A university in the United Kingdom has published a first-of-its-kind study on the release of carbon emissions from wildfires. The study found that wildfires last year caused 8.6 billion tons of CO2 emissions – 16 percent above average.
Wildfires made more frequent and intense by climate change released significant quantities of CO2 into the air in 2023-2024, said a first-of-its-kind annual study published Wednesday.
Fires in natural areas caused 8.6 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions worldwide between March 2023 and February 2024 – 16 percent above average.
Only a relatively calm fires season in the African savannah prevented the 2023-2024 season from breaking a fresh record for CO2 emissions at the global level.
These were among the conclusions in a new study, "State of Wildfires", published in the journal Earth System Science Data.
It was carried out by the University of East Anglia and other institutions based in Britain and aims to be updated on an annual basis.
Emissions from fires in Canada's boreal forests were more than nine times greater than the average over the past two decades. They contributed to almost a quarter of global emissions.
In Canada alone, the fires forced the evacuations of 232,000 people and eight firefighters lost their lives.
Other areas that also suffered included the Amazon (Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela), Hawaii and Greece.
But nothing is set in stone.
(AFP)
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