Wildfires in Canada last year released more greenhouse gases than some of the largest pollution emitting countries, revealed a report on Wednesday (August 28). Shockingly, the wildfires released 647 megatonnes of carbon, which is seven to ten times that of the largest national emitters for the year 2022.

This revelation has called into question the national emission budgets that rely on forests to be carbon stores.&nbsp;

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:118,&quot;w&quot;:926,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1861}">What research shows</h2>

The study published in the journal Nature revealed that at nearly&nbsp;650 megatonnes of carbon,&nbsp; these emissions were more than that of Japan, Germany, and Russia in 2022.

Only India, China, and the United States emitted more carbon than that from the wildfires. This means that if Canada's wildfires were to be ranked as global carbon emitters, it&nbsp;would be the world's fourth-largest emitter.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:263,&quot;w&quot;:586,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2006}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/namibia-to-cull-over-700-elephants-hippos-and-other-animals-for-meat-heres-why-754340">Namibia to cull over 700 elephants, hippos and other animals for meat. Here's why</a>

While typical emissions from Canadian wildfires over the last ten years have been in the range of 29 to 121 megatonnes, this massive jump in emissions is caused by climate change.

Driven by fossil fuel burning, climate change has led to drier and hotter conditions and in turn extreme wildfires.

In 2023, wildfires laid claim to around four per cent of Canada's forests, burning 15 million hectares (37 million acres).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jd-vance-in-a-pickle-once-again-another-childless-ladies-comment-comes-to-light-754360">JD Vance in a pickle once again: Another 'childless ladies' comment comes to light</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:414,&quot;w&quot;:926,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2157}">Forests: Good or Bad?</h2>

This finding has become a cause of major concern. Forests are typically viewed as a long-term carbon sink that helps with industrial emissions. However, as it turns out, the emissions from forest wildfires might actually be aggravating the problem that is climate change.

"If our goal is really to limit the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, we need to make adaptations into how much carbon we are allowed to emit through our economy, corresponding to how much carbon is being absorbed or not absorbed by forests," stated Brendan Byrne, an atmospheric scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the author of this study.

(With inputs from agencies)

Wildfires in Canada last year released more greenhouse gases than some of the largest pollution emitting countries, revealed a report on Wednesday (August 28). Shockingly, the wildfires released 647 megatonnes of carbon, which is seven to ten times that of the largest national emitters for the year 2022.

Wildfires in Canada last year released more greenhouse gases than some of the largest pollution emitting countries, revealed a report on Wednesday (August 28). Shockingly, the wildfires released 647 megatonnes of carbon, which is seven to ten times that of the largest national emitters for the year 2022. This revelation has called into question the national emission budgets that rely on forests to be carbon stores. What research shows The study published in the journal Nature revealed that at nearly 650 megatonnes of carbon, these emissions were more than that of Japan, Germany, and Russia in 2022. Only India, China, and the United States emitted more carbon than that from the wildfires. This means that if Canada's wildfires were to be ranked as global carbon emitters, it would be the world's fourth-largest emitter. Also read | Namibia to cull over 700 elephants, hippos and other animals for meat. Here's why While typical emissions from Canadian wildfires over the last ten years have been in the range of 29 to 121 megatonnes, this massive jump in emissions is caused by climate change. Driven by fossil fuel burning, climate change has led to drier and hotter conditions and in turn extreme wildfires. In 2023, wildfires laid claim to around four per cent of Canada's forests, burning 15 million hectares (37 million acres). Also read | JD Vance in a pickle once again: Another 'childless ladies' comment comes to light Forests: Good or Bad? This finding has become a cause of major concern. Forests are typically viewed as a long-term carbon sink that helps with industrial emissions. However, as it turns out, the emissions from forest wildfires might actually be aggravating the problem that is climate change. "If our goal is really to limit the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, we need to make adaptations into how much carbon we are allowed to emit through our economy, corresponding to how much carbon is being absorbed or not absorbed by forests," stated Brendan Byrne, an atmospheric scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the author of this study. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada wildfires released 647 megatonnes of greenhouse gas in 2022, 4th biggest source of global emissions

Hundreds of firefighters fought wildfires and flare-ups that have devoured record numbers of woodlands in Greece Saturday and left hundreds of families homeless, but heavy rains brought some respite to hard-hit Turkey.

More than 1,450 Greek firefighters backed by at least 15 aircraft were battling the fires, with reinforcements arriving from other countries, the fire service said.

The blazes in Greece are set to continue, with strong winds and temperatures of up to 38 degrees C (100 F) forecast in some regions on Saturday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozen-homes-destroyed-five-hospitalised-in-greece-forest-fire-402086">Dozen homes destroyed, five hospitalised in Greece forest fire</a>

This year's fires have been far more destructive than in previous years.

In the last 10 days, 56,655 hectares (140,000 acres) have been burnt in Greece,&nbsp;according to the European Forest Fire Information System. The average number of hectares burnt over the same period between 2008 and 2020 was 1,700 hectares.

"When this nightmarish summer ends we will reverse the damage as soon as possible," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged on Saturday.

Rains help Turkey&nbsp;

Greece and Turkey have been fighting devastating fires for more than a week as the region suffers its worst heatwave in decades. Officials and experts have linked such intense weather events to climate change.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greek-firefighters-battle-to-extinguish-forest-blaze-402198">Greek firefighters battle to extinguish forest blaze</a>

So far, they have killed two people in Greece and eight in Turkey, with dozens more hospitalised there during 10 days of the blazes.

A UN draft report seen by AFP labelled the Mediterranean region a "climate change hotspot", warning that heatwaves, droughts and fires would become more fierce in the future, supercharged by rising temperatures.

<img alt="Greece fire" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="42c9e723-f46d-42cf-b41d-3e69a94e57f2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202021-08-07T220245.426.jpg" />

But the weather gave Turkey some respite Saturday. Officials in the Turkish coastal city of Antalya said the blazes were under control in the southwestern province after rainfall there.

And heavy rainfall was expected to continue until the afternoon in areas including Manavgat, one of the most affected by the fires.

The situation remained serious however around the tourist hotspot of Mugla, where at least three neighbourhoods have been ordered to evacuate.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-and-greece-reel-from-raging-wildfires-during-heatwave-403133">Turkey and Greece reel from raging wildfires during heatwave</a>

There have been over 200 fires in 47 of Turkey's 81 provinces, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli tweeted early on Saturday. Thirteen fires continue in five provinces.

Fears of more high winds&nbsp;

Greek Civil Protection deputy minister, Nikos Hardalias said on Saturday that 55 blazes were raging across Greece.

They were burning on Evia, the country's second-largest island, which lies&nbsp;east of the capital; in the Peloponnese region in the southwest; and Fthiotida in Central Greece.

The fire front on Evia alone ran across 30 kilometres (18 miles) long, said Fanis Spanos, the regional governor of Central Greece, but in the Attica peninsula there the situation was "more stable".

There is, however, concern as winds are expected to pick up the pace later in the day, the Fire Brigade said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-evacuated-as-wildfire-reaches-turkeys-thermal-power-plant-402978">Hundreds evacuated as wildfire reaches Turkey's thermal power plant</a>

Part of a motorway linking Athens to the north of the country that had been shut down as a precaution was reopened Saturday.

In the northern Evia, where more than 1,300 people fled the fires on ferry boats Friday from the coastal village of Limni, another 23 were evacuated Saturday morning from a nearby beach at Rovies.&nbsp;

Navy warships are on high alert off the north of the island in case more evacuations are required.

Local officials, there have already called for more air support in the firefighting efforts warning for hundreds of homeless families.

Fanis Spanos told the Athens News Agency (ANA) that more than 300 families whose homes had been burned down were being sheltered in hotels.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-new-fire-breaks-out-in-thermal-power-plant-402921">Turkey: New fire breaks out in thermal power plant</a>

The situation remained dire in Mani, in the Peloponnese, where 5,000 people were evacuated on Friday.&nbsp;

Eleni Drakoulakou, the mayor of East Mani, told ERT TV on Saturday that half the town had been burnt, blaming a lack of water-dropping air support during the critical first hours of the wildfire.&nbsp;

ANA also reported that two people had been charged for arson.

In Athens, police arrested a woman in a park on Friday as she was carrying two lighters, petrol and flammable materials,&nbsp;a few minutes after a fire broke out there.

Authorities have banned visits to parks and forests through Greece.

A 43-year-old man was arrested in the area of Krioneri and charged with arson, according to ANA.

Hundreds of firefighters fought wildfires and flare-ups that have devoured record numbers of woodlands in Greece Saturday and left hundreds of families homeless, but heavy rains brought some respite to hard-hit Turkey.

Hundreds of firefighters fought wildfires and flare-ups that have devoured record numbers of woodlands in Greece Saturday and left hundreds of families homeless, but heavy rains brought some respite to hard-hit Turkey. More than 1,450 Greek firefighters backed by at least 15 aircraft were battling the fires, with reinforcements arriving from other countries, the fire service said. The blazes in Greece are set to continue, with strong winds and temperatures of up to 38 degrees C (100 F) forecast in some regions on Saturday. Also read | Dozen homes destroyed, five hospitalised in Greece forest fire This year's fires have been far more destructive than in previous years. In the last 10 days, 56,655 hectares (140,000 acres) have been burnt in Greece, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. The average number of hectares burnt over the same period between 2008 and 2020 was 1,700 hectares. "When this nightmarish summer ends we will reverse the damage as soon as possible," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged on Saturday. Rains help Turkey Greece and Turkey have been fighting devastating fires for more than a week as the region suffers its worst heatwave in decades. Officials and experts have linked such intense weather events to climate change. Also read | Greek firefighters battle to extinguish forest blaze So far, they have killed two people in Greece and eight in Turkey, with dozens more hospitalised there during 10 days of the blazes. A UN draft report seen by AFP labelled the Mediterranean region a "climate change hotspot", warning that heatwaves, droughts and fires would become more fierce in the future, supercharged by rising temperatures. But the weather gave Turkey some respite Saturday. Officials in the Turkish coastal city of Antalya said the blazes were under control in the southwestern province after rainfall there. And heavy rainfall was expected to continue until the afternoon in areas including Manavgat, one of the most affected by the fires. The situation remained serious however around the tourist hotspot of Mugla, where at least three neighbourhoods have been ordered to evacuate. Also read | Turkey and Greece reel from raging wildfires during heatwave There have been over 200 fires in 47 of Turkey's 81 provinces, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli tweeted early on Saturday. Thirteen fires continue in five provinces. Fears of more high winds Greek Civil Protection deputy minister, Nikos Hardalias said on Saturday that 55 blazes were raging across Greece. They were burning on Evia, the country's second-largest island, which lies east of the capital; in the Peloponnese region in the southwest; and Fthiotida in Central Greece. The fire front on Evia alone ran across 30 kilometres (18 miles) long, said Fanis Spanos, the regional governor of Central Greece, but in the Attica peninsula there the situation was "more stable". There is, however, concern as winds are expected to pick up the pace later in the day, the Fire Brigade said. Also read | Hundreds evacuated as wildfire reaches Turkey's thermal power plant Part of a motorway linking Athens to the north of the country that had been shut down as a precaution was reopened Saturday. In the northern Evia, where more than 1,300 people fled the fires on ferry boats Friday from the coastal village of Limni, another 23 were evacuated Saturday morning from a nearby beach at Rovies. Navy warships are on high alert off the north of the island in case more evacuations are required. Local officials, there have already called for more air support in the firefighting efforts warning for hundreds of homeless families. Fanis Spanos told the Athens News Agency (ANA) that more than 300 families whose homes had been burned down were being sheltered in hotels. Also read | Turkey: New fire breaks out in thermal power plant The situation remained dire in Mani, in the Peloponnese, where 5,000 people were evacuated on Friday. Eleni Drakoulakou, the mayor of East Mani, told ERT TV on Saturday that half the town had been burnt, blaming a lack of water-dropping air support during the critical first hours of the wildfire. ANA also reported that two people had been charged for arson. In Athens, police arrested a woman in a park on Friday as she was carrying two lighters, petrol and flammable materials, a few minutes after a fire broke out there. Authorities have banned visits to parks and forests through Greece. A 43-year-old man was arrested in the area of Krioneri and charged with arson, according to ANA.

Hundreds of families homeless as Greek fires rage, Turkey saved by the rain

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Canada wildfires released 647 megatonnes of greenhouse gas in 2022, 4th biggest source of global emissions

Hundreds of families homeless as Greek fires rage, Turkey saved by the rain