Leading scientists condemn political inaction on climate change as Australia 'literally burns'

Climate experts 'bewildered' by government 'burying their heads in the sand', and say bushfires on Australia's east coast should be a 'wake-up call'

Leading scientists have expressed concern about the lack of focus on the climate crisis as bushfires rage across New South Wales and Queensland, saying it should be a "wake-up call" for the government.

Climate experts who spoke to Guardian Australia said they were "bewildered" the emergency had grabbed little attention during the final parliamentary sitting week for the year, which was instead taken up by the repeal of medevac laws, a restructure of the public service, and energy minister Angus Taylor's run-in with the American author Naomi Wolf.