The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires in Colorado

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis attributes 48 percent of the rise in fire-danger conditions in western North America since 1901 and 37 percent of the cumulative burned forest area since 1986 to emissions from the 88 largest fossil fuel and cement companies. In Colorado, over 5,000 wildfires burned more than 1 million acres between 2017 and 2021, including the record-breaking 2020 Cameron Peak Fire. The document argues that these companies should be held accountable for the costs of climate change and recommends that state governments implement policies to reduce human-ignited fires, increase forest health resources, and protect vulnerable communities.

• Since 1901, 48 percent of the increase in fire-danger conditions—measured by vapor pressure deficit (VPD)—across western North America is attributable to carbon emissions from the 88 largest fossil fuel companies and cement manufacturers.
• Of the 53.0 million acres of forested land that burned in western North America since 1986, nearly 19.8 million acres (37 percent) are attributable to emissions from the 88 largest carbon producers.
• Colorado faced significant wildfire impacts from 2017 to 2021, with over 5,000 fires burning more than 1 million acres and destroying nearly 2,500 homes and businesses. The 2020 Cameron Peak Fire is noted as the largest fire on record in the state, burning over 200,000 acres.
• The document recommends that state governments hold fossil fuel companies accountable by preserving court access for impacted communities, accounting for climate risks in investments, and pressuring companies to end greenwashing and align business models with the Paris Agreement.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2023). The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires in Colorado. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/fossil-fuels-behind-forest-fires-CO.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires in Colorado. 2023. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/fossil-fuels-behind-forest-fires-CO.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires in Colorado |date=May 2023 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/fossil-fuels-behind-forest-fires-CO.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2023fossil, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires in Colorado}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/fossil-fuels-behind-forest-fires-CO.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }