Unleashing Hell

Climate change is dramatically increasing the risk of catastrophic bushfires. The Unleashing Hell series was inspired from a quote by Australian climatologist Neville Nicholls stating that because of inaction on reducing carbon emissions, climatic changes will disastrously increase the prevalence and impact of bushfires such that ‘we are unleashing hell upon Australia’. References to electricity and energy consumption throughout this series aim to highlight the role of coal-fired power stations as the single largest contributor of carbon emissions in Australia. The remote control is used to highlight our reliance on air-conditioning, a result of inappropriate house design. The Fire Danger Rating applies ‘catastrophic’ for conditions at 100 or higher on the scale, while some of our most deadly fires have exceeded 180. If melting ice caps and rising sea levels do not drive action on climate change, it may be the increased prevalence of bushfires that ignites our actions.