November 6, 2025
Fires, heat threaten the forests of the northern hemisphere
Forest fire. Photo: Reuters GENEVA: Record fires and rising temperatures are threatening decades of forest growth in the Northern Hemisphere, potentially turning vital carbon sinks into carbon emissions, a new UN report said Wednesday. The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) report, published ahead of the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, found that forests in Europe, North America, the Caucasus and Central Asia are slowing their ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. If current trends continue, these forests could reach a tipping point where they start releasing more carbon than they absorb, he warned. This would undermine efforts
