Forest fires burn in the world: the case of Siberia

Most forest fires come from unprecedented heat and drought in many parts of the world this year. And in the case of the Amazon, they are a unequivocal signal of how humans are radically altering the planet.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said July was the hottest month of July. But not only in the northern hemisphere where they are in summer, but around the world: the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium set temperature records; Paris, parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Spain have also experienced unusually high temperatures. Human activity alters the climate, causing some forests to be warm and dry.

The case of Sibera

An unusually hot and dry summer has created favorable conditions for three consecutive months of forest fires in eastern Russia, having burned an area of ​​over 54,000 km2. Although it is not the most populous region – only a quarter of the Russian population lives there – the impact of fires spreads across the border: the smoke of the flames now envelops an area larger than the European Union. and he is heading to the Arctic, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Although forest fires are a common occurrence in Siberian forests, what is happening today is very unusual. For some environmentalists, the biggest concern is that fire soot can settle on Arctic ice and accelerate its melting. Which in turn can cause a major disruption of local ecosystems. "The disaster in Siberia is not a disaster in Russia, it is a global ecological disaster"said Anton Beneslavsky, a fire expert. The problem is that these fires occur every year and with more intensity. It was a catastrophic fire a year ago, there are now many and in different parts of the world. "

The Russian government has declared an emergency and mobilized the army to contain the fires. And although they work to limit the flames, little can be done to limit the smoke. As if that were not enough, the regulations in force allow the regional authorities to decide whether to extinguish a fire, depending on whether it is economically viable or not.

At the same time, Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev ordered the government to review these regulations at the Parliament meeting next month. Policy change could have significant benefits in the fight against climate change.