(AU NEWS.com.au) Flooding Disaster Firmly Embedded In Climate Change, New Report Warns

NEWS.com.au - Courtney Gould

The flooding catastrophe across NSW and Queensland has been labelled one of the most extreme disasters in Australia’s history.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there can “never be enough support” during a natural disaster of the scale seen across Queensland and New South Wales

A supercharged climate with rain bombs, flash floods and destruction will be Australia’s new normal, a new report warns.

Fresh analysis from the Climate Council of the unfolding flood crisis across NSW and Queensland paints a grim picture of life for some Australian communities.

It ranks the deluge that saw thousands of people across the two states lose their homes as one of the “most extreme disasters in Australia’s history”.

At least 20 people have died since the crisis began.

Climate change, the council said, is “firmly embedded” in the catastrophe.

The clean up continues in Lismore after record rains and flooding hit the northern NSW town. Picture: Toby Zerna

FIt’s a sentiment the Prime Minister on Wednesday shared on a visit to flood devastated Lismore.

“I think it is just an obvious fact (that) Australia is getting harder to live in because of these disasters,” Scott Morrison said.

Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie said despite the contrition, Mr Morrison failed to address the issue at the heart of the disaster.

“Australians are paying a high price for the lack of meaningful national action to tackle climate change and our elected leaders must be held accountable,” she said. “Australians want and deserve better than this.”

It comes as Mr Morrison declared the floods across NSW a national emergency, the first time the power has been used since its inception following the 2019-20 summer bushfires.

The Wilsons River recorded a height of 14.3m, with the Lismore CBD and surrounding area the hardest hit. Picture: Toby Zerna

The report also warned communities – and emergency services – recovery time between extreme weather events is rapidly shrinking.

For Queenslanders, the bill for extreme weather events between 2010 and 2019 were more than double any other state, costing $18 billion.

Climate councillor and economist Nicki Hutley said the scars of the disaster will have “economy wide impacts” for years to come.

“With governments now talking of extending the cyclone insurance pool to cover flood and fire for these households, the costs to all Australians is rapidly growing,” she said.

Links - Climate Council 

• A Supercharged Climate: Rain Bombs, Flash Flooding and Destruction
• The Facts More rain in three days than entire year in London: New Climate Council report shows disaster off the charts Media Releases 10 March 22
• Climate Impacts Morrison must acknowledge climate change in flood disaster: Climate Council 
• Australia Steamy and stormy: climate change and summer 2021-22
• Climate Politics COP26: Running Blog
• Coastal Flooding Yes, Australia is a land of flooding rains. But climate change could be making it worse
• The Facts Explainer: What is the COP25 Climate Summit?
• The Facts No more ‘business as usual’ for Australia as climate change hits economy for $8bn