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 susceptible to wildfires. Unlike forest fires, which primarily burn surface vegetation, peatland fires consume carbon-rich soil, leading to long-lasting environmental damage.
The research, based on high-resolution data from 2001 to 2022, revealed that peatland fires account for up to 90% of the UK’s annual fire-driven carbon emissions. Alarmingly, the country’s fire season has lengthened dramatically, from a maximum of four months before 2016 to as long as nine months in recent years.
Lead researcher Adam Pellegrini from the University of Cambridge stressed the need for proactive measures, particularly rewetting drained peatlands to prevent fires. Scientists argue that restoring these ecosystems is crucial to curbing emissions and meeting climate targets, as peatlands store more carbon than all the world’s forests combined.
With climate change intensifying, experts warn that without immediate intervention, the UK’s peatland fire crisis could spiral out of control, accelerating global warming and threatening biodiversity.