Emissions from forest fires in Europe 2025 amount to 12.9 megatons of carbon dioxide, according to the satellite monitoring service Cams. These are the highest emission levels measured during the 23 years the measurements have been carried out.
The main reason for the increase was the fires on the Iberian Peninsula in mid-August. The region's total emissions, which until the beginning of August had been below average, changed drastically in just one week. Emissions from the fires in Spain and Portugal accounted for about three-quarters of Europe's total emissions.
In addition to the forest fires, including smoke from fires in Canada, ozone pollution and invading dust from the Sahara contributed to a hectic summer for air pollution monitoring.
