How extreme weather in Europe and North America is signalling a new era of fire danger for Australia
Australian authorities are bracing for an intense fire season as extreme heatwaves and wildfires ravage Europe and North America. Experts warn that global warming is creating a new era of catastrophic fire conditions that are increasingly difficult to contain.
Why it matters
Highlights the global interconnectedness of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events impacting public safety.
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Share A A A Fires raging across Europe and North America and the rapidly developing El Nino in the Pacific have Australian bushfire authorities looking to the coming fire season in this country – and the one after that – with increasing dread.
Western Europe is facing its fourth heatwave since May, with June being its hottest month in recorded history. The first half of 2026 was the third-hottest in the region’s history, following the same periods in 2025 and 2024, with global warming caused by the global failure to arrest carbon emissions accelerating.
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