b"SURFACE WATER Australia has beeNMean Temperature Deciles geTTiNg warmer JaNuary 1sT - December 31 2019Annual mean temperature above or below average (C) Highest on 1.5 RecordVery Much 1 10 Above Average0.5 89 Above Average0 47 Average-0.5 2019 was hottest23 Below Averageon record1 Very Much-1 Below Average 1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 Lowest on RecordNote: Average is calculated from 1961-1990 dataSource: BBC.com Source: Born.gov.auFeeling the HeatGovernment Action It's no coincidence the fires occurred at the same timeThere are numerous other contributors to climate many parts of Australia were in drought conditions,change besides fires in the Amazon, so it is not fair and when an extreme heatwave gripped the nation. to pin all the blame of Australias wildfires on Brazils Australias six hottest days ever were recorded inpolicies. All countries, including Australia, contribute December 2019, while average rainfall across theto climate change. Weak environmental policies are country was at a record low. 9also not isolated to Brazil. This severe weather occurred throughout all of 2019,Environmentalists have criticized Australian Prime as Australia's area-averaged mean temperature wasMinister Scott Morrison for his governments stance 1.52C above the 19611990 average, breaking theon climate change. Australia is not on track to meet previous record of +1.33C set in 2013. 10 its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, and the country had the lowest climate policy rating in the To make matters worse, 2019 was also the driest2020 Climate Change Performance Index. 12 year on record, with only 277.66 mm of precipitation (nationally-averaged), well below the previous recordCountries such as Sweden and Denmark have been of 314.5 mm set in 1902. 10successful in enacting strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and increase their use of The record-breaking heat in 2019 continued a trend renewable energy.Australia is getting hotter. All the years since 2013 have been amongst the ten warmest on record forHowever, even if there are countries doing everything Australia. Only one of the top ten warmest yearsthey can to reduce their impact on the environment, (1998) occurred before 2005. 10 it may not be enough to halt the impacts of climate change. We need every country on board.Were Arsonists to Blame? Australias intense fire season was a product of exceptionally dry and hot conditions, but what started most of the fires? While some may claim arsonists were to blame, government officials point to dry lightning storms as the initial cause of the vast majority of fires. In NSW, it was estimated that only 1% of the land burnt was tied to arson. 11Whos Minding the Planet? 9"