Government to impose a levy on the fossil fuel industry for a climate disaster fund to help pay for the impact of natural disasters.

It comes as part of 165 recommendations by the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA), a group of more than 150 experts and affected community members, in a bid to improve bushfire readiness, response and recovery.

It follows the ELCA National Bushfire Summit, which took place in June and July — and it's hoped the findings will be included in the royal commission report, which is due to be handed to the Government next month.

ELCA co-founder and former Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner Greg Mullins told the ABC climate change was behind last summer's catastrophic bushfire season.

Former NSW Fire and Rescue commissioner Greg Mullins is calling for a fossil fuel levy. (ABC News: John Mees)

"The escalation in natural disasters is driven by climate change," he said.

"There should be a levy on the fossil fuel industry, given all their tax breaks.

"We had the hottest, driest year ever — a year that would not have happened without the impact of climate change.

"It drove the worst bushfires in Australia's history — they were bigger, hotter, faster and more destructive [than] what we've ever experienced before."

"The fires were weather driven and the weather was driven by a warming climate," Mr Mullins said.

'Rapidly escalating threat'

The report, the Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan, to be released later today, describes a "new bushfire era where we must fundamentally rethink how we prepare for and manage this growing threat".

"There is no doubt that bushfires in Australia have become more frequent, ferocious and unpredictable," the report states.

Anatomy of a 'mega-blaze'

As the first Black Summer inquiry prepares to report, we reveal the inside story of Australia's biggest bushfire. Read more ›

The coalition of experts includes ELCA members and the Climate Council of Australia, who more than a year ago warned of a catastrophic bushfire season.

"Sadly, those warnings fell on deaf ears and, as the world watched on in horror, those same warnings became a harsh reality."

The ELCA, which includes former emergency services commissioners from all over Australia, has accused the Federal Government of underestimating and ignoring "the rapidly escalating threat of climate change".

"Consequently, our land management, fire and emergency services are under-resourced, disaster recovery is under-resourced and communities are underprepared for the worsening bushfire threat," the report said.

"Communities and ecosystems were already being pushed beyond their ability to adapt."

Luke Wright takes a rest after putting out spot-fires at his brother's home in Oakdale, in Sydney's south-west, in December. (ABC News: Selby Stewart)

The group said its recommendations would cost billions of dollars to implement.

It is calling for greater funding for firefighting and land management to ensure faster identification and dousing of new fires.

Mr Mullins stressed Australia could no longer rely on assistance from overseas aerial firefighting resources due to "overlapping bushfire seasons".

The report identifies a gap in aerial firefighting resources, specifically CL-415s — so-called "Super Scoopers" — that can drop 6,000 litres of water or firefighting foam at a time.

"We need a large number of these," Mr Mullins told the ABC.

Mr Mullins says more aerial firefighting resources are needed. (Reuters: Mike Blake)

The group is also advocating for an Indigenous-led National Cultural Fire Strategy, and greater action to address the health effects of bushfires.

Smoke from the recent bushfires resulted in more than 400 deaths and another 4,000 people being treated in hospital, the ELCA said.

The Federal Minister for Emergency Management has been contacted for comment.


Anatomy of a mega-blaze

Links

• Australia's largest ever bushfire, like you've never seen it before'
• Almost inconceivable': 3 billion animals believed killed or displaced in Australia's summer fires
• Karen and Stacey have never met but bonded for life fighting a 'continuous beast'
• Fund designed to mitigate natural disasters untouched at end of financial year
• (AU) 'Climate Change War' Demands National, Military-Style Response: Ex-Fire Chiefs
• (AU) More Than A Third Of NSW Rainforests Found To Have Been Hit By Australian Bushfires
• (AU) Australian Bushfires: How The Morrison Government Failed To Heed Warnings Of Catastrophe
• (AU) Bushfire Hearings Spotlight Climate Change