Australian bushfires pump out millions of tonnes of carbon Environment guard ian.co.

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Article history A Boeing 737 flies by a massive smoke plume over Kinglake. Photograph: S McEvoy/Newspix/Rex Features The deadly bush fires in Australia have released millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equivalent to more than a third of the country's CO2 emissions for a whole year, according to scientists. The blazes in Victoria have so far claimed more than 180 lives and destroyed more than 750 homes. To make matters worse, the climate costs will also be dire because of the type of forest that burned, according to Mark Adams of the University of Sydney. "Once you burn millions of hectares of eucalypt forest, then you are putting into the atmosphere very large amounts of carbon," he told The Australian newspaper. Australia's total emissions per year are around 330m tonnes of CO2. Adams's previous research has shown that the bush fires in 2003 and 2006-07 had put up to 105m tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere because they burned up land carrying 50 to 80 tonnes of carbon per hectare. This time, however, the forests being destroyed are even more carbon-rich, with more than 100 tonnes of above-ground carbon per hectare. The affected area is more than twice the size of London and takes in more than 20 towns north of Melbourne, so the CO2 emissions from this year's disaster could be far larger than previous fires. "The world's forests are crucial to the long-term future of the planet as they lock away millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide," said Robin Webster, a climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth. "More must be done to protect them deforestation is having a devastating effect and as climate change takes hold, forest fires like those in Australia are likely to become more frequent." The carbon dioxide emissions from forest fires are not counted under the agreements made by countries in the Kyoto Protocol, though it is being considered for inclusion in the successor treaty that will be debated later this year in Copenhagen. The usual reasoning behind it was that, with any fires, new growth of vegetation would take up any extra CO2 that had been released. "That is true to a point, but if the long-term fire regime changes we are now starting to have more fires we may completely change the carbon balance of the forest," said Adam. He added: "All informed scientific opinion suggests that whatever new protocol is signed [at the UN summit] in Copenhagen or elsewhere will include forest carbon, simply because to not do so would be to ignore one of the biggest threats to the global atmospheric pool of carbon dioxide, the release of carbon in fires."Printable version Send to a friend Share Clip Contact us larger smaller Environment Carbon emissions Drought Forests World news Australia Natural disasters and extreme weather More on this story Guy Rundle: The blame game Australia bushfires: Aerial views of devastation Aerial views of the devastation caused by the bushfires in Australia After the fires: Australia counts the cost Tim Flannery: When two degrees is life or death Australia fires death toll may reach 200 Bushfires and global warming: is there a link? More on the Australian bushfires See also 12 Feb 2009 After the bushfires: Australia counts the cost 10 Feb 2009 Australian bushfires: when two degrees is the difference between life and death

8 Feb 2009 Bushfires and global warming: is there a link? 12 Feb 2009 Australia announces day of mourning over bushfires Printable version Send to a friend Share Clip Contact us Article history Ads by Google Free Solar Quotes Melb Home Solar Specials Now On Strictly Limited - Apply Now www.solar3k.com.au/FreeQuote Solar - Free Quote - Melb Solar power, solar hot water & pool heating. Supply & install. www.livingwise.com.au Transfer Funds Overseas International Money Transfers - Two Transfers Fee Free. Great Rates www.OzForex.com.auPeople who read this also read: Australian bushfires: when two degrees is the difference between life and death Mayor Boris Johnson's global warming plan aims to cool London Satellite atlas reveals a changing Africa On Environment Most viewed Zeitgeist Latest Last 24 hours 1. Ozone layer hole over Arctic in sudden expansion 2. Wheel of fortune: sampling a luxury bike mini-break in Cornwall 3. 'Fossil fuels are wonderful', claims US documentary 4. George Osborne reveals his true colours on emissions and they aren't green 5. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 highly commended images in pictures More most viewed Last 24 hours Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 highly commended images in pictures Ozone layer hole over Arctic in sudden expansion Country diary: South Brewham, Somerset The truth about woodburning stoves Wheel of fortune: sampling a luxury bike mini-break in Cornwall More zeitgeist What is Zeitgeist? Zeitgeist is an experiment in showing trending news, topics and articles from the Guardian. Find out more in our blog post.Last 24 hours 1. Country diary: South Brewham, Somerset 2. George Osborne reveals his true colours on emissions and they aren't green 3. EU carbon credits scheme tarnished by alleged murders in Honduras 4. China to tighten air pollution standards 5. 'Fossil fuels are wonderful', claims US documentary All today's stories Bestsellers from the Guardian shop Handheld clothes steamer Steaming is a gentle and very efficient alternative to ironing at home, and also great when you're traveling. From: 29.95 Visit the Guardian reader offers shop See all offers and services from the Guardian Our correspondents on Twitter Follow all the top stories of the day on Twitter with the Guardian's world news team Auto update every minute On Off

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Australia's bushfires: the blame game 22 Sep 2005 Killer heatwave may have fuelled global warming 6 Dec 2002 Fatal bushfires tear into Sydney (24 pictures) Australia hit by deadly bushfires 9 Feb 2009 The worst fires in the country's history have killed more than 130 people and destroyed towns in the state of Victoria More galleriesHot topics Climate change news Climate change facts Green news roundup Green living Renewable heat incentive License/buy our content Privacy policy Terms & conditions Advertising guide Accessibility A-Z index Inside the Guardian blog About us Work for us Join our dating site today 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. EmailClose Recipient's email address Your first name Your surname Add a note (optional) Your IP address will be loggedShareClose Short link for this page: http://gu.com/p/25ac5 Digg reddit Google Bookmarks Twitter del.icio.us StumbleUpon Newsvine livejournal Facebook Mixx it! Contact usClose Contact the Environment editor environment@guardian.co.uk Report errors or inaccuracies: reader@guardian.co.uk Letters for publication should be sent to: letters@guardian.co.uk If you need help using the site: userhelp@guardian.co.uk Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: +44 (0)20 3353 2000 Advertising guide License/buy our content EmailClose Recipient's email address note (optional)

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Your IP address will be loggedShareClose Short link for this page: http://gu.com/p/25ac5 Digg reddit Google Bookmarks Twitter del.icio.us StumbleUpon Newsvine livejournal Facebook Mixx it! Contact usClose Contact the Environment editor environment@guardian.co.uk Report errors or inaccuracies: reader@guardian.co.uk Letters for publication should be sent to: letters@guardian.co.uk If you need help using the site: userhelp@guardian.co.uk Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: +44 (0)20 3353 2000 Advertising guide License/buy our content About this articleClose Australian bushfires pump out millions of tonnes of carbon This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 16.51 GMT on Friday 13 February 2009. It was last modified at 16.52 GMT on Friday 13 February 2009.