Record wildfire emissions reported across the European Union
Climate Home News has reported that wildfire emissions across the European Union have reached their highest recorded level in 2025.
According to Climate Home News, data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) showed that wildfires have burned more than one million hectares of land this year, releasing 38.37 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The emissions released so far are more than double the average for the same period across the last two decades.
EFFIS data indicated that the emissions exceed Sweden’s annual carbon dioxide output.
Spain and Portugal recorded their worst fire season on record, with fatalities, mass displacement, and destruction of homes and crops.
Spain and Portugal face extreme fire conditions
Climate Home News reported that Spain and Portugal have faced their most severe wildfire season.
Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at the EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, said: “The fires ravaging Spain and Portugal this month have caused extreme emissions.”
Parrington added: “In Spain alone, fire-related emissions this year are now four times higher than the average annual total.”
The Iberian Peninsula has experienced recurring heatwaves throughout August, worsening conditions for fire outbreaks.
Thousands of residents were forced to leave their homes, and at least seven people lost their lives in the blazes.
Scientists warn of climate feedback loop
Climate Home News stated that scientists are warning of a “feedback loop” between climate change and wildfire activity.
Paolo Laj, head of the Global Atmosphere Watch team at the World Meteorological Organization, said: “In fighting climate change, every effort counts – and of course, increasing emissions from forest fires is not good news.”
Researchers explained that greenhouse gas emissions create hotter, drier conditions, which enable fires to spread more quickly.
In turn, the fires release stored carbon from trees and soil, adding further emissions to the atmosphere.
The WMO said this cycle is worsening global warming while limiting the recovery capacity of forest ecosystems.
Global wildfire emissions trends
Climate Home News reported that wildfire emissions have been rising worldwide in recent years.
According to the World Resources Institute, fires in 2023 and 2024 released more greenhouse gases than India’s annual emissions.
The organisation explained that fire events spanned tropical forests in South America and boreal forests in Canada and Russia.
Laj said the share of global carbon dioxide emissions from forest fires is expected to continue rising.
Risks for national climate strategies
According to Climate Home News, growing wildfire emissions pose risks for national carbon-reduction strategies.
It said many countries are depending on forest carbon sinks to meet 2030 and 2035 targets.
The EU’s nationally determined contribution, last updated in 2023, raised reliance on land-based carbon removal to achieve its 2030 goal.
Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, said: “Will the EU get the sink that they planned for? I doubt it. Brussels might require more action from other sectors to compensate for the weakening of its forests.”
He added: “Governments need to adopt a more realistic view of how much the land sector, including forests, can contribute to their climate targets as rising fires threaten their carbon sequestration potential.”
Calls to include wildfire emissions in national inventories
Climate Home News explained that wildfire emissions are currently excluded from most national greenhouse gas inventories.
It reported that under Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines, wildfires are treated as natural disturbances unless they cause permanent land-use change.
Hare said: “Twenty-five years ago, you could say wildfires were random and forests would regrow. Unfortunately, what we see now is that fires are becoming more frequent, along with drought and heat, and forests are not recovering. This is not an act of God.”
Hare added that countries should begin incorporating wildfire emissions into their climate planning.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The Climate Home News report highlights the increasing impact of wildfires on emissions and climate policy.
For fire and safety professionals, the findings underline the operational importance of wildfire prevention and suppression strategies.
The data also shows how escalating wildfire emissions may influence national resilience planning, resource allocation, and risk assessments for future fire seasons.
Understanding these developments is necessary for preparing both local fire services and international coordination frameworks.
Wildfire emissions in EU hit record levels in 2025: Summary
Wildfire emissions in the EU reached a record high in 2025.
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System showed over one million hectares burned.
The fires released 38.37 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Emissions are more than double the 20-year average.
Spain and Portugal recorded their worst fire season on record.
Seven people died and thousands were displaced.
Scientists warned of a feedback loop between climate change and wildfires.
The World Meteorological Organization said forests release stored carbon when burned.
Global wildfire emissions in 2023 and 2024 exceeded India’s annual emissions.
The EU raised its reliance on land sinks in its 2023 climate plan.
Bill Hare of Climate Analytics questioned if the EU could meet its targets.
Wildfire emissions are not currently included in national inventories.
IPCC guidelines treat them as natural disturbances unless land use changes.
Hare said fires are becoming more frequent and forests are not recovering.
He called for countries to account for wildfire emissions in climate planning.