Brazil strengthens fire management as global fire emissions hit 24‑year low

Brazil has approved a new legal framework, the National Policy for Integrated Fire Management (PNMIF), aiming to shift away from a "zero‑fire" approach and improve coordination among federal, state and municipal authorities. The policy expands prescribed burns, increases contracted firefighting brigades and reinforces response structures, though experts warn that implementation gaps and budget uncertainties remain. The measure was prompted by heightened fire risk during the 2024 El Niño, which has intensified heat and drought in the Central‑West, Amazon‑Cerrado transition zones and parts of the Matopiba region.

At the same time, satellite monitoring by the European Copernicus program shows that global carbon emissions from wildfires and agricultural burning fell to the lowest level in 24 years during the first half of 2024. The decline is attributed to reduced seasonal burns in tropical Africa and parts of Asia. Scientists caution that the trend could reverse, noting large fire events in Canada, Siberian Russia and several European countries in late June, and warning that the upcoming El Niño may raise fire risk again in Europe and elsewhere.