- Over the last 20 years the frequency of wildfires has doubled globally.
- CarbonBrief data indicates that over the past 15 years, 14 of the 20 largest wildfires on record have occurred in California.
- From 2001 to 2023 the areas burned has increased by over 5% per year.
- World Meteorological Organization data suggests that globally, extreme fire events could rise by as much as 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050, and 50% by 2100.
Yes, the frequency of wildfires is increasing. Just watching the news tells us that. And we’ve all seen the video of smoke permeating areas over a thousand miles from a fire’s source. But the impact of wildfires goes well beyond poor air quality.
Today’s post – based on information published by the World Resources Institute – highlights five ways wildfires negatively impact society. My focus is on the last impact, because from a messaging standpoint, it’s where I believe the climate movement would be wise to place more emphasis on.
#wildfires #wildfiresmoke #climatechangeisreal #floods #drinkingwater