Climate change could almost triple wildfire-burned area in Europe

Climate change could almost triple the area burned by wildfires across Europe by the end of the century under a high-emissions scenario, as hotter, drier and windier conditions increase fire risks, according to a study released Thursday by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).
The scale of the increase will depend largely on future emissions and the extent of global warming. Under a low-emissions scenario, the annual area burned is projected to increase by around 39 percent by the end of the century, while under a high-emissions scenario, the increase could reach 192 percent, the study found.