Wildfire Warnings: Turning Crisis into Climate Action at COP30

Rising temperatures are fuelling unprecedented wildfires across the world. In Europe, more than one million hectares have burned in 2025, emissions equal to the annual CO₂ output of Portugal or Sweden. In the United States, blazes in California and Oregon continue to force evacuations, while in Brazil the Amazon saw a record 15.6 million hectares scorched last year. From these global devastating fires comes a renewed urgency for global collaboration, and with COP30 on the horizon, there is a growing necessity to turn crisis into lasting climate solutions. 
 
The increasing impacts of climate change, combined with land-use changes, are driving an increase in both the intensity and frequency of wildfires. According to the 2022 UNEP and GRID-Arendal report Spreading like Wildfire: The Rising Threat of Extraordinary Landscape Fires, the global occurrence of extreme fires is projected to rise by up to 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050, and 50% by the end of the century.  
 
With COP30 taking place in Belém, the summit holds significant geographic symbolism. Belém lies at the eastern edge of the Amazon Basin, where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean, serving as a gateway to one of the world’s most critical carbon sinks and placing it at the heart of the global climate system. Against this backdrop, not only is COP30 a negotiation table but it is also a stage upon which the urgency of protecting forests, advancing climate resilience, and securing a sustainable future for all will be put to the test. 
 
From the Amazon to California, wildfires are a stark reminder that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present crisis. COP30 in Belém is more than a summit, it is a test of global resolve. The choice is clear: let fire and deforestation define our future or use this moment to forge stronger commitments that protect forests, cut emissions, and build resilience. What burns today must become the spark for decisive climate action.