The Fires Next Time: Peter Christoff

Next date: Thursday, 30 October 2025 | 07:00 PM to 09:00 PM

The Fires Next Time: Peter Christoff on Shaping a Resilient Australian Future in the Era of Climate Change

Join political scientist and environmental policy expert Peter Christoff, Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, for an urgent yet hopeful discussion about climate change, public policy, and the future of Australia.

Christoff is the editor of The Fires Next Time (2023), a powerful collection of essays examining the causes, consequences, and legacies of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019–2020 — one of the most devastating environmental disasters in Australia's history. These fires burned over 24 million hectares, directly caused 33 deaths, led to over 430 additional fatalities from smoke exposure, and brought widespread ecological and economic damage.

Through contributions from leading voices across science, policy, and community sectors, The Fires Next Time offers a comprehensive account of that climate-driven crisis and asks what Australia must do to build a resilient, just, and sustainable future.

At this event, Peter Christoff will reflect on the lessons of Black Summer, the urgent need for climate adaptation and mitigation, and the opportunities that arise when crisis is met with courage, collaboration, and political will.

Don’t miss this essential conversation about Australia’s climate future and how we can move forward together.