From TIME · Simmone Shah · · 1m 50s
Europe's children face twice the fire weather of their grandparents
A new study shows European children born today will experience 84% more extreme fire weather in their lifetimes than those born in 1950.
In brief
A new study shows European children born today will experience 84% more extreme fire weather in their lifetimes than those born in 1950. Children born in Europe in 2025 will live through more than three additional years of extreme fire weather compared to those born in 1950, with the Mediterranean facing the worst…
European children face 84% more fire weather
A new study finds children born in Europe in 2025 will experience almost twice as much extreme fire weather as their grandparents, equivalent to over three additional years of dangerous conditions.
“Children born in Europe in 2025 will live through more than three additional years of extreme fire weather compared with someone born in 1950”
Mediterranean faces worst impacts
The Mediterranean region, already hard hit by wildfires, will see people born in 2025 face up to 2.5 times the exposure to extreme fire weather compared to those born in 1950, equivalent to over five additional years.
“There, people born in 2025 are projected to face up to 2.5 times the exposure to extreme fire weather than those born in 1950”
What is extreme fire weather
Fire weather refers to hot, dry, and windy conditions that make fires more likely to ignite and spread faster. Extreme fire weather days are when conditions exceed the top 5% historically recorded for that country.
“It doesn't mean that there [will be] a wildfire on all of those days, but it does mean that the risk is much higher”
Portugal and Greece face severe increases
Portugal expects extreme fire weather days to more than double from 14 per year in 1950-1970 to 32 by 2100. A Greek child born in 2025 can expect 473 additional days of extreme fire weather exposure over their lifetime.
“Each additional degree of global warming by the end of the century adds around 272 days of extreme fire weather to the life of a Portuguese child born in 2025”
Wildfire smoke harms health long-term
Exposure to wildfire smoke causes immediate symptoms like coughing and wheezing, and long-term exposure can damage lungs and hearts, cause cognitive impairment, memory loss, and increase death risk.
“Long-term exposure to wildfire smoke is also associated with higher risk of death”
Emissions cuts could reduce exposure
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C by 2100 could avoid significant exposure, but the world is currently on track for 1.8°C or higher. Every fraction of a degree of avoided warming reduces the hazard younger people face.
“While younger people will be more exposed than older generations under all pathways, every fraction of a degree of warming counts”
The takeaway
Children born in Europe in 2025 will live through more than three additional years of extreme fire weather compared to those born in 1950, with the Mediterranean facing the worst impacts.
