{
  "id": 2148622,
  "title": "How Europe can better protect against extreme wildfires",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/how-europe-can-better-protect-against-extreme-wildfires",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-20T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW English (Top Stories)",
    "slug": "dw-english-top-stories",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/how-europe-can-better-protect-against-extreme-wildfires/a-78435243?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-mrss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Europe has seen a surge in severe wildfires this summer, affecting countries from Spain to Norway. The destruction has been extensive, with more than 6,000 square kilometers of forest burned and hundreds of thousands displaced. The estimated cost of the damage is €15 billion ($17.5 billion). A recent study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) warns that without stronger climate action, wildfires in Europe could increase by 39% annually by the end of the century. Even with significant climate action, the study predicts an increase in fire risk, particularly in the Mediterranean region and western and central Europe. Maik Billing, a PIK researcher, notes that the threat is growing, but Europe is not without resources to combat it. Improved wildfire management, better training for emergency responders, and stronger collaboration between authorities can make a difference. The European Union has allocated €2.1 billion for forest and wildfire management programs in member states from 2021 to 2027, with investments potentially saving up to seven euros for every euro spent in prevention. However, if greenhouse gas emissions persist and global temperatures rise, even effective fire management may not be enough to control wildfires in the long term.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "How Europe can better protect against extreme wildfires",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/how-europe-can-better-protect-against-extreme-wildfires-2153927",
        "published": "2026-08-20T09:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}