Month: July 2025

 

Climate change worsens extreme events worldwide

 

More intense heat waves, devastating wildfires, deadly floods, and record-breaking typhoons marked a year of extremes. The planet has already warmed more than 1.5°C, and the trend is not slowing down.

The year 2024 was the hottest in history, exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time. Scientists warn that without urgent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, extreme weather events will become even more frequent and devastating.

Global temperatures in 2024 will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time, bringing the world closer to failing to meet the commitment governments made in the 2015 Paris Agreement, scientists say.

The World Meteorological Organization confirmed the failure to meet the 1.5°C target after analysing data from scientists in the US, UK, Japan and the European Union.

Extreme weather events ravaged the world in 2024, with severe droughts followed by floods hitting Italy and South America, deadly floods in Nepal , Sudan and Europe, heat waves in Mexico , Mali and Saudi Arabia that killed thousands of people, and disastrous cyclones in the US, the Philippines or Mozambique .

Scientists say human-induced climate change is making extreme weather events like heat waves, floods, and storms more frequent and deadly, and this trend will continue if the world continues to burn fossil fuels.

“All the climate extremes we’re seeing are occurring in a warmer atmosphere, and also warmer oceans, and in an atmosphere that can carry more moisture. All of this contributes to heat waves, like those we’ve experienced in the past, becoming more intense and, of course, also more frequent,” climate scientist Eric Fischer of ETH Zurich explained to Reuters.

Heavy precipitation episodes can also be more intense because the atmosphere can carry more moisture, and “the fact that the atmosphere can carry more moisture also means that it can actually extract more moisture from vegetation and the surface, and therefore can also make droughts more intense.”

Climate change makes heat waves hotter and more frequent.

This occurs in most regions on Earth and has been confirmed by the UN’s Panel of Global Climate Scientists (IPCC).

On average globally, a heat wave that would occur once every 10 years in the pre-industrial climate will now occur 2.8 times over 10 years, and will be 1.2°C warmer, according to an international team of scientists from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group.

Climate change is making wildfires more frequent and severe.

Dozens of people died in the Los Angeles wildfires of January 2025. The flames reduced entire neighbourhoods to smoldering ruins, leaving an apocalyptic landscape. Officials said at least 12,300 structures were damaged or destroyed.

Climate change increases droughts.

A drier climate helps fires spread faster, burn longer, and spread more intensely. Warmer weather also saps moisture from vegetation.

 

“Forest fires are a complex event. Therefore, there are many factors to consider, such as forest management, where we build our homes, and how they are affected. But climate change can also play a role in all of this. And it’s mainly the fact that forest fires, which involve very hot temperatures and a very dry atmosphere, are becoming more frequent,” explained Erich Fischer.

Forest management and ignition sources are also important factors. In Europe, more than nine out of ten fires are caused by human activities, such as arson, carelessness, power lines, or scattered glass, according to EU data.

Climate change makes storms worse

Climate change is worsening storms and torrential rains, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more water, leading to intense rainfall. Atmospheric water vapor reached a record high in 2024, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said it was the third wettest year on record.

Six typhoons hit the Philippines in 30 days in 2024, a record storm season in the Pacific Ocean, according to World Weather Attribution (WWA), a global team of scientists examining the role of climate change in extreme weather events.

The likelihood of worsening events like this series of typhoons, or Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which hit the United States consecutively in late September and October, will increase with global warming, according to the WWA.

Without drastic cuts in the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, heat waves, wildfires, floods and droughts will worsen significantly, scientists warn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fires of criminal origin are almost all in the North and Centre

 

The following was sent to Safe Communities Portugal by AGIF

The agency that manages fires warns of the need to combat alcoholism and mental health problems in order to reduce fires, most of which occur in the North and Centre.

Arson is already the leading cause of fires in Portugal, accounting for 84% of the area burned with a known cause last year (a little over 84,000 hectares). Almost all of these occurred in the North and Centre of the country, regions that account for 97% of the total burned area (134,000 hectares). Combating risky behaviour during burning and slash-and-burn activities has reduced the number of incidents in the country, but addressing the alcoholism and mental health issues that drive many to set fires is still a priority, in situations that, combined with severe weather, lead to tragedies like the one experienced last September.

In 2024 alone, arsonists—including those responsible for and those not responsible for, whether or not they had intentional intent—were responsible for 84% of the burned area and 42% of incidents. The remaining incidents were caused by the use of fire, such as burning and slash-and-burn (41%), accidental causes, and natural causes. The North (57% of incidents and 48% of the burned area) and the Centre (17% of incidents and 49% of the burned area) suffered the most from the September fires.

This trend, as reflected in reports from the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (AGIF), has been evident in recent years (see infographic). In 2023, for example, arson accounted for 31% of incidents, and fires caused by improper use accounted for 50%.

“Before 2018, there were many fires, around 20,000 per year, and most were the result of burning and slash-and-burn,” but awareness campaigns and mechanisms aimed at landowners (the ICNF Burns and Burns app or by calling 808 200 520) have led to a “significant reduction” in fires, explains Tiago Oliveira, president of AGIF. As a result, there has been a percentage increase in arson, and the need to combat the phenomenon has gained visibility. According to the AGIF leader, to achieve this, it is urgent to prioritize preventive measures “against alcoholism and mental health problems,” as well as monitoring repeat offenders and behavioural monitoring.

The AGIF president emphasizes that, to continue reducing fires, it is necessary to address arson and forest management (see text opposite), as “firefighting is very robust.” In recent years, he adds, “as we have reduced the number of fires, our firefighting capacity has been further leveraged, meaning we will have more resources for each fire.”

They understand fireworks

According to Avelino Lima, head of the Permanent Monitoring and Support Group for forest fires at the Judicial Police (PJ), most arson attacks are “involuntary,” meaning there is no intention to commit arson, but some actions do have this consequence. Some are “difficult to resolve because they stem from cultural issues,” such as the improper clearing of brush “by emigrants” during summer vacation, he explains.

As for those with malicious intent, the profile drawn up by the PJ indicates that they are generally men (last year there was an increase in the number of women), socially dysfunctional individuals, with alcohol problems, social or psychological weaknesses, and dazzled by the spectacle of fire. And some are becoming more “competent.” “We’ve already arrested individuals who clearly master aspects of fire, and this is dramatic, because they can achieve their goals more violently,” says Lima.

Last year, the Judiciary Police arrested 53 suspects and charged 191 individuals with intentional arson. The GNR arrested 36 individuals and identified 551 for committing forest fires, primarily due to negligent behaviour.

Notify tourists

Xavier Viegas, coordinator of the Center for Forest Fire Studies at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra, warns that public behavior is also important to prevent fires from causing significant damage. “Clearing vegetation around homes must be a priority, because despite the warnings the country has received and efforts by authorities and municipalities to be more cautious, there is still much to be done,” says the expert. This is one of the major problems when fires occur, “because [the flames] easily reach close to homes.” If these “are not protected, they cause serious problems for residents, firefighting forces, and the country.”

Xavier Viegas also emphasizes that there must be “care in risk communication,” not forgetting tourists and immigrants, who “are not accustomed to the fire environment we have in the country and may be surprised.”

Parliament must legislate to improve forest management

The Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (AGIF) warns that measures must be implemented to improve forest management, many of which are supported by Parliament. Proposals from the Rural Property Working Group, which could help in this process, are slow to materialize.

The AGIF report highlights the “positive progress of property registry projects, which mapped 58% of the area of the 153 municipalities in mainland Portugal without land registry records,” but little else. There are “key projects to be implemented—some under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Assembly of the Republic—that would address the root causes of the problem.” Specifically, “there remains a need for political implementation, through the approval of legislation in the Assembly of the Republic, based on the results prepared by the Rural Property Working Group” (GTPR) and the completion of the National Forest Inventory.

Between inheritance, emigration, and profitability issues, among others, there are many plots of land that are not “taken care of,” warns Tiago Oliveira.

Former GTPR coordinator Rui Gonçalves says the proposals drafted two years ago resulted from “in-depth work on forest problems,” and the measures “should be taken as quickly as possible,” as they would impact rural property management and, consequently, the spread of fires. He acknowledges that there has been political instability, but “information circulating suggests there would be a consensus for these measures to be implemented.”

Rui Gonçalves adds that the proposals, which include measures on inheritance law to prevent “property immobility” and facilitate land consolidation, among others, should not be taken “in isolation.” “If we don’t make rural areas attractive for investment, the rest won’t be resolved, and the difficulties will persist.”

Lack of incentives

Regarding legal and financial incentives that would help improve the economic viability of land, “very little” has been done, the AGIF leader believes, emphasizing that this is also “a matter for Parliament.” “When discussing corporate income tax (IRC), personal income tax (IRS), and the State Budget, where are the incentives for landowners or those who exploit the forest to benefit? This would allow the forest to be leveraged on a new scale,” he warns.

The report highlights the importance of moving forward with the special contribution for the conservation of forest resources, creating Forest Savings Plans and reviewing the rural taxation model.”

Way to go

Investigation
About 99% of rural fires in 2024 were investigated by police forces.

Raising awareness among the population
Experts advocate campaigns to continue raising awareness of risky behavior, particularly when handling agricultural machinery.

Diversifying the forest
Xavier Viegas advocates for forests with different species of trees, which have different behaviors when faced with flames.

Encouraging pastoralism
Tiago Oliveira approves incentives to increase the number of animals that eat vegetation and the valorization of products resulting from silvopastoralism, such as milk and cheese.

Combating smallholdings
AGIF argues that it is necessary to resize rural properties in the North and Center, increase areas of integrated management, qualify the rural economy, and expand incentives for land development.

Hectares consumed
According to the ICNF, this year (as of yesterday) 10,345 hectares have already burned in rural areas, as a result of 3,403 incidents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 2nd July 2025

Overnight stays in tourist accommodation in the Azores increased by 3.1% in May

The Azores recorded more than 444.8 thousand overnight stays in tourist accommodation in May, an increase of 3.1% compared to the same period last year, according to data revealed today by the Regional Statistics Service (SREA).

“In May, 444.8 thousand overnight stays were recorded in all tourist accommodation establishments (hotels, local accommodation and rural tourism) in the Azores, a figure 3.1% higher than that recorded in the same month of the previous year”, reads the SREA Tourism Activity report, released today.

According to the document, the increase is higher than that recorded at national level (1.3%).

In the first five months of the year, the Azores exceeded one million overnight stays in tourist accommodation (1.4 million), an increase of 7.3% compared to the same period last year.

In May, the region recorded 136.5 thousand guests (up 5.2%), with an average stay of 3.26 nights, which increased by 2% year-on-year.

Residents abroad accounted for more than half of overnight stays in May (70.6%), totalling 313.9 thousand, 5.2% more than in the same period last year.

With 130.9 thousand overnight stays (29.4%), the national market registered a drop of 5.8%.

Cory’s shearwater is a bioindicator of marine pollution in the Atlantic, as proposed by Portugal

A proposal presented by Portugal for the adoption of the Cory’s Shearwater as a common bioindicator of floating plastic pollution in Region V of OSPAR (Wider Atlantic) was approved, in an initiative led by the Government of the Azores.

The new environmental indicator will allow the evaluation of the quantity, composition and temporal evolution of plastic ingested by juvenile shearwaters found dead during the period when they leave their nests.

This species, abundant in Macaronesia, appears as an alternative to the Arctic fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), used in other OSPAR regions, but absent in the southernmost latitudes, the Azorean executive added.

On the Regional Government’s website, it is stated that the Cory’s Shearwater “belongs to a group formed by several species of seabirds (Procellariiformes) that includes albatrosses, shearwaters (…) and storm-petrels. (…) The Cory’s Shearwater is the most characteristic seabird of the Azores and one of the oldest on the planet. Cory’s Shearwaters spend a large part of their lives at sea (pelagic birds), coming ashore only when it is time to breed, to build their nests, mate, incubate their eggs and care for their young.”

This is a proposal presented by Portugal for the adoption of the Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) as a common bioindicator of floating plastic pollution in Region V (Greater Atlantic).

It is led by the Regional Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries – Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies, with scientific support developed by Yasmina Rodríguez and Christopher Pham, researchers at the OKEANOS Institute for Marine Sciences Research (University of the Azores) and is the result of a monitoring program initiated in 2015, within the scope of the internationally recognized “SOS Cagarro” citizen science campaign.

In addition to the Cory’s Shearwater as a bioindicator, an environmental assessment threshold was also approved: a maximum of 20% of the birds analysed must contain more than four plastic particles in their stomachs, based on a minimum sample of 200 juvenile birds collected over five consecutive years.

It is now expected that the ministerial meeting will reaffirm the political commitment to the implementation of this new indicator, reinforcing regional collaboration and contributing to the objectives of the Environmental Strategy for the Northeast Atlantic 2030 (NEAES 2030)”.