Increased likelihood of wildfires during summer seasons, as reported by researchers, is attributed to global warming.
A new study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA), a group of climate scientists specializing in rapid analyses of climate change's role in extreme weather events, has revealed that human-induced climate change made the recent wildfires in Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey 10 times more likely and 22% more intense.
The study does not provide any information on the duration or extent of the wildfires, nor does it mention the number of casualties or damages caused. Furthermore, it does not suggest any specific measures or actions that could be taken to prevent or mitigate the impact of climate change on wildfires.
The researchers arrived at this conclusion by using peer-reviewed methods and models to compare the recent wildfires to conditions in a preindustrial world. They found that the record heat, drought, and strong winds observed during the wildfires significantly contributed to their increased intensity.
The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) did not provide specific details about the number of wildfires that occurred in Europe this year, the countries where they occurred, the area burned, the casualties or damages caused, or the methods and models used to determine these factors. EFFIS also did not indicate whether climate change played a role in the increased occurrence or intensity of the wildfires this year.
However, EFFIS did declare 2025 as the worst year of wildfires on record in Europe, with more than 1 million hectares burned since the start of the year. Without climate change, similar wildfires would occur about once every 100 years, according to the report.
The WWA's findings underscore the urgent need for action to address climate change and its effects on extreme weather events such as wildfires. While the study does not suggest specific measures, it emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of climate change in these events and using that knowledge to inform policies and actions aimed at mitigation and adaptation.
