Wildfires are making larger and larger impacts on CO2 emissions
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A new study reveals that carbon dioxide emissions from forest fires have increased by 60% globally since 2001, with some of the most climate-sensitive boreal forests experiencing nearly triple the emissions.
Researchers from UC Merced, the University of East Anglia, and other institutions found that hotter, drier conditions—exacerbated by climate change—are fueling more frequent and severe wildfires. The study highlights a shift in fire activity, with emissions rising in extratropical forests while declining in tropical savannas.
Scientists warn that wildfires are releasing carbon at higher rates than ever before, threatening global efforts to store carbon in forests and mitigate climate change. The findings underscore the urgency of reducing fossil fuel emissions to curb further fire-driven CO₂ increases.
For more details, read the full article on UC Merced News.
Other Sources Covering Global Wildfire Emissions
- ScienceDaily – Reports on the study’s findings, including the role of climate change in worsening fire conditions.
- World Energy Data – Discusses the shift in wildfire emissions from tropical to boreal forests and the long-term climate implications.
How much CO2 are forest fires realeasing globally compared to other sources?
Forest fires contribute significantly to global CO₂ emissions, but they are still far below fossil fuel emissions on a global scale. Here’s how they compare:
- Wildfires worldwide released about 1.8 billion tons of CO₂ in 2021, while fossil fuels and industry emitted 38 billion tons—meaning wildfires accounted for less than 5% of total emissions.
- In Canada, extreme wildfire seasons have led to forest fires emitting more CO₂ than all fossil fuel consumption in some provinces. For example, in British Columbia, wildfires in 2017 emitted two to three times more CO₂ than all fossil fuels burned in the province that year.
- In remote regions like the Northwest Territories, wildfires in 2023 produced CO₂ emissions 277 times higher than human activities in the same area.
However, frequent large-scale wildfires are turning forests from carbon sinks into major CO₂ emitters, meaning forests that once absorbed carbon are now releasing it due to fire damage.
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