Michael Warren

Journalist

Recent heavy rainfall across the Far North has delivered a timely reminder about the ongoing impact of an unwanted natural phenomenon.

In recent months the Far North has experienced record rainfall while those down south have battled terrible floods.

An expert in the field claims there’s a clear factor behind this month’s unpredictable and harsh weather patterns.

“With climate change increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather disasters there is greater chance of these devastating events happening in rapid succession with little time for communities to recover,” concerned climate council head of research Dr Simon Bradshaw said.

“All of our weather here in Australia is happening in the context of climate change in an atmosphere made warmer, wetter and more energetic through the burning of coal, oil and gas.

“Queensland is the nation’s most vulnerable state when it comes to extreme weather.

“Any government that is serious about protecting Australian communities from worsening disasters must ensure that Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions plummet this decade.”

A former frontline worker believes more needs to be done to tackle the worrying issue.
“Emergency services are being hammered by the increasing frequency and severity of these events,” ex Commissioner Queensland Fire & Emergency Services and member of Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) Lee Johnson explained.

“After the horrific Black Summer, and now the two catastrophic flooding events so far this year, the lack of Government initiative towards disaster preparedness and reducing emissions has reached an absolutely unacceptable point.

“It is only through the swift and deep reduction of emissions, along with putting communities first, that we can avoid the worst effects of climate change.

“We’ve sadly seen more loss of life, homes destroyed and businesses wrecked, and yet the Morrison Government has no actual plan to drastically reduce emissions and conduct a national risk assessment of what climate change means for Australians.”

Locally, another leader in the field reiterated Mr Bradshaw’s sentiments.

“What we have seen in more recent times is a big change in the way weather patterns work in Far North Queensland,” director of Cairns and Far North environment centre Lucy Graham told Newsport.“Where typically we’d see regular rainfall scattered throughout our wet season, we are now seeing less frequent rain during this period (from November – March).

“Instead, more intense weather (rainfall) events, like what we’ve just had in the Far North, over the past few weeks is becoming more common.”