Area affected by wildfires in Europe could almost triple due to climate change

Increasingly hot, dry and windy conditions could substantially extend the area affected by wildfires across Europe, according to a new study led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) with contributions from the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research. In a low-emissions scenario (SSP1-2.6), the researchers calculate that roughly 39% more land would be burned per year by the end of the century compared with today's average. In a high-emissions scenario (SSP3-7.0), it would be around 192%.