The Limits of Livability

This briefing from the Global Climate and Health Alliance examines the public health threats posed by bushfire smoke in Australia, specifically focusing on the 2019-20 'Black Summer' fires. It highlights the gap between emergency fire response and the lack of preparation for prolonged smoke exposure, while advocating for the integration of Indigenous fire management and a transition away from fossil fuel subsidies to mitigate future climate-driven wildfire risks.

• The 2019-20 'Black Summer' bushfires in Australia were the worst wildfire season in recorded history, resulting in 33 deaths, the destruction of over 3,000 homes, and the killing or displacement of an estimated three billion animals.
• Approximately 80% of the Australian population was affected by poor air quality during the 2019-20 fires. This exposure is estimated to have caused 429 premature deaths, 3,320 hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and 1,523 emergency department presentations for asthma, totaling AU$1.95 billion (US $1.51 billion) in health costs.
• Air pollution levels during the 2019-20 fires reached extreme levels in major cities. In Canberra, maximum PM2.5 levels reached 2,496 µg/m3 during the week of January 5-11, 2020, which coincided with a 73% increase in prescriptions for shortness-of-breath inhalers.
• Government responses to wildfires have historically focused on immediate emergency fire response, neglecting the short- and long-term health impacts of smoke. Globally, smoke from landscape fires is estimated to cause 339,000 premature deaths annually, yet it receives relatively little focus.
• The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Management Arrangements recommended several improvements for smoke management, including the development of real-time, nationally consistent air quality information and the creation of 'Smoke Plans' to identify clean air shelters (such as libraries or schools) equipped with HEPA filters.
• Indigenous 'cultural burns' are described as a preventative land management approach using low-intensity 'cool burns' that move at walking pace. Unlike hazard reduction burns or wildfires, these do not damage soil microflora and fauna or dry out the land.
• To reduce national vulnerability to climate-fuelled disasters, the document suggests ending public subsidies for new coal, gas, and oil exploration and establishing a national climate disaster fund funded by a fossil fuel producer levy.

APA

MacGuire, F., & Sergeeva, M. (2021). The Limits of Livability. Global Climate and Health Alliance. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/016062021_GCHA_bushfire_report_australia.pdf

Chicago

MacGuire, Frances, and Milena Sergeeva. The Limits of Livability. Global Climate and Health Alliance, 2021. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/016062021_GCHA_bushfire_report_australia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=MacGuire |first1=Frances |last2=Sergeeva |first2=Milena |title=The Limits of Livability |publisher=Global Climate and Health Alliance |date=2021 |url=https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/016062021_GCHA_bushfire_report_australia.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{macguire2021limits, author = {MacGuire, Frances and Sergeeva, Milena}, title = {{The Limits of Livability}}, institution = {Global Climate and Health Alliance}, year = {2021}, url = {https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/016062021_GCHA_bushfire_report_australia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }