Climate Change and Disaster Risk with Dr Will Howard, Part 2 | Ep064 Frontlines & Faultlines

In Part 2 of this Frontlines & Faultlines conversation, Dr Mike Kelly continues his discussion with Dr Will Howard on climate change, disaster risk and Australia’s long-term resilience. Viewers are encouraged to watch Part 1 first, where Dr Howard explains the underlying science of climate change, the greenhouse effect, oceans, rainfall shifts and the long-term systems already shaping Australia’s risk environment. With that scientific foundation established, Part 2 turns to the practical question of disaster impacts. Dr Howard explains that climate change does not create disaster risk in isolation. Disasters emerge from the interaction between hazards, exposure and vulnerability: the physical event itself, the people and infrastructure in its path, and the capacity of those systems to withstand the impact. This framework is critical for understanding how climate change is affecting heatwaves, floods, tropical cyclones, storm surge and bushfire conditions across Australia. The conversation explores how a warmer baseline can intensify heatwaves, how rising sea levels lower the threshold for coastal inundation, and how warmer air can hold more moisture, contributing to heavier rainfall events. Dr Howard also explains why attribution is complex. Australia has always experienced bushfires, floods and storms, but climate change can modify the conditions in which those events occur, making planning, infrastructure and adaptation more urgent. Dr Kelly and Dr Howard also examine the growing challenge of bushfire seasons, disaster preparedness, infrastructure resilience, emergency warning systems and the need to plan for future conditions rather than relying only on historical climate patterns. The discussion then turns to emissions reduction, adaptation, carbon sequestration, biofuels, engineered carbon removal and the question of whether humanity can still respond effectively. At its core, Part 2 is about moving from scientific understanding to national preparedness. Climate change is not only an environmental issue. It is a disaster risk, infrastructure, health, economic and policy challenge. Australia’s task is to reduce emissions, strengthen adaptation, protect communities and build systems capable of withstanding a changing climate. Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast @Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 Guest LinkedIn: Will Howard #FrontlinesandFaultlines #DrMikeKelly #ClimateChange #DisasterRisk #ClimateScience #NationalResilience #EmergencyManagement #Bushfires #Australia