Australia's fossil fuel giants discover charity as fires rage

Government sees no direct link between climate change and bushfires

Unprecedented wildfires have affected every state across Australia, the world's biggest exporter of coal and gas. Australia was recently ranked 57th out of 57 countries on climate-change action by a group of think tanks. © Getty Images

SHAUN TURTON, Contributing Writer

January 10, 2020 14:58 JST

MELBOURNE -- Australia's giant fossil fuel companies are facing mounting calls to help build a more climate-resilient economy as devastating bushfires have laid waste to an area twice the size of Belgium.

Despite donating millions to help victims of the fires which have killed at least 26 people and caused $4.4 billion worth of damage, companies including BHP, Rio Tinto and Chevron Australia have been criticized for not doing enough to mitigate the effects of climate change.