Canada’s 2023 Wildfires Emerge as Major Greenhouse Gas Emitters

A recent study published in Nature reveals that wildfires in Canada during 2023 released 647 megatonnes of greenhouse gases, surpassing emissions from seven of the world’s ten largest national emitters, including Germany, Japan, and Russia, The Guardian reported yesterday.

If classified as a country, Canada’s wildfires would rank as the fourth-largest emitter globally, trailing only China, India, and the United States.

The fires, which burned 15 million hectares (37 million acres) or about 4% of Canada’s forests, highlight concerns over reliance on forests as carbon sinks. Typically, Canadian forest fires emit between 29 and 121 megatonnes annually, but climate change is intensifying fire conditions.

Study author Brendan Byrne from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory emphasizes the need to adjust carbon emission allowances based on forest absorption capabilities. The report warns that worsening wildfires are not reflected in Canada’s greenhouse gas inventory, complicating efforts to manage the global carbon budget effectively.