It’s been a big week for climate denial in Australia. As almost all of our eastern coast burns, we’ve heard our fearless leaders blame a lack of hazard reduction, “woke capital-city greenies ravings”, and even the entire Bureau of Meteorology. Basically anything but climate change.
So while our side of the world burns, what’s happening elsewhere?
Major flooding, that’s what.
Over in Venice, the second highest tide they’ve ever been hit with has flooded out almost all of the historic city.
The highest peak of the flood was 187cm above ground, narrowly missing the record of 194cms set in 1966. St. Mark’s Square, the main public square of Venice, has been hit hardest because of how low it sits compared to the rest of the city.
The floods aren’t over yet, but stories are already coming through of people having to climb out of boats and through hotel windows to escape, and a 78 year old man is reported to have been killed by an electric shock after his home flooded.
The Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has said that “The situation is dramatic, we ask the government to help us. The cost will be high. This is the result of climate change.” He also described the flooding as “a wound that will leave a permanent mark.”
I must admit, hearing a politician say in no uncertain terms that a disaster like this is the result of climate change is a strange contrast after hearing almost all of our politicians do everything they can to wiggle away from the question.
The fires back home aren’t done yet, and the worst may be yet to come as we move into summer. I feel like I’m shouting into the void sometimes, but I’ll keep saying it until something is done. Climate change is ravaging the entire globe, and our politicians need to step tf up and do something about it.