Climate Change Is Making Fire Weather Worse for World's Forests

Record-breaking heat in 2023 and 2024 resulted in over 78 million acres of global forest fires. These fires released billions of tons of carbon dioxide, impacting air quality for millions. Increased frequency of extreme fire seasons is linked to climate change. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirms this trend. Forest canopy loss in 2023 and 2024 was double the average of the previous two decades. Researchers used LANDSAT satellite data to analyze tree cover changes and fire activity. While overall global wildfire area has decreased, forest fire area has significantly increased. Human land transformation contributes to this change, impacting savannas and grasslands. Climate scientist John Abatzoglou predicts more intense wildfires in the future.