Record number of forest fires in Europe due to climate change.

Europe has seen a record number of forest fires in 2025, and experts blame climate change for the cause. Higher temperatures and less rainfall are fueling forest fires across the continent.

Europe has seen a record number of forest fires in 2025, and experts blame climate change for the cause. Higher temperatures and less rainfall are fueling forest fires across the continent. More than one million hectares of forest have been burned in Europe this year, more than four times the number in 2024, Euronews said. The European Union reported that more than 1,800 forest fires have broken out in total, emitting more than 38 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Of the 27 EU member states, only the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta have not been affected by fires. Italy and Romania, which top the list, have recorded more than 450 fires. However, the worst-hit country is not always the one with the most fires. Cyprus, for example, reported only three fires, but they were particularly severe. According to Euronews, more than 400,000 hectares of forest have burned in Spain since January. Mark Parrington, a scientist at the European Centre for Medium Range Weather, said that fires are more likely to occur in areas where climate anomalies are making the environment drier and hotter.

Experts have warned that climate change is largely to blame for the more severe fire seasons. Alexander Held, a fire management expert at the European Forest Institute, said that many factors are needed to trigger fires, including weather conditions, geography, vegetation, biomass and fuel. However, weather is the main factor. Warning that such situations are likely to become more common in the future, he added, “Climate change is forcing all these other factors to work together.” Held suggested that proactive landscape management is essential to help firefighters work safely and efficiently.