In 2023, Canada experienced its most extreme wildfire season on record. Fires burned 15 million hectares (Mha), more than double the previous record set in 1989. This was the largest area burned since satellite records began in 1972.
A latest study published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science 7 reports that “Human driven climate change increased the likelihood of the 2023 record area burned in Canada”.
Fires affected nearly every forested areas of the county. The burning continued for about six months. This resulted in severe consequences for ecosystems, human health, and the economy.
“With continued warming, the likelihood of extreme fire seasons is projected to increase further in the future, driving additional impacts on health, society, and ecosystems,” study says.
Key Impacts of Canada’s 2023 Wildfire Crisis
The last year’s wildfires in Canada burned 15 million hectares, largest since 1972 or since modern satellite records started. 1989’s wildfire burned 6.7 million hectares, the previous most burned record. So, 2023’s wildfire season was worst in Canada’s history, more than double than 1989’s crisis. Nature and biodiversity faced unprecedented consequences as a result of these record-breaking wildfires.
Here are some of the consequences at a glance noted from the study:
- 15 million hectares (150,000 km2) burned.
- 232,000 people evacuations, the highest recorded in Canadian history.
- Severe air quality impacts (heavy smoke and other volatile emissions) across Canada and the United States.
- Prolonged strain on firefighting resources, with Canada at its highest preparedness level for 120 consecutive days. Unprecedented for the nation.
- Economic losses estimated in the several billions of dollars. Impacts on Canada’s net annual carbon balance as well.
- Wildfire Carbon dioxide emissions were 700 Tg CO2, eight times the 1985–2022 average (Canada-wide wildfire CO2 emissions between 1985 and 2022 averaged 88 ± 62 Tg CO2 year-1), contributing significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Change Made Canada’s 2023 Wildfires Worse
According to the research, human-induced climate change played a critical role in worsening the 2023 wildfire season and its impacts on humans and ecosystems.
- Climate models showed that a fire season of this scale was more than five times as likely due to human influence.
- Extreme fire weather conditions and long-lasting fires were significantly more probable.
- East and southwest Canada experienced the largest increases in fire likelihood and area burned.
- Record temperatures in 2023, warmest year on record since 1850 (note: 2024 is predicted to beat the temperature record), increased the likelihood of large area burned and a longer fire season.
- The average temperature in Canada during the 2023 fire season was observed to be 2.2 °C warmer than the 1991-2020 average.
- Persisted drought, early snowmelt, and fire-conducive weather contributed to the fire season.
The 2023 wildfires released 700 Tg CO2. This was Canada’s largest annual wildfire CO2 release on record. Rising emissions contribute to global warming and have greater influence on the wildfire cycle. Extreme fire seasons will become more frequent. Larger burned areas and greater emissions are expected. Fire management resources will face increasing strain.
The severity of the wildfire season varied across Canada.
While all of Canada’s forested regions were affected, the southwest and east ecozones saw the largest increases in the likelihood and more than two-fold increases in area burned. In contrast, the northwest saw smaller changes due to balancing effects of increased precipitation, the study observed.
