Fed: Bushfires to burn up climate efforts
29 Jan 2009 1:45 PM
Researchers say Australia's sitting on a time bomb when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions .. with bushfires able to release as much carbon pollution as the whole of industry combined.
Bushfires aren't officially counted towards Australia's emissions .. but researchers say they will be in the future and that could cost billions.
The Bushfire Co-operative Research Centre says the problem will snowball because climate change will cause more bushfires .. releasing more carbon pollution .. and worsening climate change.
Centre researcher MARK ADAMS says a bad fire could release 30 million tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere.
Professor ADAMS says authorities should actively manage forests into the future to minimise the threat of bushfires .. using burn-offs to reduce fuel loads and fire intensity.
