The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on Thursday called for greater investment in wildfire prevention and climate resilience, warning that increasingly destructive fire seasons across Europe and North America underscore the need to shift from emergency response to long-term risk reduction.
“Every summer reminds us that wildfire is no longer an exceptional event but an increasingly predictable consequence of a warming climate,” Paola Deda, the director of UNECE’s Environment and Forests Division, said in a statement.
While emergency response remains essential, she said, “our greatest opportunity lies in prevention, sustainable forest management and building more resilient landscapes and communities.”
According to UNECE, more than 4,340 km² have burned across Europe this year. Spain has seen over 2,000 km² burned, more than twice its historical annual average, while fires in France’s Gironde region have destroyed about 420 km² of pine forest and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and tourists.
The agency noted that the EU has warned that the wildfire crisis is moving eastward, with Greece and Italy expected to face increasing danger as heat wave conditions, drought and strong winds persist into early August.
Caused by human activity
UNECE said around 90 percent of wildfires are caused by human activity, “whether through negligence or deliberate acts,” making stronger public awareness, regulations, and sustainable forest management critical to reducing risks.
It also warned that climate crisis is extending fire seasons and increasing both the frequency and intensity of wildfires, creating a cycle in which larger fires release more greenhouse gases that further accelerate global warming.
The agency highlighted investments in early warning systems, satellite monitoring, and AI-powered fire detection as key tools to strengthen resilience and reduce future losses.
