Copernicus reports record low global fire emissions in first half of 2026

The European Copernicus observation service announced that global greenhouse‑gas emissions from wildfires fell to under 400 megatonnes of carbon during the first six months of 2026, the lowest level recorded since the series began in 2003. The decline is attributed mainly to reduced seasonal fires in tropical Africa, with emissions falling from 213 Mt in the same period of 2025 to about 154 Mt. Asia’s emissions also dropped to 113 Mt, while the most intense fire activity was observed in Victoria, Australia, early in January.

The report also noted strong fire events in Chile’s Biobío region and Argentina’s Chubut province. Scientists warned that upcoming El Niño conditions could reverse the trend, saying, “Looking ahead, the projected El Niño conditions could increase global fire‑related emissions, as we observed in 2015 and 2019, when persistent biomass burning in Indonesia caused extensive haze and degraded air quality.”