Greek scientists warn climate change is fueling wildfires in Eastern Mediterranean

The growing threat of wildfires, which are increasing both in frequency and intensity, is closely intertwined with climate change in the greatly vulnerable Eastern Mediterranean region, prominent Greek scientists have warned.

“The Mediterranean, especially the Eastern Mediterranean, is a climatic hotspot where the temperature is increasing much faster than the rest of the world, and the number of scorching days increased significantly in the last three decades,” Prof. Nikos Michalopoulos of the National Observatory of Athens told Anadolu.

“Dry weather and extreme heat waves, combined with insufficient rainfall which dries vegetation, and strong northern winds, which we call meltemi, create the perfect conditions to initiate and swiftly spread wildfires.”

As to the impact of wildfires, Michalopoulos said their emissions are not only toxic for humans but also further contribute to global warming.

“Most directly, they do this by absorbing solar radiation and generating greenhouse gasses,” he explained.

The fires destroy vegetation and forest land that filter pollutants, exposing us to more air pollution, he said.

The decline of forests, which also operate as natural air conditioners, will mean even hotter weather down the line, he added.

In the case of Athens, which has seen several massive wildfires in recent years, including one in early August, the devastation of forests and their flora is a particularly profound threat, according to Michalopoulos.

“Taking into account that almost 40% of forest land around Athens has been destroyed in the last eight years, the coming months and years will be even harsher in terms of temperature and more extreme events,” he warned.

On measures to curb the consequences of the deforestation caused by wildfires, he said the focus should be on prevention, stressing that citizens have to play their role and not just rely on authorities.

“People should keep their terrain clean and have a water tank or a small reservoir in their garden to help when a fire breaks out,” he said.

From a wider perspective, the most essential prevention measure is to somehow cool down the world, he said.

“That is a long-term endeavor which will take decades even if the volume of carbon emission stops increasing immediately,” he said.

“As such, we will need to adapt our way of life, including living in smaller houses, consuming less meat, and consequently producing less greenhouse gasses.”

Plethora of problems

Athanasios Nenes, a senior researcher at the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, cited the lack of sufficient rain and extreme heat patterns as the primary reasons for increasing wildfires in Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean.

“We are getting less rain. Whenever we have rain, it tends to be sometimes in extreme events, including storms and floods. So, the water goes away quickly, and it doesn’t get absorbed by the ground and ecosystem. It’s really a big problem,” said Nenes, also the director of the Laboratory of Atmospheric Processes at the Lausanne Polytechnique University.

“In the Mediterranean, both sea and ground water are seeing very high temperatures. Whenever you have very warm water, that also tends to intensify the heat in the ground, because the water acts as a reservoir of heat,” he explained.

The increased frequency and intensity of wildfires is making the region vulnerable to more blazes by not giving the soil time to recover, he said.

Overtourism and the prevalent use of outdated agricultural practices that consume too much water is also drying the soil, leading to more wildfires, he added.

On the effects of wildfires on nature, Nenes said they burn natural vegetation that is essential to retain moisture and curb floods, while also destroying flora and fauna that are prominent components of the ecosystem.

For human health, he emphasized the grave danger of the smoke emitted by wildfires.

“When you burn forests, you release massive amounts of particles rich in carcinogenic compounds. When you breathe the particles, your body gets inflamed from the inside, owing to oxidative stress,” he said.

“These particles can increase the risk of heart attacks and cause diabetes, premature aging, lung problems, and shortness of breath.”

Nenes also pointed to the direct link between wildfires and climate change.

“Numerous researchers have showed that without the climate problem we would not have these massive wildfires. We still might have had some, as it is a natural phenomenon, but nothing like what we’re experiencing now,” he said.

He stressed the need for individual and state-level measures such as raising public awareness and vigilance.

People should be discouraged from burning even small fires in forests, and there needs to be more investment in new technologies for rapid response, said Nenes.

“Apart from that, the most effective solution would be to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, and really reach the point where we don’t have any more warming points,” he added.