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Devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed the lives of 16 people, displaced more than 180,000 residents, and left many others missing. As the city grapples with the aftermath of what some are calling the worst fire in U.S. history, scientists are pointing to the undeniable role of climate change in fueling the disaster.

Professor Guy Midgley, a leading expert on global change and biodiversity science, highlighted the connections between the region’s natural environment, human development, and climate variability. “Los Angeles sits in a flammable vegetation type called Chaparral, just like Cape Town sits in a flammable vegetation type called Fynbos,” he explained. “We are both winter rainfall areas, the same as Western Australia and the Mediterranean Basin. These are systems where the plants rely on wildfire at some frequency to regenerate. They are very flammable, full of oils, and so they burn.”

Midgley described the situation as a confluence of factors, including record dry conditions, strong winds, and what he called the “whiplash effect” of extreme climate variability. “It is undeniable that you can see the fingerprints of climate change. Through the strength of the wind, the dryness of the vegetation with the driest winter on record, and the whiplash effect from a previous wet winter, there are many fingerprints we can interpret here,” he said.

The infamous Santa Ana winds, often referred to as “devil winds,” have drawn significant media attention in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires. These strong, dry winds, which have blown through the region for millennia, are now under scrutiny for their intensifying behaviour in recent years. When asked about the changes in these winds, Professor Midgley described them as another clear “fingerprint” of climate change.

“These winds are driven by very cold, dense air and high pressure in the center of the U.S. at higher elevations,” he explained. “This very dry air gets pushed out towards the edges of the continent, and as it flows downhill, it warms up, becoming even drier. So, you get this blast furnace-like wind condition.” Midgley added that climate change is amplifying these dynamics by altering jet stream patterns and the northern hemisphere polar vortex, which can create even colder conditions over the U.S. interior. “That adds further impetus to those winds,” he said, noting that hurricane-force gusts are now occurring more frequently.

Moreover, shifts in wind direction have exacerbated the situation. Winds now blow more directly down certain valleys, creating a Venturi effect that accelerates their speed. “There’s a lot of subtle things going on among all the big patterns, but all of these link to the human impact on our climate system,” Midgley concluded.

Urban planning and vegetation management are critical for cities like Los Angeles, Cape Town, and those in Southern Australia, which are situated in fire-prone Mediterranean ecosystems. These regions, known for their unique climates and rich biodiversity, have been attractive to human settlement for centuries due to their agricultural productivity and cultural significance. However, Professor Midgley pointed out that urban expansion into wildland areas has significantly increased the risk of wildfire disasters.

“The best way to manage these systems is to burn pre-emptively. In other words, you burn at a point where it is safe to burn, and you reduce the fuel load. The problem is conditions in which it is safe to burn are becoming fewer and fewer,” he explained. Midgley highlighted the challenges policymakers face as the risks of controlled burns grow, making it harder to implement this essential fire management strategy.

In addition to vegetation management, architectural innovation can play a role in mitigating wildfire damage. He referenced an example in Los Angeles where a home, specifically designed to resist fire, survived while others around it were destroyed. “Lessons are to be learned there as well,” he said.

Political challenges in addressing Climate Change amid a divisive U.S. leadership

As the world grapples with escalating climate disasters, the political response in the United States remains a contentious issue, particularly with the incoming administration’s scepticism toward climate change. Professor Midgley acknowledged the challenges posed by such a political environment but emphasised that economic realities and scientific evidence would ultimately prevail.

“We’ve seen some incredibly toxic and unnecessary politics playing out,” he said, referencing conditions placed on aid for California’s recovery from wildfires. “Statements that aid is only going to be given if certain conditions are met… It’s a toxic and asymmetrical response,” he added, contrasting this with the bipartisan aid offered for disasters in other states.

Despite these obstacles, he highlighted that economic factors could drive change. “The economic impacts of these fires, the effects on the insurance industry, and the unstoppable impetus of renewable energy and its affordability are all things working in our favour,” he explained. While the next four years may bring political resistance, He stressed the importance of presenting factual, science-based arguments to counter misinformation. “We’ve got to have our facts lined up and be ready to answer to the craziness that comes from these quarters,” said Professor Midgley.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Professor Guy Midgley, director of the School for Climate Studies at Stellenbosch University, here.