Forest fires in Europe released 12.9 megatons of carbon in 2025, marking the highest emissions in 23 years, Copernicus data shows.
BRUSSELS: Europe has witnessed its worst summer wildfire emissions in over two decades, with 2025 marking a grim record in carbon output from forest fires, according to the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service.
The European Union’s earth observation agency revealed that by 15 September 2025, forest fires across the continent had emitted approximately 12.9 megatons of carbon. This figure surpasses previous records set in 2003 and 2017, both of which saw emissions capped at 11.4 megatons.
The surge in emissions has been largely attributed to intense wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in Spain and Portugal during August. Fires in these two countries alone accounted for nearly 75% of the total carbon output, underlining the severity of the summer heatwaves and drought conditions that fuelled them.
“Over the course of the summer, there were various regions in Europe that were affected by very intense forest fires, especially in the south of the continent,” said Laurence Rouil, Director of Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring. “The emissions caused by these forest fires were the highest in at least 23 years.”
Experts believe that increasing temperatures, prolonged dry spells, and extreme weather conditions, driven by climate change, have amplified the frequency and intensity of wildfires across southern Europe. The 2025 wildfire season stands as a stark reminder of the growing environmental and health impact of such climate-induced disasters.
