Emissions from forest fires have tripled in one area – here’s why it’s worrying

The world’s northernmost forests in Canada, Norway, Alaska and Russia are burning at a greater rate – and it’s helping to drive climate change.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fires in the northern ‘boreal’ forests have almost tripled since 2001 - part of a wider surge of 60% in forest fire-related emissions.

Emissions from forests outside the tropics – known as ‘extratropical’ fires – are now emitting half a billion tonnes more CO2 than two decades ago. Previous research has shown that fires in these remote areas are often started by lightning, with storms becoming more likely due to climate change.

Dr Matthew Jones, a NERC independent research fellow at the University of Exeter, said: “The steep trend towards greater extratropical forest fire emissions is a warning of the growing vulnerability of forests and it poses a significant challenge for global targets to tackle climate change.

“We know that forests rebound poorly after the most severe fires, so there is huge interest in how the observed increases in fire severity will influence carbon storage in forests over the coming decades. This demands our close attention.”

Why are fires increasing in northern forests?

A major new study reveals that CO2 emissions from forest fires have increased everywhere - but in particular in the northern ‘boreal’ forests, also known as taiga.

Boreal forests account for 27% of the world’s forest area, and have seen emissions from fires nearly triple between 2001 and 2023.

The change is linked to climate change as the fires and emissions are linked to the hot, dry conditions seen in heatwaves and droughts, the researchers believe.

Climate change is also driving increased rates of growth, which provides more ‘fuel’ for fires.

These trends are aided by rapid warming in the high northern latitudes, which is happening twice as fast as the global average.

Are forest wildfires getting more frequent or bigger?

Forest wildfires are getting both bigger and more frequent, the study found.

The carbon combustion rate, a measure of fire severity based on how much carbon is emitted per unit of area burned, increased by almost 50% across forests globally between 2001 and 2023.

Lead author Dr Jones, of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, said: “Increases in both the extent and severity of forest fires have led to a dramatic rise in the amount of carbon emitted by forest fires globally.

“Startling shifts in the global geography of fires are also underway, and they are primarily explained by the growing impacts of climate change in the world’s boreal forests.

“To protect critical forest ecosystems from the accelerating threat of wildfires, we must keep global warming at bay and this underscores why it is so vital to make rapid progress towards net zero emissions.”

Why are forest fires important?

Forests are crucial to the world’s battle against climate change – and increased forest fires threaten that balance.

Forests are of worldwide importance for carbon storage, with their growth helping to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and reduce rates of global warming.

They also play a crucial role in meeting international climate targets.

Reforestation and afforestation schemes are being planned and used to remove carbon from the atmosphere and offset human CO2 emissions.

The success of these schemes relies on carbon being stored in forests permanently, and wildfires threaten that.