'We can’t keep fighting climate disasters without tackling their root causes'

'We can’t keep fighting climate disasters without tackling their root causes' As Storm Austen hits, the National Trust's Hilary McGrady says we can't "mop up the water while the tap is still running" and feels that tackling extreme weather isn’t a quick fix As the UK braces for Storm Austen, it’s easy to forget that just a few months ago, swathes of the country were on fire. It’s easy to forget that 19 family homes were lost in Stourbridge, that a giant blaze burned for more than a month in the Cairngorms, and that a precious National Trust nature reserve in Suffolk, Dunwich Heath, was destroyed by 40-metre flames. But those people whose lives, homes and jobs were affected this summer haven’t forgotten, and neither should our government. Andy Burnham is holding a National Wildfire Summit, something he should be commended for. To truly get a grip of wildfires, he must use this meeting to tackle the root causes of these destructive events – not just treat the symptoms. In other words, he needs to make it harder for fires to spread in the first place, not just get better at putting them out. Thankfully, we know what works. It is simple science that wetter landscapes are harder to burn. During the blaze at Dunwich Heath, the wetlands on neighbouring RSPB land acted as a natural firebreak, stopping the flames from reaching the Sizewell nuclear facility. And the public is on side. Since that fire, 140,000 people have signed a National Trust and 38 Degrees petition calling for landscapes to be restored to curb wildfires. So it’s good news that the Government is listening: today it has announced it’ll spend £25million on “re-wetting” our dried-out peatlands and giving farmers money to create ponds. More like this is desperately needed. Our emergency services need better equipment and training to fight these fires too, so I’m pleased the Prime Minister has pledged more support – something else our petition called for. It wasn't right that in Suffolk fire crews had to choose between heat exhaustion or adequate PPE this summer as they battled some of the biggest flames of their lives. One firefighter said Dunwich Heath was his toughest job in 26 years. Nor was it right that the National Trust had to call in a private helicopter to battle that blaze because fire services in this country haven't always had access to air support when it's needed. Our fire crews absolutely need more help. But having the correct kit to fight a wildfire should be the bare minimum. Because as well as these tactical measures, we need bold, long-term plans. Otherwise, we’re only storing up a bigger problem for ourselves, and our children, down the line. Crucially, we need nature to be treated as essential infrastructure, just like water, transport and utilities. Those things are necessary for our safety and survival. So is nature. So why should it be treated differently? Nature doesn’t just stop fires spreading; it’s a buffer to other extreme weather too. In towns and cities, street trees can lower the temperature we feel by 8c. Putting the ‘wiggles’ back into rivers can curb flooding, and having a mix of healthy habitats on our moors and hills can create “speed bumps”, slowing rainfall from reaching the places we live. Animals can help too. In west London, a train station that flooded every year has been flood-free since beavers were released nearby. There are plenty of other ways Andy Burnham can help fix our landscapes. He could insist that water companies put more cash into storing and cleaning water in natural ways – right now a mere 3 per cent of their budgets goes into solutions involving nature. And he could channel more money into parks, trees and green space in towns and cities. People will be watching the Government’s next move carefully. After approving a new gas field earlier this week – ironically on the same day as a major report warned of the impending threats of climate change – questions are rightly being asked of our policymakers. After all, the drought and record-breaking heat that made Britain a tinderbox this summer are driven by the extraction of fossil fuels from the ground. That will need to change swiftly and fairly if Mr Burnham is serious about this agenda. Because mopping up the water while the tap is still running is a losing strategy. A lot hangs in the balance ahead of today’s National Wildfire Summit. As the nation hunkers down for the next lot of extreme weather, and fires feel like a distant memory to most, the Prime Minister must remember that tackling extreme weather isn’t a quick fix. There will be another Dunwich Heath, another Cairngorms, another Stourbridge. And without long-term solutions, they will be worse. Today's announcements are a good start. But to truly stop these disasters, he’ll need to use every tool in the box. Nature must be one of them.