Record-breaking forest fire emissions across Europe, according to Copernicus data
In a year marked by extreme weather events, 2025 saw a spike in forest fires that left a lasting impact on both Europe and Canada.
According to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, the emissions caused by these forest fires in 2025 were the highest in at least 23 years. The director of the service, Laurence Rouil, emphasized this significant increase.
The year was not just a record-breaker for forest fire emissions in Europe, but also for Canada. In Canada, the second-highest annual emissions in 2025 were only surpassed by the year 2023.
Significant forest fires occurred in Turkey, Cyprus, and several Balkan countries in 2025, adding to the global concern. However, it was the forest fires in Europe that garnered the most attention.
The unusual frequency and intensity of Saharan dust in the summer of 2025, as well as the heatwaves, led to increased ground-level ozone concentrations in Europe. This, coupled with the forest fires, resulted in air pollution levels that exceeded the applicable limits in many regions.
The Iberian Peninsula was severely affected by forest fires in August 2025, causing three-quarters of the total emissions. Most of the carbon emissions in 2025 were due to August fires in Spain and Portugal.
The smoke plumes from the Canadian forest fires in 2025 crossed the Atlantic and reached western Europe in August, adding to the air pollution in the region.
By September 15, 2025, forest fires in Europe had released around 12.9 megatonnes of carbon, surpassing the previous record of 11.4 megatonnes from 2003 and 2017.
The summer of 2025 was unusually frequent and intense in terms of Saharan dust, according to Copernicus. This, combined with the heatwaves, led to increased ground-level ozone concentrations in many regions of Europe.
Countries responsible for the record-high forest fire emissions in Europe since the start of records 23 years ago included multiple European nations. However, the precise countries causing the highest emissions were not explicitly listed in the sources available.
In 2025, Europe is estimated to record the highest forest fire emissions since the start of corresponding records 23 years ago. The year 2025 is one of the most active forest fire seasons in recent years in southeastern Europe.
The Canadian forest fires in 2025 contributed to the overall high emissions observed in 2025. The increased ground-level ozone concentrations in many regions of Europe in 2025 were due to a series of heatwaves and the forest fires.
As we move forward, it is crucial to address the underlying causes of these extreme weather events and forest fires to prevent such catastrophic impacts in the future.
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