Human-caused climate change has made extreme wildfire conditions significantly more likely in Spain and France, according to a new analysis by the World Weather Attribution (WWA).
The study found that the combination of extreme heat, dry conditions, and weather patterns that fuel wildfires became at least 20 times more likely in central Spain and at least twice as likely in southwestern France due to global warming.
The findings follow devastating wildfires that swept across both countries in July, burning around 140,000 hectares of land in Spain and more than 115,000 hectares in France. The fires forced over 300,000 people to evacuate and caused widespread destruction.
Researchers said the extreme fires were driven by a dangerous mix of weather conditions. Heavy winter rainfall encouraged vegetation growth, but a prolonged dry spring and intense summer heat turned the vegetation into fuel that allowed fires to spread rapidly.
The analysis showed that wildfire conditions similar to those experienced this summer are becoming more frequent. Scientists estimate that such events could occur once every six years in central Spain and once every 20 years in southwestern France under today’s climate conditions.
Experts warned that the impact of the fires extended beyond burned areas, with smoke pollution affecting air quality hundreds of kilometres away and increasing health risks for communities already affected by repeated heatwaves.
Climate scientists urged governments to strengthen wildfire prevention measures, improve emergency response systems, and accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
They warned that rising global temperatures are creating conditions for more frequent and destructive extreme weather events, making climate adaptation an urgent priority.
