The large wildfire in Los Angeles (LA) on January 7, 2025, lasted for about three weeks, causing at least 25 deaths and destroying over 12,000 homes and buildings in areas like Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Firefighters and volunteers worked tirelessly to control the fire, but strong winds and dry conditions made the task difficult. Extreme weather, worsened by climate change, intensified the fire, highlighting the severe impacts of global warming. The slow progress in controlling the fire is also seen as a result of climate change.
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Dry conditions directly contribute to the spread of wildfires. Rising temperatures due to climate change cause more water to evaporate from the air, making the environment drier and allowing wildfires to spread quickly. This was especially true in LA, where record-dry conditions since last fall made it easy for fires to spread. Research shows that from 1979 to 2020, the dryness in the western U.S. has increased sharply, with 68% of the increase caused by higher temperatures linked to climate change. In other words, climate change creates and accelerates dry conditions, fueling the spread of wildfires.
Climate change is also causing wildfires to occur more frequently and on a larger scale. A study of summer wildfires in California from 1996 to 2021 found that the burned area between 1996 and 2001 was more than five times larger than that between 1971 and 1995. The study pointed to climate change as the main reason for the increase in wildfire areas, with larger fires contributing to this expansion. Notably, about 80% of California’s largest wildfires have occurred in the past 10 years, showing that climate change is increasing the frequency of wildfires and affecting their size and impact.
This situation calls for urgent action in wildfire recovery and climate change response. Extreme weather and natural disasters caused by climate change are becoming more common, and we must take active steps to address them. The risk of wildfires is rising due to climate change, and we can no longer afford to delay our response.
The threat of unpredictable wildfires is no longer just an issue in the U.S.; the risk is increasing in South Korea as well. Areas once thought to be at low risk for wildfires are now experiencing them, and the number of large fires is rising rapidly. Climate disasters are no longer a future problem; they are happening in our daily lives.
According to the 2023 report from South Korea’s Forest Service, the area affected by wildfires in the 2020s has increased about 10 times compared to the 2010s, and the number of wildfire days has also been rising. The frequency of large wildfires has increased since 2010, with climate change speeding up this trend. It is predicted that if the global temperature increases by 1.5–2.0°C compared to pre-industrial levels, the wildfire risk index will increase by as much as 13.5%. This suggests that wildfire damage may increase in South Korea and worldwide.
Addressing climate change is essential in wildfire response efforts as the risk of large wildfires rises. South Korea classifies wildfires as social disasters since human actions, not natural causes, cause most fires. While it’s essential to be cautious during outdoor activities to prevent starting fires, once a fire starts, it can spread uncontrollably. If climate change worsens the risk of wildfires, simple prevention and recovery efforts will no longer be enough.
Thus, wildfire response must complement climate change action, focusing on addressing the root causes. Without concrete action to tackle climate change, the frequency and intensity of wildfires will continue to rise. This underscores the need for sustained efforts to reduce wildfire damage and prevent disasters, as well as a cooperative approach to solving climate change.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2024 saw a global temperature rise of 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels, marking another year where the global temperature exceeded 1.5°C, following 2023. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called this “climate collapse,” warning that if we do not act now, we could reach a tipping point from which recovery will be difficult.
The LA wildfire is not just a local disaster. It serves as a global warning of the seriousness of climate change and the normalization of climate disasters. Climate change is no longer a distant problem, and natural disasters like wildfires are already happening daily. This reminds us that climate change action is urgent. Without specific and practical measures to address climate change, disasters will become more frequent and severe.
Therefore, we must prioritize addressing climate change, with governments and the international community working together to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We must take urgent action to prevent climate disasters and prepare effective responses to those that have already occurred.
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