Canada’s 2023 wildfires burned an area nearly the size of Ireland, releasing emissions equivalent to four times the global aviation sector.
Wildfires disproportionately impacted First Nations and Indigenous communities, whose traditional fire management practices could help mitigate risks. Unlike cars, trees can grow back and recapture some of that carbon, but this can take decades, and as fires become more frequent, permanent carbon recapture isn’t certain. “Meanwhile, time is in short supply tocaused by climate change dry out the landscape and make forests more susceptible to fire. The researchers point out that Canada and other northern regions are warming up about twice as fast as the rest of the world.
“By excluding all emissions and removals in managed forests affected by natural disturbances, Canada’s national greenhouse gas inventory may be underestimating land-based carbon emissions,” the researchers write.globally by the end of the century…correctly accounting for them in global emissions inventories is essential,” the report states. “Fighting forest fires — and accurately accounting for their emissions — are critical measures for overcoming the world’s growing climate crisis.
The start of burn practices by Indigenous people participating in a fire training event in October 2022. Images by bay laurel O’Connor/courtesy of the Karuk Tribe.