Climate change intensifies wildfires in Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus

This summer, Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus faced devastating wildfires exacerbated by climate change factors such as high temperatures and low rainfall. The World Weather Attribution study revealed that nearly 20 lives were lost to wildfires, forcing around 80,000 people to evacuate from their homes and destroying over 1 million hectares. The summer of 2025 saw temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius, contributing to extreme dry conditions and vigorous winds that further fueled the fires. Researchers identified a 22% increase in the intensity of the wildfires this summer compared to historical data, leading to the worst wildfire year recorded in Europe. Analysis indicated that winter rainfall had decreased by approximately 14% since the pre-industrial era, intensified by a heavy dependence on fossil fuels. This decline in rainfall has made plant matter more susceptible to ignition, with weeklong dry spells now occurring 13 times more frequently due to climate change. The study highlights the alarming trends in which climate change signals are evolving, showing a distinct shift toward hotter and drier weather that severely impacts firefighting strategies. Firefighters now face challenges as traditional patterns, like waiting for high winds to subside, are no longer reliable. Research Director Gavriil Xanthopoulos emphasized that the high-pressure systems that drive strong winds are changing in intensity, creating an unpredictable and dangerous environment for firefighting efforts. The study's findings received support from experts like Flavio Lehner, who noted consistency between these observations and existing literature regarding the relationship between climate change and increased wildfire frequency. This situation signals a pressing need for countries to transition more rapidly away from fossil fuels if we hope to mitigate the effects of climate change on natural disasters. The implications of these findings underline a global crisis stemming from climate change, particularly affecting nations like Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus, which have seen first-hand the devastating results. With the likelihood of more extreme wildfire seasons in the Mediterranean region, governments and societies must urgently respond to the climate crisis through policies and initiatives that prioritize environmental sustainability. Without immediate action, researchers warn that wildfire behavior and intensity will continue to worsen, leading to more severe consequences for human life and ecological sustainability in the future.