#forest-fires

#forest-fires

Of the 34 planetary vital signs scientists track, 22 are at record levels in 2025. The year 2024 was the hottest on record, likely warmer than any period in 125,000 years, according to the report. More concerning is that warming is accelerating. Reduced aerosol emissions-typically a public health benefit-have paradoxically removed particles that were masking warming. Combined with changes in cloud behavior and declining planetary reflectivity, Earth is now absorbing more solar energy than most models predicted.

Year-round, a herd of 250 goats known as the goat brigade is deployed in Santa Juana to prevent forest fires by eating highly-flammable vegetation.

Emergency services have been battling forest fires in eastern Germany, with notable incidents in Saxony and Brandenburg, leading to village evacuations and firefighter injuries. A disaster alert was issued for wildfires in the Gohrischheide forest, affecting communities such as Zeithain, Wülknitz, and Gröditz. Reports indicated varying extents of the fire's reach, with estimates between 200 to 1,000 hectares burned. Over 500 emergency personnel have been activated across both states, and the situation was exacerbated by the potential risks posed by ammunition left from military activities.

According to the report, while EU spending on fire prevention has increased significantly, misallocation and rushed spending have undercut the effectiveness of these measures.