The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, as seen recently in Los Angeles, underscore the pressing challenges posed by climate change and land-use patterns. With 2024 confirmed as the hottest year on record, the question arises: are Europe and the Mediterranean region truly prepared to tackle these escalating risks?
The insights gained from working on wildfires in the Mediterranean region are huge, as it remains the most wildfire-impacted area in Europe, with three of the worst fire seasons on record occurring in the last six years. “The policy of focusing disproportionately on firefighting is not working as the kinds of fires we are seeing today are no longer controllable,” says CMCC researcher Costantino Sirca, a point that is underscored by the apocalyptic images emerging from Los Angeles.
“It is important to emphasise that climate change has a huge impact and exacerbates a situation that is already at high risk,” says Valentina Bacciu, researcher at CNR-IBE and CMCC. “The causes are often a combination of vegetation and climate which make areas such as the Mediterranean, California and Australia, for example, particularly predisposed to fire.”
CMCC researchers highlight the need to change fire risk management culture from a response-heavy approach – think fire trucks and airplanes – to strategies built around prevention and preparedness. At SYNERGIES, we share CMCC’s focus on the need to strengthen a culture of prevention and preparedness.