From Turkey to Brazil, and Russia to the US, we\u2019re seeing fires consuming our forests, killing wildlife and threatening our woodlands\u2019 ability to trap and store carbon, a defense against the climate crisis. This year’s fire season is significantly more destructive than the previous average, and it will only get worse from here.<\/p>\n\n
With more fires comes more emissions, fueling more rapid climate change, and worsening air quality at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic already threatens respiratory health. There is mounting evidence<\/a> that air quality is a contributing factor in the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n Companies and governments need to act now to protect our planet by phasing out fossil fuels, stopping industrial agriculture and \u2014 with the guidance of Indigenous Peoples and forest guardians \u2014 protect and restore forests and other vital ecosystems. <\/p>\n\n Turkey is suffering its worst fires in at least a decade. Thousands of people have been battling almost 100 separate blazes in cities and villages on the country’s Mediterranean and Aegean coasts. The flames have been fueled by scorching summer temperatures and conditions that experts say have been worsened by climate change<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace Turkey is in Marmaris working to support local organisations in a collective response \u2014 including with mobile solar energy points to recharge phones and other equipment \u2014 while continuing to push for climate action like ending coal fired power plants.<\/p>\n Greece reported its highest temperature on record on Monday (46,1\u00b0C, 115\u00b0F); its worst heatwave in over 30 years. There have been more than 100 fires in two days. A major fire near Athens blocked the main highway linking the north and south, forcing hundreds to evacuate.<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace Greece is calling for urgent action to protect biodiversity and tackle the root causes of climate crisis \u2014 energy policies that are serving oil and fossil gas dependency. And telling bickering politicians<\/a> to \u201cshut up and act\u201d<\/a>. <\/p>\n\nTurkey<\/h3>\n\n
Greece <\/h3>\n\n