Canada’s 2023 wildfires released more carbon than nearly all countries

Wildfires that burned through Canada’s boreal forests in 2023 emitted more carbon dioxide than most countries, raising concerns about the future of global carbon storage.

Manuela Andreoni reports for The New York Times.

In short:

• The 2023 Canadian wildfires emitted more carbon than all but three countries, complicating climate models.
• Boreal forests, vital for carbon storage, may no longer regrow as they used to due to frequent intense fires.
• Extreme weather, driven by climate change, is making catastrophic wildfires like these more common.

Key quote:

“These so-called flash droughts can really change things rapidly. It dried up real quick, real quick, and then you had lightning at the absolute worst time imaginable.”

— Marc-André Parisien, senior researcher, Canadian Forest Service

Why this matters:

As climate change accelerates, forests that once absorbed carbon may now contribute to global warming. This shift could worsen climate predictions, making it harder to limit global temperature rise.

Related EHN coverage:

• The push for standing forest protections in US climate policy
• Cutting forests and disturbing natural habitats increases our risk of wildlife diseases
• Trees, science and the goodness of green space.