Climate change has driven forest fires to record levels across Africa, Asia, and other regions this year. The Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media, that scientists are warning of deteriorating conditions as the Northern Hemisphere enters the summer season and the El Niño weather pattern strengthens.
According to data from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) research group, which analyzes the influence of global warming on extreme weather, more than 150 million hectares burned globally between January and April, marking a 20% increase over the previous record. In Africa, approximately 85 million hectares have been destroyed by fire, while Asia has seen 44 million hectares burned—a 40% increase compared to the record set in 2014. Affected nations include India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and China, where researchers attribute the extreme activity to rapid shifts between unusually wet and dry conditions.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts the continued development of El Niño conditions resulting from the warming of sea surfaces in the Pacific Ocean. Experts, including Friederike Otto and Teodor Kiping from Imperial College London, emphasize that the convergence of human-induced climate change and natural cycles could lead to unprecedented weather extremes. As Azerbaijan continues to advocate for global climate resilience and prepares for international environmental summits, these global trends underscore the urgency of mitigating the rising frequency of catastrophic environmental events through international cooperation.
