We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the rise of more UK wildfires, a senior Met Office scientist tells audience in Cardiff
An increase in wildfires across the UK is likely to occur unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 2050, said Matthew Perry, a senior applied scientist at the Met Office. He held a keynote speech at the England and Wales Wildfire Conference (EWWF) in Cardiff last week.
Perry drew on results from the UK Climate Projections 2018, a climate analysis tool that looks at the changes the UK may face across the twenty-first century as a result of climate change.
According to these projections, the percentage of areas in the UK with a ‘very high’ fire danger rate is due to experience a 10% increase over the next sixty years.
Perry said, “Global efforts to reduce carbon emissions are important to help limit the impacts of rapid climate change projected in the second half of this century.”
The conference was held at Principality Stadium in Cardiff and lasted over two days, from Wednesday 20 to Thursday 21 November. It was attended by an array of wildfire experts and academics from across the globe, all questioning how to control the risk of future wildfires.
Researchers and professionals shared their expertise on how people can work together to tackle current wildfire and climate issues, particularly relevant as there are currently devastating bushfires in Australia.
Perry said, “The conference in Cardiff was a great opportunity to gather with experts on different aspects of wildfire.”
Many spoke of the record-breaking series of wildfires that burned across the UK last summer. Perry, in particular, drew on the fire in Saddleworth Moor, resulting in mass evacuations and a huge emergency services operation.
Focusing on reducing the risk of wildfires in Wales, Sarah Woodcock of the Healthy Hillsides Partnership talked about managing the risk of wildfires in the Rhondda valley and preserving the landscape. Drawing on the 2015 fires, Sarah said, “Something the residents of the Rhondda Valley value the most is the environment around them.”
Her colleague Leila Thornton explained the impacts wildfires can have on local wildlife, air quality and human health.
The next UK wildfire conference will be held in Belfast in November 2021.