A new era of forest fires needs global solutions

Friday 20 Jun 2025

 
From the forests of Canada to the drylands of Australia, and across diverse landscapes like Türkiye and Thailand, forest fires are burning with increasing intensity. These fires are no longer just seasonal; they're becoming extreme events that are affecting our world throughout the year, impacting communities, economies, and natural environments. This growing crisis points to a "new normal" where more regions are experiencing the damaging effects of these fires.

What was perceived as a future risk, is now an urgent reality. In Türkiye, the extreme fires in 2021 burnt over 139,500 hectares of forests throughout the year, killed nine people, damaged infrastructure and communities, and affected many sectors. Greece’s worst fires occurred in 2023, was the largest in EU history. Earlier this year, South Korea faced its deadliest wildfires on record. 

Climate models project a 14% increase in forest fire frequency by 2030 and up to 50% by 2100. 

These forest fires are deadlier, more frequent, and financially devastating, transforming an environmental challenge into a fiscal and macroeconomic emergency that demands international cooperation, risk-sharing, and strategic investment.

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Source:World Bank Group


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