Surge in Wildfire Extent Across the Iberian Peninsula
The 2025 Global Forest Fire Report highlights a dramatic expansion in wildfire-affected areas on the Iberian Peninsula, driven largely by climate change. Europe experienced its largest recorded forest fire coverage in 2025, surpassing previous records. These intense fires triggered widespread evacuations and resulted in fatalities. Climate change is increasing the likelihood, severity, and destructiveness of wildfires worldwide. Projections warn that without significant cuts in human-caused emissions, wildfire areas will continue to grow substantially over the coming decades.
Extreme fire weather on the Iberian Peninsula in 2025 was found to be three times more likely due to climate change. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), more than 40,000 people were evacuated across 14 major wildfires in the region that year. Spain recorded its largest burned area since 2002, while Portugal experienced its biggest single wildfire ever documented. August 2025 saw climate change triple the probability of such extreme fire conditions.
Wildfires similar to those seen in Europe in 2025 could scorch about one-third more land over the next 20 years. Under the high emissions scenario SSP3−7.0, fires like those in July-August 2025 may affect 78% more territory by century’s end, with some forecasts suggesting increases up to sevenfold.
'Our findings clearly demonstrate the visible impact of climate change on extreme wildfires globally. Yet decisive action to reduce emissions can still prevent even worse fires in the future.'
— Dr. Chantelle Burton
Drought conditions preceding intense fires contributed to exceptional wildfire events in Canada, the Amazon, the Pantanal-Chiquitano region, and the Congo Basin. In areas with limited fuel, such as northwest Iberia and Los Angeles, unusually wet periods spurred vegetation growth, which later dried rapidly under heat, fueling severe fires. Dr. Francesca Di Giuseppe explained, 'Enhanced vegetation growth following extremely wet conditions, combined with subsequent heat and drought, heightens fire risk through a process known as hydroclimatic recovery.'
Heatwaves and Rising Mortality
During the summer of 2026, Europe faced four consecutive record-breaking heatwaves that caused at least 35,000 excess deaths. Over 25,000 heat-related fatalities were reported in Germany, France, and Spain alone in 2026. By late June, temperatures exceeded 40 °C for three straight days at 46 weather stations in Germany, while Spain saw sustained summer temperatures above 42 °C.
'The strongest signal of climate change emerges during the most extreme wildfires, not average fire activity.'
— Dr. Douglas Kelly
The expansion of wildfires on the Iberian Peninsula and other parts of the world underscores the urgent need for climate action. The record-breaking fire seasons of 2025, along with their human toll and massive evacuations, demonstrate that without proactive emission reductions, such devastating events could become increasingly frequent and severe. Addressing this global challenge requires collective responsibility from governments and societies worldwide.
The alarming increase in wildfire incidents across Europe is not an isolated phenomenon. As highlighted in a recent study, the potential for a significant global temperature rise poses severe risks, leading to a future characterized by extreme climate conditions. Understanding the implications of a possible 5-degree rise in global temperatures can provide crucial insights into the escalating wildfire threats we face today.