Spatial patterns and drivers of wildfire carbon emission since 2000

Between 2000 and 2020, global wildfires emitted approximately 7.32 billion metric tons of CO2, constituting about 18.5% of fossil fuel-related emissions. Despite a decrease in the global burned area, wildfire carbon emissions showed no significant trend. This is because carbon emission of forest fires is increasing, and thus compensates for the reduction in carbon emission from savanna fires. Forest fires is about 5% of global burned area but contribute roughly 20% (1.5 billion metric tons) of these emissions. Increases in forest fire carbon emissions, particularly in the northern high latitudes, are attributed to climate change and human activities. In recent years, the rise in extreme wildfire emissions affects over 40% of global vegetated lands, often linked to extreme fire weather conditions. Addressing this requires the development of advanced forest fire risk identification and prevention technologies.