UK Peatland Fires Set to Surge, Emissions Could Jump 60% with 2°C Warming
A new study warns that fire emissions from the UK’s peatlands could increase by 60% if global temperatures rise by 2°C, highlighting the growing threat of climate change to these vital carbon stores.
Researchers found that between 2001 and 2021, peatland fires in the UK released an estimated 800,000 tonnes of carbon. If warming continues, annual emissions could reach 3.8 million tonnes equivalent to those from 820,800 cars or 133 commercial aircraft. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, underscores the urgent need for restoration efforts to prevent catastrophic carbon losses.
Peatlands, covering 9% of the UK’s land area, naturally sequester over three million tonnes of CO₂ annually. However, land management practices and prolonged dry spells have made them more sus...
