If Society Remains Organized Around Burning Fossil Fuels, Earth's Climate Will Keep Warming and Wildfires Will Worsen

As wildfires rage across Europe, the continent is grappling with how to prevent them, with land-use changes and resilience-building emerging as key adaptation strategies. But while adapting to a warmer world is essential, it must not replace tackling the root cause: fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. A columnist in The Telegraph argued that since the war against global warming is lost, net zero should be abandoned in favor of learning to handle hot weather.

This view is wrong, and politicians must step in. If society remains organized around burning fossil fuels, Earth's climate will keep warming and wildfires will worsen. Achieving net zero, meaning no meaningful greenhouse gas emissions, is the only way to stop this. Politicians who say otherwise might as well hand out matches.