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Europe’s dry riverbeds and scorched earth – in pictures
Severe drought and extreme heat across Europe have left riverbeds dry and landscapes scorched. Wildfires have spread across multiple countries as the continent endures an intense summer. Images show the stark impact on rivers, farmland and natural habitats, highlighting the growing consequences of climate-driven weather extremes affecting communities and ecosystems throughout the region.
Extreme heat breaks temperature records in central and eastern Europe
Slovakia hit a record 42C in Dolné Plachtince as extreme heat swept central and eastern Europe, with Austria and Hungary also registering record temperatures. The heatwave, linked to wider drought and wildfire conditions across the continent, forced Polish authorities to shut down two power plants, at Kozienice and Połaniec.
Firefighting aircraft aren’t enough – Britain needs to build a wildfire-resilient society that involves everyone
Britain faces growing wildfire risk due to climate change and land management issues. While calls for firefighting aircraft grow after major incidents, experts argue the focus should shift to prevention — including landscape management, controlled burns, public awareness, and community involvement. Reactive aerial resources have value but cannot substitute for the long-term societal and environmental changes needed to reduce wildfire vulnerability.
We need a wartime mindset to fight the threat of wildfires | Seth Klein
European leaders invoke WWII comparisons as wildfires devastate France and Spain, but critics argue governments aren't applying the real lessons of wartime thinking. True wartime mobilization meant rapid, preemptive government action and resource deployment — not reactive crisis management. Without that proactive approach to wildfire preparedness and climate change, the rhetoric remains hollow.
How rewilding could help stop the spread of Britain’s wildfires
Wildfires in Britain are becoming more frequent due to climate change and dry conditions. Rewilding — restoring natural habitats with diverse, moisture-retaining vegetation — could help reduce fire risk. Unlike dry monoculture grasses or dense conifers, rewilded land with mixed plants and restored wetlands creates natural firebreaks and holds more water, making landscapes inherently more resistant to ignition and spread.
UN chief warns climate crisis “in overdrive” as El Niño threatens to fuel the fire
Matched: climate
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned the climate crisis is "in overdrive," with El Niño expected to worsen conditions. Politicians and scientists linked recent deadly wildfires to climate change, calling for stronger emissions reductions and adaptation measures. Guterres urged world leaders to take more ambitious action to address accelerating climate impacts.
Factcheck: No, Europe is not having its ‘quietest’ year for wildfires
Matched: climate
Claims circulating on social media suggest Europe is experiencing its quietest wildfire year on record. However, this is misleading. The charts being shared show data only through mid-year, missing peak fire season. Full-year European wildfire data shows 2023 was among the worst on record, with over 500,000 hectares burned. Scientists say cherry-picked timeframes are being used to misrepresent the overall trend.
Gironde wildfires: what the logistical challenges behind the mass evacuations tell us
Wildfires in France's Gironde region have highlighted the logistical complexity of large-scale emergency response. Authorities face a dual challenge: deploying firefighting resources while simultaneously evacuating tens of thousands of residents. Coordination between multiple agencies, housing displaced people, and managing supply chains for crews are critical factors that can determine how effectively such disasters are handled.
‘The fire has such power’: why the wildfires gripping France and Spain are off the charts
Wildfires in France and Spain are becoming increasingly difficult to control due to hotter, drier conditions linked to climate change. Fires are burning more intensely and spreading faster, overwhelming firefighters. Experts warn that traditional suppression methods are less effective against these "mega-fires," which generate their own weather systems, making them nearly impossible to extinguish until conditions change.
Donald Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke — but global warming is loading the wildfire dice
Trump blamed Canada for wildfire smoke affecting the US, but scientists say climate change is the primary driver of worsening wildfires. While forest management plays a role, rising temperatures and drought conditions driven by global warming are making fires more frequent and severe across North America, regardless of which side of the border they ignite.
Wildfires: why media coverage doesn’t always make the climate connection
Matched: climate
Wildfires have multiple overlapping causes — weather, land use, and long-term climate change — making media framing difficult. Journalists often focus on immediate, local factors like dry conditions or human ignition rather than linking fires to broader climate trends. Editors, deadlines, and audience expectations all shape what gets emphasized, meaning the climate connection is frequently underplayed or omitted entirely.