Are wildfires becoming more deadly? | The Economist
- 5 years ago
Wildfires have killed at least 74 people in Greece. In Sweden firefighters are tackling the biggest forest blazes in the country's history. What causes wildfires and are they becoming more common?
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Last year in America, around 71,000 fires burned through an area larger than that of Massachusetts. At least 60 people died in Portugal trying to flee raging fires and in one month, Brazil battled over 100,000 wildfires.
Today Greece is battling the worst wildfires it's seen in 10 years. Wildfires are naturally occurring events that can be good for the environment. They regenerate soil and open the way for new growth. It may seem that they are getting worse but statistically there are fewer fires than centuries ago. What has changed is that people are now living in the natural paths of wildfires. There is more destruction and more loss of life, resulting in more news coverage.
In America today 39% of all houses are now found in areas known as the Wildland Urban Interface - these are zones that have always been most susceptible to fire. The more people in these areas, the more chance fires will be started accidentally, or otherwise, by humans. In America humans are now responsible for 84% of wildfires.
In Australia most bushfires used to be caused by lightning. Today, with increased numbers of people moving to the bush, humans cause half of all fires there.
Forest fires driven by agricultural expansion spike every summer in Indonesia. Nearly all of them are caused by humans. The country's forests and peatlands are illegally drained and set aflame to make space for commercial farming. In 2015, wildfires in Indonesia made worse by El Nino contributed to the single largest rise in annual global CO2 emissions.
Humans are the primary cause of wildfires. A problem that in some places climate change will make worse.
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Last year in America, around 71,000 fires burned through an area larger than that of Massachusetts. At least 60 people died in Portugal trying to flee raging fires and in one month, Brazil battled over 100,000 wildfires.
Today Greece is battling the worst wildfires it's seen in 10 years. Wildfires are naturally occurring events that can be good for the environment. They regenerate soil and open the way for new growth. It may seem that they are getting worse but statistically there are fewer fires than centuries ago. What has changed is that people are now living in the natural paths of wildfires. There is more destruction and more loss of life, resulting in more news coverage.
In America today 39% of all houses are now found in areas known as the Wildland Urban Interface - these are zones that have always been most susceptible to fire. The more people in these areas, the more chance fires will be started accidentally, or otherwise, by humans. In America humans are now responsible for 84% of wildfires.
In Australia most bushfires used to be caused by lightning. Today, with increased numbers of people moving to the bush, humans cause half of all fires there.
Forest fires driven by agricultural expansion spike every summer in Indonesia. Nearly all of them are caused by humans. The country's forests and peatlands are illegally drained and set aflame to make space for commercial farming. In 2015, wildfires in Indonesia made worse by El Nino contributed to the single largest rise in annual global CO2 emissions.
Humans are the primary cause of wildfires. A problem that in some places climate change will make worse.
Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films throughout the working week.
For more from Economist Films visit: https://econ.st/2LDt2C0
Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk
Like The Economist on Facebook: https://econ.st/2LDt392
Follow The Economist on Twitter: https://econ.st/2LzWSHC
Follow us on Instagram: https://econ.st/2LDt4K8
Follow us on Medium: https://econ.st/2LzWTeE