Climate

Climate and environment.

Climate

Megafires in Europe: Climate makes fire conditions 20 times more likely in Spain, study finds

A World Weather Attribution (WWA) study published on July 31, 2026 concludes that climate warming has made conditions conducive to wildfires at least 20 times more probable in Spain and at least twice as probable in France. Since early July, fires have killed people, destroyed thousands of homes, and forced over 300,000 to flee. Smoke caused pollution peaks 20 times above acceptable air quality thresholds, felt up to 400 km away. Three firefighters died in Greece. The UN climate chief calls for accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.

31 July 2026 at 08:04

Climate

Fires in Gironde: Swiss firefighters deployed, militia system under strain

Swiss firefighters are deployed in Gironde, France, to support French services battling wildfires ravaging the Landes forest since mid-July 2026. After 9 days of firefighting efforts, the fire is now stabilized and contained; highway A63 has reopened and 9 communes have been reintegrated. A second Romande detachment takes over relief operations. This international deployment highlights vulnerabilities in Switzerland's militia system—where 98.6% of 74,318 Swiss firefighters serve as volunteers. Rising natural disasters linked to climate change are intensifying pressure on this model.

31 July 2026 at 05:29

Climate

Forest Fire in the Chiemgau Alps: Major Rescue Operation in Unterwössen

A forest fire has been burning since July 30, 2026 near Lackenbergwand in Unterwössen, located in the Chiemgau Alps in Bavaria, Germany. The fire is burning in the difficult-to-access summit area of the Hochwand, requiring a major emergency response. Water-dropping helicopters have been deployed to combat the flames. The region's population was alerted to heavy smoke emissions on the morning of July 30. The operation is being coordinated by the Kreisfeuerwehrverband Traunstein, the firefighters' association for the Traunstein district.

30 July 2026 at 07:26

Climate

Spain's wildfires: Sánchez visits Castellón as dangerous heat wave looms

On July 27, 2026, Pedro Sánchez, President of the Spanish Government, visited the area affected by the Vall d'Uixó wildfire in Castellón, which burned more than 7,200 hectares and forced over 16,000 people to evacuate. He warned that "difficult hours remain ahead" as a new heat wave approaches. Simultaneously, fires in Madrid's Sierra Oeste (25,000 hectares) and Burgohondo in Ávila (approximately 50,000 hectares) have merged. In France, a fire that started on July 23 near Bordeaux has already burned 42,000 hectares.

27 July 2026 at 15:51

Climate

Argentina: green alert flood displaces 106 people, no deaths reported

A green alert-level flood began in Argentina on July 24, 2026. According to GDACS, the disaster displaced 106 people with no reported deaths. The most recent update is dated July 26, 2026. The humanitarian impact has been assessed as low, based on the magnitude of the event, the exposed population, and vulnerability factors.

27 July 2026 at 15:32

Climate

Wildfires in France and Spain: Over 250,000 Evacuated, Spain Declares Historic National Emergency

Since July 23, 2026, wildfires have been ravaging southwestern France and Spain, forcing over 250,000 people to flee both countries. In France, 197,000 people have been evacuated, including tens of thousands from Bordeaux. Spain has declared a national state of emergency for wildfires—a first in the country's history. No deaths have been reported as of July 25, though dozens of French firefighters have been injured. Madrid has also triggered an air quality alert due to the orange haze generated by the flames.

27 July 2026 at 09:19

Climate

Heat wave returns next week: mobile trees come to the rescue of Swiss cities

MeteoSuisse forecasts a return of intense heat mid-next week, with temperatures again exceeding 30°C after a brief respite. Swiss urban areas face heat islands—where daytime heat accumulates and nighttime cooling is limited—due to reduced vegetation, impermeable surfaces, and dense construction. Mobile trees, deployable where traditional ground planting is impossible, are emerging as a solution. Research published in Communications Earth & Environment shows trees can lower pedestrian-level temperatures by up to 12°C and bring monthly maximum temperatures below 26°C in 83% of cities.

26 July 2026 at 23:22

Climate

Australia: Active forest fire since July 20, 2026, green humanitarian alert

A forest fire was detected in Australia on July 20, 2026, and remained active on July 26, according to GDACS. The organization classified the event at green alert level, indicating low humanitarian impact calculated based on burned area and vulnerability of affected populations. In total, 32 scientific data sources are mobilized to monitor the fire.

26 July 2026 at 07:57

Climate

Spain: forest fire declared July 25–26, low humanitarian impact

A forest fire began in Spain on July 25, 2026, with the last thermal anomaly detected on July 26, 2026, according to GDACS. The event has been classified as a green alert, indicating low potential humanitarian impact. The burned area, affected population, and vulnerability levels have all been assessed as low.

26 July 2026 at 07:56

Climate

Typhoon Noul: More than 340,000 evacuated in Guangdong, China

Typhoon Noul made landfall on July 26, 2026, in Guangdong province in southern China, according to Le Monde. More than 340,000 people had been evacuated before the typhoon's arrival. The phenomenon caused major disruptions in the region, with cancelled flights and extremely strong winds affecting the area.

26 July 2026 at 05:33

Climate

Wildfires in France and Spain: 270,000 evacuated as unprecedented fires devastate region

Unprecedented forest fires are devastating southwestern France and multiple regions of Spain since July 24, 2026, forcing the evacuation of approximately 270,000 people. In France, 167,000 residents of Gironde and approximately 30,000 in the neighboring Landes department have left their homes. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez declared that France has never experienced fires of this magnitude. In Spain, over 70,000 people have been displaced by mega-fires. Experts estimate that only a weather change can help contain these fires.

25 July 2026 at 18:16

Climate

Over 250,000 evacuated in France and Spain as wildfires rage, July 25, 2026

Uncontrolled forest fires ravaging France and Spain forced over 250,000 people to evacuate on July 25, 2026, according to authorities. In France, 197,000 people were evacuated, including tens of thousands from Bordeaux. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the evacuations "probably" the largest peacetime evacuation France has ever experienced. Spain declared a national emergency for wildfires—a historic first. No deaths have been reported, though dozens of French firefighters were injured.

25 July 2026 at 15:42

Climate

Wildfires near Madrid: 25,000 hectares burned, air quality alert issued

Massive wildfires across Madrid's Sierra Oeste and Ávila province have burned more than 25,000 hectares, forcing 80,000 people to evacuate or shelter in place. On July 25, 2026, Madrid's city authorities issued an air quality alert due to degraded conditions marked by orange haze and persistent smoke odor. By noon, 12 of the city's 14 monitoring stations reported 'fair' or 'poor' air quality levels. Spain's Health Minister Mónica García urged residents to stay indoors and wear FFP2 protective masks for any essential outdoor trips.

25 July 2026 at 13:47

Climate

Forest fires: Risk rises in 10 districts of Brandenburg

Forest fire risk in Brandenburg, Germany, has risen again on July 25, 2026, following a period of lower alert levels. Alert level 3 out of 5 — indicating moderate fire danger — is now in effect across 10 of the state's 14 districts. These affected zones are primarily concentrated in the western parts of Brandenburg, according to reports from the German news agency dpa, as covered by Die Zeit.

25 July 2026 at 09:00

Climate

Wildfires Near Bordeaux: Thousands Evacuated on July 25, 2026

Thousands of residents from Le Haillan, Eysines and Merignac—suburbs southwest of Bordeaux—were evacuated on July 25, 2026, as forest fires gripping the region showed no signs of slowing. Sophie Brocas, prefect of Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France's administrative region created in 2015 and encompassing the Bordeaux area) and the Gironde department, announced the evacuations via social media platform X. On the same day, Spanish authorities warned that winds threatened to intensify ongoing wildfires across Spain. These incidents are part of a broader wave of simultaneous fires affecting both France and Spain.

25 July 2026 at 07:31

Climate

Angola: Forest fire active July 18-24, 2026, low humanitarian impact

A forest fire broke out in Angola on July 18, 2026. The last thermal anomaly was detected on July 24, 2026, according to GDACS. The organization classified the event with a green alert level, indicating low humanitarian impact based on the burned area and vulnerability of affected populations. Monitoring data were provided notably by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, as well as by other organizations.

24 July 2026 at 21:43

Climate

Botswana: Active forest fire since July 23, 2026, estimated low humanitarian impact

A forest fire started in Botswana on July 23, 2026 and remained active on July 24, when the last thermal anomaly was detected. According to GDACS, the event has been classified at a "green" alert level, indicating a low estimated humanitarian impact. The data comes from multiple specialized agencies, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations.

24 July 2026 at 21:43

Climate

Forest fires: smoke kills 1.5 million people annually, climate risk worsening

Powerful wildfires forced tens of thousands of residents in southern Europe to evacuate following successive heatwaves. The most lethal danger is indirect: according to The Guardian, air pollution from fires kills 1.5 million people worldwide annually. In 2023, smoke from Canadian wildfires caused 22,000 premature deaths in Europe. Climate change, with approximately 1.3°C of global warming, intensifies this risk. By the end of the century, the globally burned area could increase by 40% to 100%.

24 July 2026 at 16:16

Climate

Overseas territories: drought, drowning in New Caledonia, and deadly shooting in Martinique

On July 24, 2026, French overseas territories face multiple simultaneous crises. Drought grips Futuna, Réunion, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, with seven municipalities in Réunion under water restrictions. In New Caledonia, heavy rainfall triggered deadly flooding: a man drowned in Touho after his vehicle was swept away on a flooded passage. In Martinique, a daytime shooting in the Terres Sainville neighborhood of Fort-de-France killed a man in his twenties, bringing the year's firearm homicide count to 18.

24 July 2026 at 16:13

Climate

Venezuela: One Month After June 24 Earthquake, 2.1 Million Tons of Debris to Manage

One month after the double earthquake that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026, the country faces over 2.1 million tons of debris, according to the United Nations. Debris dumping sites have been set up on the coast, drawing criticism from environmental organizations that decry pollution of coastal ecosystems. Treating this rubble represents an "enormous logistical challenge" for Venezuelan authorities, according to Le Monde.

24 July 2026 at 10:41

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