Sarah Meier contributes to impactful report on wildfires
The inaugural State of Wildfires report systematically analyses global wildfire activity during the 2023–2024 fire season, examining the causes, predictability, attribution of these events to climate change, as well as projecting future risks under different climate scenarios. While the global burned area of approximately 4 million km² during this season was slightly below the average of previous years, fire carbon emissions were 16% above average, reaching 2.4 PgC.
Notable extreme events included unprecedented fire extent and emissions in Canada, the largest wildfire recorded in the European Union (Greece), drought-driven fires in western Amazonia and northern South America, and deadly fires in Hawaii and Chile. The report concludes that anthropogenic climate change has significantly heightened the probability of extreme fire seasons, with the likelihood of high fire weather increasing three to four times in Canada and an astounding 20 to 29 times in Amazonia. Regional predictability varied, with Canada showing early warning signs, while events in Greece and Amazonia had shorter prediction windows. By consolidating state-of-the-art wildfire science, offering new publicly available datasets, and delivering key insights for policymakers, disaster management services, firefighting agencies, and land managers, the report aims to enhance society’s resilience to wildfires and promote advances in preparedness, mitigation, and adaptation.
This report is the result of a collaborative effort by a diverse team of global experts, each contributing their specialised knowledge. Within this international team, Sarah Meier was brought on board to offer her economic expertise, building on her previous work in this area. She played a key role in summarising the economic impacts of wildfires, ensuring the report provides a well-rounded view. This collective effort highlights the report’s comprehensive approach to understanding the multifaceted challenges of wildfires. Since its publication, the report has had a significant impact, being featured by over 200 news outlets worldwide, further amplifying its importance and reach.
