European wildfires: Climate risk at least 20 times higher in Spain

The essentials

A World Weather Attribution study published on July 31, 2026, concludes that human-caused climate change made weather conditions conducive to destructive wildfires at least 20 times more likely in Spain and at least twice as likely in France. Since early July 2026, wildfires across Europe have killed people, destroyed thousands of homes and forced more than 300,000 people to flee. Three firefighters died in Greece. Smoke caused pollution peaks of up to 20 times the acceptable threshold, with effects felt as far as 400 km from the fires.

• Wildfire conditions at least 20 times more likely in Spain, study finds
• More than 300,000 people displaced across Europe since early July 2026
• Three firefighters have died in Greece
• Pollution reached 20 times the acceptable threshold and was felt 400 km away
• The UN is calling for a faster transition to renewable energy