Bushfires could cost Australia $6 billion a year for 30 years
A report estimates bushfires will cost Australia $181.7 billion over 30 years as warming increases their frequency.
Australia faces a new era of bushfires that will cost the economy far more than in the past. Emergency Leaders for Climate Action released modelling showing that over 30 years, bushfires will cost $181.7 billion, an average of $6 billion a year.
A disaster on the scale of the Black Summer bushfires would cost $27.7 billion. Major fires every three to four years could cost $16.1 billion each.
The biggest economic hit comes from harm to human health, followed by lost business output, damaged buildings and destroyed homes. Report co-author Janice Lee said the estimates are conservative and do not include losses to wildlife, ecosystems or cultural heritage.
Investing in fire prevention could cut losses dramatically. Reducing bushfire damage by just 20 per cent could save $39.4 billion and protect 5,600 jobs annually.
- 181.7 billion dollars
- Total cost over 30 years
- 6 billion dollars
- Average cost per year
- 27.7 billion dollars
- Black Summer scale event cost
- 5,600
- Jobs protected by 20 per cent reduction
Why it mattersBushfire costs are rising fast; strategic investment in prevention and preparation now could save tens of billions and protect jobs.
AustraliaDirectly impacts Australian households, insurers, and government budgets; early investment in prevention could protect Australians from escalating summer fire seasons.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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