Climate change creates hotter, drier and longer wildfire seasons

Human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather conditions that support extreme fire in many regions. Longer dry periods, higher temperatures, low humidity and compound drought can make vegetation more available to burn and narrow the windows for safe prevention work.

The effect varies by biome and region, so historical fire maps and seasonal assumptions can underestimate future risk. Communities, land managers and response agencies are affected when planning, infrastructure and ecological management remain calibrated to past conditions.

This issue concerns the wildfire-specific consequences of changing fire weather. It does not cover climate change as a whole.

Sources: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, Working Group II and UNEP global wildfire assessment.