Climate change is fanning the flames of NZ’s wildfire future. Port Hills is only the beginning

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 05:23:30 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-fanning-the-flames-of-nzs-wildfire-future-port-hills-is-only-the-beginning-224133>

"Last week, wildfire burnt through 650 hectares of forest and scrub in
Christchurch’s Port Hills. This is not the first time the area has faced a
terrifying wildfire event.

The 2017 Port Hills fires burnt through almost 2,000 hectares of land, claiming
one life and 11 homes. It took 66 days before the fires were fully
extinguished.

It is clear New Zealand stands at a pivotal juncture. The country faces an
increasingly severe wildfire climate. And our once relatively “safe” regions
are now under threat.

At all levels of government, New Zealand needs to consider whether our current
investment to combat fires will be enough in the coming decades.

Our research integrating detailed climate simulations with daily observations
reveals a stark forecast: an uptick in both the frequency and intensity of
wildfires, particularly in the inland areas of the South Island.

It is time to consider what this will mean for Fire and Emergency New Zealand
(FENZ), and how a strategic calibration of resources, tactics and technologies
will help New Zealand confront this emerging threat."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***

--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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