Wildfires devastating richer areas but fewer hectares burned globally – study
Summary
In 2025, wildfires heavily damaged wealthy regions like California, Europe, and South Korea, even though the total global area burned was one of the lowest in two decades. Climate change and dry conditions made some fires spread quickly, causing deaths, property loss, and large evacuations.Key Facts
- About 335 million hectares burned globally in 2025, the second-lowest total since 2002.
- Wealthier areas faced severe wildfires, including large fires in California, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, and South Korea.
- Scotland experienced a “megafire” burning more than 100,000 hectares, setting a UK record for area burned.
- Wildfires caused more than 38% of weather-related insured losses worldwide in 2025.
- Land use changes in Africa reduced some large fires by breaking up landscapes, lowering global burned area.
- Climate change led to hotter, drier weather and stronger winds, making fires more intense and dangerous near populated areas.
- Canadian boreal forests released extreme amounts of carbon dioxide over recent years, with emissions still high in 2025.
- Smoke from wildfires caused many deaths from air pollution, such as 82,000 deaths linked to Canadian wildfire smoke in 2023.
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