In what’s becoming a commonplace event, we’ve been inundated with apocalyptic images this week emanating from Los Angeles. Wildfires are tearing through neighbourhoods across the region, more than 200,000 people have been ordered to evacuate and at least 10 have died.

Once upon a time, activists and scientists alike thought that once people saw the impacts of climate change firsthand, they’d be moved to believe in the urgency of the crisis and, crucially, to act. But as with hurricanes and other extreme weather events that have come before, the California wildfires are proof that is not the case. Rather than baring the truth for all to see, misinformation and new flavours of climate denial are thriving in the chaos.

Washington Post