How to Better Protect Europe from Wildfires
European wildfires are worsening, with wetlands burning. Scientists warn the trend will intensify without stronger fire prevention and climate action.
From Spain, France to Portugal, Greece and Italy, European nations have been grappling with particularly severe wildfires this summer. Colder countries such as the UK, Ireland and Norway have also experienced fires. Prolonged drought and extreme heat have heightened the risk, with more than 6,000 square kilometers of forest destroyed and hundreds of thousands displaced. The damage is estimated to cost €15 billion ($17.5 billion).
According to a study published by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, wildfires in Europe could triple in number over the coming decades. Even with stronger climate action, annual burned area could increase by 39% by the end of the century. If global temperatures rise by 3.6 degrees Celsius (6.48 Fahrenheit), wildfires will become more frequent, particularly in the Mediterranean region and large parts of western and central Europe.
While the international community aimed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or below 2C, countries are not meeting their climate targets. Fires are burning more frequently as the effects of global warming become more visible. According to the study, Europe experienced twice as much land burned during the heatwave season compared to recent years.
However, Thomas Hickler, a researcher at the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, suggests that Europe can still take action against the growing wildfire threat. Fire-conducive conditions are increasing, so investing more in wildfire management, improved training and equipment for emergency responders, and stronger coordination between forestry authorities, conservation bodies, and fire services could be effective.
The EU contributed around €2.1 billion to forest and wildfire management programs in member states between 2021 and 2027, and investments can pay off — every euro spent on prevention can save up to seven euros on firefighting and reconstruction.
To reduce future burned areas by up to 90%, greenhouse gas emissions generated by fossil fuels must rapidly fall and sharply limit global warming. Despite this, significantly stronger climate action is still necessary to control wildfires in the long term, as climate change could create extreme conditions that exceed current wildfire prevention and fighting capabilities.
Wetlands, such as marshes and raised bogs, are vulnerable to fire during droughts, as their peat soil, formed from an accumulation of dead plant material, can catch fire. Although peat fires are less visible than conventional forest fires, they release large amounts of pollutants, including hazardous heavy metals.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
