EU wildfire risk increasing, warns scientific council
The European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) has called for a major overhaul of EU wildfire policy, urging a transition from reactive firefighting to proactive risk-based land management.
According to EASAC’s new report, “Changing Wildfires – Policy Options for a Fire-literate and Fire-adapted Europe,” the probability of extreme wildfires is rising sharply due to climate change, land abandonment, and prolonged droughts.
EASAC Environment Director Professor Thomas Elmqvist said: “Many parts of Europe are facing a large increase in multi-year droughts, leading to an increased probability of extreme fires. Some areas are likely to experience severe events every two years.”
Landscape change and fire suppression policies under scrutiny
The EASAC report highlights how rural depopulation and unmanaged vegetation have increased fuel availability in many regions.
This has made landscapes more vulnerable to large fires, particularly as summer rainfall declines.
The council stated that half a million hectares burn annually across the EU – an area nearly twice the size of Luxembourg.
It warned that current fire suppression strategies are no longer adequate.
Co-Chair of the Wildfires Working Group Dr Cathelijne Stoof said: “Suppressing fires alone is not enough.
“We need to address root causes, better fight climate change, invest in resilient landscapes, and engage society in living with fire.”
Calls for new EU-wide governance and fire literacy
EASAC’s report recommends creating an integrated EU governance framework to manage fire risk.
This would include coordinated land use planning, resource-sharing, and public education programmes.
The council has urged member states to promote “fire literacy” through education, particularly among young people, and to support community engagement in adapting to wildfire risks.
Elmqvist added: “Europe will increasingly have to learn to live with fire and adapt society to a new challenging reality.”
Policy options include nature-based solutions and land management
The report sets out eight recommendations, including greater investment in fuel management, prescribed burning, sustainable grazing, and support for private landowners to adopt fire-resilient practices.
EASAC also advocated for aligning fire risk reduction with biodiversity and tree-planting plans.
It emphasised the need to prevent unintentionally increasing vulnerability during reforestation efforts.
Dr Orsolya Valkó, Co-Chair of the Wildfires Working Group, said: “The changing fire regime with larger, more intense blazes is driven not only by weather, but also by structural socio-ecological shifts.
“Many new areas, such as Central Europe and rapidly warming mountainous areas, will probably be exposed to severe fire weather.”
EASAC calls for proactive EU wildfire policy shift as climate risk increases: Summary
The European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) has published a new report warning of increasing wildfire risk in Europe.
The report is titled “Changing Wildfires – Policy Options for a Fire-literate and Fire-adapted Europe.”
EASAC said that climate change, land-use shifts and rural depopulation are making wildfires more likely.
It found that current EU fire suppression policies are not sufficient to manage the growing threat.
The report calls for a transition to risk-based land management and integrated EU-wide governance.
It recommends fire prevention, fuel management, education and nature-based land restoration.
Three key messages and eight policy recommendations are included in the report.
The findings were presented at a launch event on 19 May 2025 in Brussels.
Speakers included scientists, EU policymakers and representatives from fire management bodies.
EASAC said education and communication will be central to achieving a fire-resilient society.