As wildfires scorch the earth, the Arctic biome rejects more carbon

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)

Wildfires Across the U.S. and Japan

• Several states in the U.S. recently faced tornadoes, wildfires, and dust storms.

• Fires in Texas and Oklahoma destroyed nearly 300 homes and caused massive damage, similar to earlier fires in Los Angeles.

• Around 16,000 hectares of land and natural ecosystems were burnt in California, making it one of the most destructive fires in its history.

• In Japan, a wildfire near Ofunato City destroyed around 210 buildings, killed one person, and forced over 4,200 residents to evacuate.

• It burned about 2,900 hectares of land, making it one of the largest fires in five decades.

Rising Carbon Emissions from Fires

• These fires released large amounts of carbon into the air.

• In January 2025 alone, wildfires released 800,000 tonnes of carbon — four times more than a decade ago.

• Satellites showed that the heat energy from these fires was much higher than the long-term average since 2003.

Forest Fires and Warming in India

• In 2023-24, Uttarakhand had the highest number of forest fires, followed by Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

• Though fire hotspots in India are decreasing slightly, land temperatures are rising.

• Heat waves are lasting longer and occurring earlier, increasing the risk of fires.

• Forest fires in India release about 69 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Arctic Losing Its Role as a Carbon Sink

• The Arctic Boreal Zone, once a major carbon sink, is now releasing carbon due to intense wildfires and thawing permafrost.

• Around 30% of this zone has shifted from absorbing carbon to releasing it.

• Fires in Alaska, Europe, and Siberia are major contributors to this change.

• This change creates a harmful cycle: more fires release more carbon, which worsens global warming and leads to even more fires.

Conclusion

• Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense, turning vital carbon sinks into carbon sources and accelerating climate change.

• Urgent global action is needed to strengthen fire management and protect ecosystems.