How has the frequency of wildfires changed in recent years according to the WRI?

Research from the World Resources Institute indicates that four of the five worst wildfire years on record have occurred since 2020.

What is the impact of wildfires on carbon emissions?

Burning forests release stored carbon into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change and potentially creating a feedback loop of further warming and increased fire risk.

Which countries have experienced severe wildfire seasons recently?

Brazil, Bolivia, Russia, Australia, and Canada have all endured some of their worst fire seasons in recent years.

Home / Environment / Forest Fires Rage: Twice the Tree Cover Lost Annually

Forest Fires Rage: Twice the Tree Cover Lost Annually

13 Jan

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Summary

Wildfires now destroy twice as much tree cover annually as two decades ago.
Four of the five worst fire years on record have occurred since 2020.
Burning forests release stored carbon, accelerating climate change and causing feedback loops.

Forest Fires Rage: Twice the Tree Cover Lost Annually

The world is witnessing an unsustainable surge in wildfire activity, with forest fires now consuming more than twice the tree cover annually compared to two decades ago. This crisis, driven by climate change, has seen four of the five most extreme fire years on record occur since 2020. Notably, major fires have impacted diverse ecosystems, from the Amazon to Canada's boreal forests, with countries like Russia, Brazil, Canada, and Australia experiencing severe seasons.

The escalating fires are directly linked to hotter, drier conditions exacerbated by fossil fuel pollution. Northern latitudes are warming rapidly, intensifying fires in boreal regions. When these forests burn, they release vast quantities of stored carbon, typically acting as carbon sinks. This release not only contributes to global warming but also creates a dangerous feedback loop, where increased warming leads to worse fire conditions and more frequent, intense blazes.