Abstract

Extreme wildfires are becoming increasingly frequent, devastating societies and ecosystems worldwide, exemplified by the record-breaking fires of 2023 in Canada, the Amazon, and Greece underscore the growing urgency to understand their drivers and impacts. Year after year, extreme fires dominate headlines, prompting many of the same urgent questions: How much is driven by climate change? What role do human activities play? Who bears the brunt of these disasters? How does this year compare to the last? What can be done to prevent or prepare for such events? These questions, raised by media, NGOs, fire management agencies, and policymakers, reflect the growing demand for clear, evidence-based answers from the fire science community. The first of the annual State of Wildfires report integrates climate data, advanced fire models, and regional expertise to analyse wildfire activity during the 2023–2024 season. It identifies key events, attributes their causes, and projects future risks under different climate scenarios. Over 3.9 million km² burned globally during the season, with fire carbon emissions 16% above average. Canada experienced record-breaking emissions, more than nine times its average, driven by extreme fire weather and abundant dry fuels. Attribution analysis found that climate change increased burned area anomalies by up to 40% in Canada, 18% in Greece, and 50% in the Amazon, with the likelihood of extreme fire weather events rising significantly in these regions. Strong GHG emissions reductions can significantly limit the frequency of such extreme events in the future, but even under strong mitigation scenarios, some increase is inevitable, showing a critical need for both mitigation and adaptation to address this escalating challenge. As the first State of Wildfires report, this publication offers a foundation for understanding wildfire dynamics and shaping solutions. Future editions will expand in scope, focusing on actionable strategies to enhance resilience and preparedness.