Thrive Forum: Impact of fire in a changing climate

Please join us for our next Thrive Forum: Impact of fire in a changing climate. 

🗓️ Date: 2 July 2026 
⏱️ Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm AEST (Brisbane)  
📍 Venue: The Gibson Room, Z Block, Level 10, Room 1064, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane QLD 4000. Download QUTs Gardens Point Campus Map 
💻 Online: A Zoom link will be included in the agenda as well as sent to participants as a calendar invitation upon registration. 
📝Click Here to Register for the Forum 

Background: Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity across multiple regions globally, with recent catastrophic events recorded in Australia, Canada, the United States, and Greece. Emerging evidence indicates that climate and environmental change are key drivers of heightened fire risk and severity. In Australia, modelling consistently projects longer wildfire seasons and a greater likelihood of extreme fire events in coming decades. 

In discussions of wildfire smoke, it is essential to centre the needs and experiences of affected communities and to consider interdisciplinary solutions that reflect the complexity of climate change, land management, public health, ecological safety, and the fundamental right to clean air. Effective responses require guidelines and public health strategies that protect both human and environmental health. 

Big questions to be discussed in the forum include:  

1. How is the climate going to affect fire risk and the landscape in Queensland?  
2. What does the science tell us about controlled burning?  
3. What is the modern state of cultural burning and First Nations connection to land management? 
4. What is the state of the knowledge of health impacts? 
5. What options are available to protect the health of communities affected by wildfire and controlled burning smoke? 

This interdisciplinary forum is relevant to experts from many fields and to anyone involved with air quality, fire, land management and health.  

The agenda for the Forum will be available soon.