Link between climate crisis and Nova Scotia wildfires must be addressed

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — As forest fires rage across Nova Scotia, climate campaigners, ecologists and NGOs including the Plant Based Treaty are calling for the systemic issues fueling unprecedented fires across the world and exacerbating the climate crisis to be addressed.

Plant Based Treaty scientific advisor and ecologist and Nova Scotia resident, Nicolas Carter says, “Fires are being amplified by the climate crisis and deforestation, driven by logging and animal agriculture.” Carter continues: “The need for a clear fire prevention strategy with reforesting and rewilding as one of the best opportunities to do that can start with a managed program to rewild pastureland, a strategy that would also reduce methane emissions.”

Climate crisis and Nova Scotia wildfires must be addressed

Scientific evidence strongly suggests that deforestation, which is driven by ranching and animal feed crops, amplifies the risk of forest fires. The absence of trees alters local climates, reducing rainfall and leading to drier conditions. Cutting up forests with logging roads increases the risks of human interference starting these fires.

This area of the world typically sees a hundred or so hectares burned annually, but the multiple ongoing fires in Nova Scotia now total over 18,000 hectares, with almost a thousand hectares out of control in the suburbs of Halifax. Mayor Mike Savage and Regional Council declared a local state of emergency in the communities affected by the fires with multiple evacuation orders in effect.

One Shelburne Nova Scotia hospital has been evacuated as the fires spread across the province. So far the fires have resulted in more than 16,000 residents having to evacuate with very little notice, and hundreds of homes burned to the ground.

• When trees are removed, the shade they provide is lost, causing the forest floor to dry out. This creates an abundance of dry, combustible material that can easily ignite and fuel a fire.
• Trees play a vital role in the water cycle by releasing water vapor into the air and helping to maintain a humid microclimate. When they are removed, the local climate can become drier, again making it easier for fires to start and spread.
• The remaining fragmented patches of forest are more exposed to heat and wind, which can increase fire risk and help fires to spread more quickly when they do occur.

• Higher temperatures can lead to more frequent and prolonged periods of drought, creating drier conditions and making vegetation more susceptible to burning.
• A warmer climate can result in earlier snowmelt, leading to longer dry seasons.
• It alters weather patterns, potentially leading to more frequent and intense heat waves and storm events, both of which can contribute to increased fire risk.

The repercussions of the Nova Scotia wildfires extend far beyond local borders. Smoke and airborne particulates can travel significant distances, affecting air quality in major cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. These cities are experiencing worsened air conditions, affecting those with respiratory issues and potentially leading to health advisories.