Wildfires: Burning our way to a 'hot house Earth'?

David M J S Bowman; Calum X Cunningham

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.060

Wildfires: Burning our way to a 'hot house Earth'?

Curr Biol. 2025 Jan 20;35(2):R74-R76. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.060.

Authors

David M J S Bowman¹, Calum X Cunningham²

Affiliations

¹ Fire Centre, Discipline of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Private Bag 55, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Fire Centre, Discipline of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Private Bag 55, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia.

PMID: 39837276
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.060

Abstract

A new global analysis shows that wildfires turn temperate and boreal forests into major emitters of greenhouse gases - instead of storing carbon. Without sustainable forest fire management, forest fires may amplify climate change, leading to irreversible ecological changes.

MeSH terms

Climate Change*
Fires
Forests*
Greenhouse Gases
Wildfires*

Substances

Greenhouse Gases