How Europe can better protect against extreme wildfires
In another summer of European wildfires that have even seen wetlands burning, scientists say the situation is set to worsen in the future. What's needed is fire prevention and climate protection.
Europe faces growing threats from extreme wildfires, affecting countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, Italy, the UK, Ireland, and Norway. Severe heatwaves and prolonged droughts heightened the risk, with more than 6,000 square kilometers of forest burned this summer, forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate. A study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research predicts that by the end of the century, even with significant climate action, land burned annually could increase by 39%.
Despite the EU's €2.1 billion investment in forest and wildfire management from 2021 to 2027, effective management could still reduce future burned areas by up to 90% if greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly reduced. Peatlands, while covering only 3% of Earth's surface, store 30% of the carbon in soils worldwide. When peat burns, carbon stored for thousands of years is released in a short time, releasing pollutants and smoke, making them extremely difficult to extinguish.
Recent peat fires in western Germany and Belgium have scorched vast areas, highlighting the urgent need for stronger climate action and improved wildfire management.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
