Europa u plamenu, očekujte najgore

Europe faces its most severe wildfire season on record, with flames consuming vast areas across multiple countries and threatening communities from the Iberian Peninsula to the French Atlantic coast. In Spain’s Ávila province near Madrid, officials have dubbed the ongoing blazes the “century fire,” while residents in France’s Landes region near Bordeaux describe the situation as the worst since World War II. The escalating crisis has sparked warnings from environmental experts and humanitarian organizations, who say the continent is witnessing a pattern of increasingly frequent, intense, and widespread wildfires driven by climate change. The current wildfire season has already exceeded previous records, with over 434,976 hectares burned through July 29, 2026—surpassing the total area consumed during the same period last year, which stood at 346,836 hectares. This sharp increase reflects a growing trend of more severe and prolonged fire seasons across Europe. Between 2000 and 2024, the average annual area affected by wildfires was around 4,230 square kilometers, equivalent to 4% of farmland, 9% of forests, and 21% of grasslands. However, by 2025, the destruction had surged to approximately 10,000 square kilometers, marking a dramatic escalation in the scale of damage. Meteorological models based on the high-risk days index developed by the European Environment Agency suggest that the situation could worsen further. If global warming remains below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the risk of wildfires is projected to extend by around 10 additional days per year in southern Spain, Turkey, and southern Greece. Southern Italy and central Greece could see five more high-risk days annually, while Hungary and central France might face four additional days. In northern and central Europe, the number of high-risk days could rise significantly as well. Under a scenario where global temperatures rise by 3 degrees Celsius, the Mediterranean region and Turkey could experience two to five extra weeks of wildfire conditions compared to the baseline period of 1991–2020. Large parts of the Iberian Peninsula, Turkey, and southern Greece would face up to four months of favorable conditions for fires each year, while southern Italy and central Greece could endure three months. Both the Atlantic and continental regions of Europe would see up to two additional weeks of fire risk, and even Scandinavian and Baltic countries could face some days of danger. Scientists estimate that global temperatures could reach 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels before 2050. Maria Alcazar Castilla, deputy director for Europe at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, described the pattern of extreme heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires feeding into one another as a recurring threat across the continent. She emphasized the need for sustained investment in preparedness and adaptation to climate change so that communities can better withstand future crises. Meanwhile, Terry Reintke, co-president of the Greens group in the European Parliament, criticized political leaders for treating climate action as optional, despite the mounting human and economic toll of heatwaves and wildfires. She called for urgent measures to address the intertwined risks to public health, security, and social stability posed by these disasters. Across Europe, emergency services and local authorities have been working tirelessly to contain the blazes, but the sheer scale of the fires has overwhelmed resources in several regions. In Spain, firefighters have struggled to protect homes and infrastructure in rural areas, while in France, entire villages have been forced to evacuate due to rapidly spreading flames. The impact on agriculture and ecosystems has also been profound, with large tracts of land turned to ash and wildlife habitats severely disrupted. As the summer progresses, scientists warn that the situation could deteriorate further, particularly if dry weather persists and high-pressure systems remain in place. With millions of people already experiencing unbearable heat and displacement, the coming months will test the resilience of European societies and their ability to respond to the accelerating impacts of climate change.