Forest fires in Russia have so far burned an area larger than the size of Greece, according to Greenpeace Russia. On Monday, the environmental organization criticized government officials for their inaction in the region amid record heat waves.
Using satellite data, Greenpeace Russia reported that approximately 19 million hectares, approximately 47 million acres, of forests, steppes and fields have been burned in Siberia since January. Around 10 million hectares of these territories suffered forest fires.
The fires have become a annual occurrenceBut the record heat of the past month has intensified the damage. Greenpeace Russia said the authorities have not done enough to improve conditions.
“It is another year that Russian authorities have failed to stop these fires that risk local communities and contribute to climate change,” the organization said on Monday.
Julia Petrenko / Greenpeace
While most fires occur in remote areas, Greenpeace said harmful smoke has spread to larger cities, as well as many small towns and villages. This smoke is adversely affecting air quality in the region, which could exacerbate symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.
“The vast Russian region of Siberia became a climate focus, warming up much faster than the rest of the planet. This summer has already brought extreme heat waves, oil spills caused by the melting of permafrost, and raging forest fires, What happens before we finally act on the climate? “Said Greenpeace Russia’s forest fire unit chief Grigory Kuksin. “Russian authorities must work quickly to prevent cities from filling up with toxic smoke. It is to stop economic cuts in forest protection and support national forestry to protect our health and our climate.”
Activists said some of the forest fires are the result of lightning, but many were started by campfires along the river. Another cause is large-scale, intentional burns that spiral out of control.
According to the country’s Federal Forest Agency, an emergency team was dispatched Tuesday to fight fires in eight territories. Fire safety equipment has also been introduced in 55 other regions in an attempt to contain the fires.
The agency said 797 forest fires were extinguished in 43 regions of Russia last week, covering more than 63,000 hectares, about 156,000 acres. She confirmed that humans and storms are the two main causes of fires.
Julia Petrenko / Greenpeace
“Having been an atmospheric scientist for decades, it doesn’t surprise me much. But the unprecedented Siberian heat wave that led to these fires, and overall, the breakneck pace of change in the Arctic, is shocking,” said the meteorologist and specialist. in weather Jeff Berardelli from CBS News. . “While it may seem remote to most people, it is one of the most alarming canaries in a coal mine, alerting us that humans are now a powerful force of nature. Extreme weather and ecological impacts in eastern Siberia years vividly illustrate that we have very limited time to act to avoid the worst impacts of human-made climate change. “
In June, the small Siberian city of Verkhoyansk rose to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking an all-time record for alarming and arctic meteorologists worldwide. Verkhoyansk is typically one of the coldest places on Earth.
Last week, researchers revealed that such a large-scale heat wave would have been “essentially impossible“without man-made climate change.
“We are now seeing events outside of what our societies are adapted to,” said study co-author Dr. Friederike Otto. “Climate change is already here, not only is it a problem for someone else, but heat waves threaten lives and livelihoods everywhere.”
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