The 2023 Canadian forest fires have burned over 15 million hectares, equating to more than seven times the average burned area of the past four decades.
The carbon emissions from the fires were quantified at 647 TgC, which is comparable to the annual fossil fuel emissions of large nations like India and China.
Widespread hot-dry weather was a crucial factor driving the enhanced fire spread, marking 2023 as the warmest and driest year since at least 1980.
Climate projections indicate such extreme temperatures are expected to become typical by the 2050s, raising concerns about long-term forest durability and carbon uptake.
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