Record-High CO2 Emissions in 2024 Linked to Wildfires in the Americas

Devastating wildfires fueled by prolonged drought have destroyed millions of hectares of land and significantly worsened air quality across North and South America.

• Wildfires in 2024 burned over 22 million hectares in Brazil alone, a 150% increase compared to the same period in 2023, with severe impacts also reported in Canada and the United States.
• The EU Copernicus program identified these fires as a major contributor to record-breaking global CO2 emissions, exacerbating the climate crisis.
• Smoke from the fires caused hazardous air quality in cities like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasilia, with effects felt on a continental scale.
• The Pantanal wetland, shared by Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay, faced unprecedented fire activity, threatening biodiversity and ecosystems.
• Nicaragua and Bolivia recorded their highest carbon emissions from wildfires in history, highlighting the escalating environmental toll of extreme drought conditions.

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