Extreme heatwaves cause wildfires in Europe, WWF warns of climate crisis

Extreme heatwaves are driving wildfires across Europe, with Spain declaring a national emergency in two regions including Madrid. In France, President Macron has called for the activation of an EU civil protection mechanism to tackle forest fires. French authorities have deployed military vehicles and helicopters in the southwest, where raging wildfires have scorched forests, farmlands, and vineyards. More than 20,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated from homes and campsites in the Gironde region, and over 3,000 hectares have been burnt. A separate fire in the south of France has flared up again as the country faces its third heatwave of the summer. Firefighters are also battling blazes in Italy.

Beyond Europe, the heat is taking a toll on wildlife, including animals long adapted to hot climates. Camels in North Africa and the Horn of Africa, which account for about 80% of the world's one-humped camel population, are suffering. Herders report camels with blisters on their hooves and skin burned by hot sand, along with stress, fatigue, and dehydration. Rising temperatures are also fueling diseases and death among the animals, which are vital for livelihoods and food security in many communities.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has warned that the climate crisis is driving these extreme events. Nikhil Advani, Senior Director of Wildlife, Climate, and Resistance at WWF, said the world may be entering a "super El Nino phase" that brings extreme heat. He noted that parts of the planet are crossing temperature thresholds never seen before, affecting species and people everywhere. Examples include howler monkeys in South America falling from trees and dying from dehydration, flying foxes in Australia suffering similar fates, and polar bears losing sea ice habitat. Emperor penguin colonies have lost entire generations of chicks due to melting sea ice. Coral reefs are also under threat.

Advani stressed that the single most important action is to drastically reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Even if emissions stopped overnight, decades to centuries of warming are already locked in, so adaptation measures are essential. WWF's Wildlife Adaptation Innovation Fund has funded projects to help corals, sea turtles, birds, and other species cope with extreme heat. On a local level, people can help by providing shade and water in their gardens, as animals seek shelter and water during heatwaves. The report underscores the urgent need for both global emission cuts and local adaptation to protect ecosystems and human communities from the escalating impacts of climate change.