The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that 37% of the cumulative burned forest area in western North America since 1986 is attributable to emissions from 88 of the world's largest carbon producers. The report links these emissions to a rise in vapor pressure deficit (VPD), which increases atmospheric 'thirst' and dries out vegetation, thereby amplifying wildfire risk. It argues that these corporations should be held legally and financially accountable for climate damages, including the costs of wildfire suppression and recovery.

• Since 1986, approximately 19.8 million acres of burned forest area in western North America—representing 37% of the cumulative burned area—is attributable to heat-trapping emissions from 88 of the world's largest fossil fuel producers and cement manufacturers.
• Emissions from the 'big 88' carbon producers contributed to nearly half of the observed increase in fire-danger conditions (vapor pressure deficit) across western North America since 1901, with observational data suggesting a contribution of 57% and climate models indicating 48%.
• The emissions associated with the 88 major carbon producers are responsible for increasing the global average temperature by 0.5°C since the start of the 20th century, which is nearly half of the total observed warming during that period.
• Wildfires in western North America are becoming more severe, burning larger areas at higher elevations and over longer seasons; for example, federal fire suppression costs in the US exceeded $4 billion in 2021 and more than doubled in Canada since 1985.
• In California, wildfires between 2017 and 2021 resulted in 186 deaths, the destruction of over 51,000 structures, and damages exceeding $21 billion.
• The report argues that fossil fuel companies should be held accountable for climate harms because they were aware of the negative effects of fossil fuels on the climate as early as 1965 but instead engaged in disinformation campaigns.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2023). The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/fossil-fuels-behind-forest-fires-full-report-2023_0.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires. 2023. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/fossil-fuels-behind-forest-fires-full-report-2023_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires |date=May 2023 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/fossil-fuels-behind-forest-fires-full-report-2023_0.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}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/fossil-fuels-behind-forest-fires-full-report-2023_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }