Arctic Ablaze

Wildfires represent a growing threat in the Arctic, which is warming faster than the rest of the world. Today, the frequency of fires here, and the area burned, are unprecedented over the past 10,000 years – and they’re projected to increase.

“We think of wildfires as forest fires,” says Arctic specialist Bob Baxter, associate professor (reader) in plant ecology at the University of Durham. “But they’re also increasing north of the treeline, in deep peat areas on the tundra. Here, fires are becoming more frequent, more intense, over larger areas.”

This is worrying, because of both the age and volume of the carbon locked up in peat: 500-600 gigatons globally. “Carbon emitted when softwood such as pines burn may have been fixed in the past 30, 50 or 100 years,” explains Bob. “But if peat burns, the carbon this releases will have been sequestered for thousands or tens of thousands of years.”

Fuel stored below the ground burns differently from trees. “Peat fires can smoulder for ages,” says Bob. “In Canada, so-called ‘zombie fires’ have been burning slowly for decades.”

In addition, the loss of above-ground vegetation – whether through forest fires or moss drying out – removes the insulation that protects permafrost from thawing. This can result in the release of long-stored carbon in the form of CO₂ or methane – both potent greenhouse gases.

“At least 14% of the world’s organic carbon is locked away in the peatlands of the north,” says Bob. “And when it’s released, that carbon adds to warming in a part of the world where it’s already enhanced.”

Unless countries around the world step up their ambition to limit warming to 1.5°C, the whole planet will feel the effects of a heating Arctic. With your support, we’re working with governments and businesses to take urgent action – and we ramped up those efforts in advance of 2021’s UN climate change conference (COP26) in Glasgow.