Canadian Prime Minister Carney welcomed the European Union’s ambition to make Ottawa an associate member and said Canadian lawmakers would ultimately vote on the final structure of the alliance. …Carney did not name President Trump in his speech, but he nodded to his US counterpart’s use of tariffs by saying, “Economic integration is now being weaponized — tariffs being used to exert pressure.” …His comments come shortly after Trump described the prospect of Canada becoming the first associate member of the EU as “laughable” and threatened the bloc with tariffs if he deemed the move to be a “hostile act.” …European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the 27-nation bloc wanted to bring the relationship with Canada “to the highest level possible.” …Associate membership doesn’t currently exist as a formal category under EU treaties, and any such arrangement would need to be created and ratified by member states.
- Related in CBC news: Carny says Europe, Canada aren’t fair-weather allies
US Customs and Border Protection agents spent four days investigating Auckland timber processor Hermpac after a complaint from the US Lumber Coalition. The finding was uncomfortable. A wholesaler on America’s east coast had been routing Canadian-origin wood through New Zealand for processing before shipping it into the US. …The purpose, according to the investigation, was to dodge the punishing duties the US imposes on Canadian softwood lumber. This is the first confirmed case of a New Zealand processor being directly investigated by US Customs in connection with the Trump-era tariff regime. …The fight is no longer just about headline rates. It is now about who inspects your paperwork, and whether the value you add in New Zealand counts. …The practical takeaway is unglamorous but urgent. Review and document your origin classifications now, before a competitor files a complaint, not after Customs agents turn up.
Timber, furniture, and textile workers will have a new weapon against wood products shut out of the United States and Canada, after Federal Parliament passed laws handing a renamed Anti-Dumping Commission the job of investigating import surges. That is according to the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union, which said on Thursday that the vote caps a campaign of more than a decade. “When the US, Canada, the EU, China and other major economies shut products out of their markets, those goods don’t disappear,” said Leo Skourdoumbis, the union’s acting national secretary. …Canada placed a provisional 25% safeguard surtax on certain imported wood cabinets and vanities from 31 July, the example the union holds up for Australia. …The Albanese Government will rename the Anti-Dumping Commission the Australian Trade Remedies Commission under the Customs Amendment Bill 2026. Dumping, subsidy, and safeguard cases will go before that one body, which reports through Industry Minister Tim Ayres.
The Australian Government has announced a $150 million investment to support forestry industry growth, including funding aimed at transforming wood-product manufacturing and expanding domestic processing capabilities. Announced on 3 September, the funding will be delivered through five streams under the Forestry Growth Fund, with up to $85 million earmarked for large-scale investments in modern wood-product processing, value-adding and facilities designed to significantly transform manufacturing capabilities. A further $30 million will support innovation aimed at improving efficiency and productivity across the forestry supply chain, while up to $15 million will be allocated to workforce development. The government will also provide up to $15 million in additional support for plantation establishment to increase the supply of domestic forest resources for Australia’s manufacturing and construction needs. Another $5 million will fund tools to support compliance with illegal logging laws and reduce the risk of illegally logged or conflict timber entering supply chains.
Softwood roundwood supply has remained essentially flat since 2000 despite continued growth in overall roundwood production, and is forecast to increase by only about 0.5% annually through 2035. Demand for construction timber, packaging and biomass is expected to continue growing faster than supply. The result is a progressively tighter supply-demand balance, with increasing pressure on the availability and real prices of softwood logs. …North American softwood roundwood supply has declined by almost 20%, while Europe/Russia and the rest of the world have each increased by about 18%.
The ten largest softwood lumber import markets imported 16.6 million m3 in April-June 2026. Canada increased its share of U.S. softwood lumber imports by 6 pp, while Germany lost 3 pp of U.S. softwood lumber imports, according to Lesprom Analytics. The ten largest suppliers shipped 15.0 million m3 and held 90% of imports across the ten largest import markets. Canada gained 2 pp of Chinese softwood lumber imports. In the United Kingdom, Germany gained 4 pp and Finland lost 3 pp of U.K. softwood lumber imports. Russia shipped 474 thousand m3 less across the ten largest import markets, followed by Germany at 428 thousand m3 less and Austria at 370 thousand m3 less. In the first half of 2026, the ten largest import markets imported 34.7 million m3. Canada shipped 1.8 million m3 less and Russia shipped 1.2 million m3 less than in the first half of 2025.
A US diesel export ban could become a self-defeating exercise that would do little to ease high US fuel prices but could worsen supply and economic disruptions around the globe, analysts said. US President Donald reportedly said on Tuesday he backed the idea of a ban. Average US diesel prices have jumped to a record $6.5107 a gallon. Diesel is critical to the global economy because it powers transportation, farm equipment and the machinery used to make and move goods. High fuel prices stoke inflation — already a pain point for Trump and Republicans. …”Given that a surplus of diesel in the US could paradoxically force American refiners to cut supplies of oil products – potentially within a few weeks – a ban would ultimately be self-defeating,” Capital Economics said in a note. Restricting US diesel exports would wreak havoc on fuel markets in the US and abroad.
AAA says the national average for diesel reached an unprecedented $5.98 per gallon on September 10, a new high for a fuel whose effects stretch well beyond filling stations. The increase is likely to reach people who never purchase diesel directly, showing up instead in the cost of everyday items and in higher home-heating expenses. More broadly, diesel is a key fuel for trucks and ships, and Grist described how rising diesel costs can feed into the prices of essentials including groceries and lumber. Compared with late February, when the United States and Israel went to war with Iran, AAA figures show diesel prices are about $2.31 higher. Grist also noted that the last major high point came in 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine helped send diesel to $5.82 per gallon. David Ortega at Michigan State University, explained how these increases typically move through the economy.
UK — Demand in softwood markets remains patchy at best, and an overall weakness in the market predominates leading merchants to adopt an ultra-cautious approach. Now that the Scandinavian mills are back in production after the summer holidays, their attention is focused on which markets will be able to absorb their productions. With UK demand on the back foot, importers and are concerned that the Swedes may try to squeeze unwanted volumes into the UK with price inducements. If this happens, and an excess of softwood arrives, it can only result in another self-destructing price war. …To mitigate the effects of low demand, some sawmilling groups are reducing production. …Sawmillers Holmen have announced reduced output for their Linghem mill in Sweden, Stora-Enso is discussing permanent closure of the Veitsiluoto unit in Finland, and there has been an overall drop in production among German softwood producers. …Further afield, curtailments are spreading across the US and Canada.
An analysis originally published by Austria’s Landwirtschaftskammer Kärnten says Europe’s timber industry continues to face weak construction activity, high financing costs and subdued demand. Global Wood’s English-language report says… The European timber industry is facing a prolonged period of consolidation as weak construction activity, industrial recession and higher financing costs continue to pressure the sector. The outlook was discussed at International Wood Day in Klagenfurt, Austria, where around 300 industry leaders and experts gathered. Raiffeisenbank International chief economist Gunter Deuber said Germany’s continued industrial weakness is affecting Central European sawmills, panel manufacturers and timber construction companies, with building permits remaining at historically low levels. High household savings and cautious spending are also limiting residential construction, while stricter lending conditions and elevated construction costs are delaying projects. Although interest rates have fallen, financing remains more expensive than before 2022. 
New housing starts in England rose sharply in the second quarter of 2026. This came even as the number of homes granted planning permission continued to decline, according to figures published Thursday by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Builders started work on 35,910 new dwellings between April and June. That was a seasonally adjusted 6% increase on the first quarter and 20% higher than the same period last year, the department’s “Housing Supply: Indicators of New Supply” release showed. Completions, however, fell to 35,800, down 3% quarter-on-quarter, though still 1% above a year earlier. Over the same period, permission was granted for 212,000 homes in the year to June 30. That was a 12% drop from the 242,000 approved a year earlier, according to provisional figures MHCLG compiled with contractor Glenigan. …MHCLG estimates 196,900 net additional homes were delivered in England in 2025-26. That was a 6% fall from the previous year. 
The EU’s appetite for wood pellets is being fed from outside the bloc, with member states importing 451,880 tonnes from non-EU countries in July, up from 345,074 tonnes a year earlier. That is according to Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics office, whose first estimates for July were published on Tuesday 15 September and remain provisional. France brought in 115,845 tonnes from outside the EU in July, up from 72,181 tonnes in July 2025, and Italy’s imports rose to 76,051 tonnes from 39,172. The Netherlands remained the biggest buyer at 124,591 tonnes, while Denmark’s imports fell to 31,764 tonnes from 50,889. Latvia took 31,022 tonnes, in a month for which Eurostat shows no Latvian figure a year earlier. Imports from outside the EU reached 555,573 tonnes in June, the most in any month since January 2024, and July’s total was still higher than the 392,192 tonnes of July 2024. 
Japan’s housing starts increased 8.2% year-on-year in July 2026, slowing significantly from an 18.6% surge in the previous month. Still, the latest reading marked the fourth consecutive month of growth, surpassing market expectations of 7.9% growth. Owner-occupied homes rose just 0.4% (vs 15.7% in June), while rental housing growth eased markedly (10.0% vs 24.6%). In the meantime, built-for-sale homes continued to grow solidly (14.6% vs 14.2%). At the same time, starts of two-by-four homes fell further (-8.5% vs -7.4%), while prefabricated housing starts dropped 6.9%, reversing a 13.7% gain in June.
Developing formaldehyde-free and high-performance wood adhesives is imperative for sustainable wood utilization. To overcome performance trade-offs in lignin adhesives, we developed a formaldehyde-free aqueous adhesive formulation via reactive cysteine-functionalized lignin, achieving high performance with an unprecedentedly low lignin loading (20 wt %), which is sprayable and injectable and exhibits excellent fluidity. It undergoes self-curing via forming amide bond, achieving robust bonding performance under simple hot-pressing conditions. The solvent-free lignin adhesive for plywood outperforms commercial resins, demonstrating exceptional dry strength (4.0 MPa), high wet-strength retention (83.7%), and superior durability against extreme temperatures (−196° to 190°C), humid heat aging, and solvents. …This work establishes an environmentally friendly and scalable strategy for constructing full bio-based adhesives with exceptional processability and durability, providing a paradigm for lignin valorization within lignin-first biorefinery frameworks.
Work to increase the use of timber in construction in Ireland has entered the “next phase” with the first meeting of a group tasked with delivering on this government ambition taking place. …The group is responsible for delivering the seven priority recommendations from a report by the Timber in Construction Steering Group. 
EUROPE — The European Federation of Wooden pallet and Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB) fully supports the PPWR’s objectives to strengthen circularity and promote reuse.However, following our review of the work concerning wooden pallets, we have seriousconcerns that the current assessment does not adequately reflect how pallet reuse operates inpractice or provide a sufficiently representative basis for establishing a mandatory minimumnumber of rotations. For the reasons set out in the attached statement, FEFPEB does not support the introduction ofa mandatory minimum rotation requirement for wooden pallets on the basis of the currentassessment. In particular, we believe that the evidence base and methodology should bereassessed, with meaningful involvement of the wooden pallet sector, before any suchrequirement is considered. Wooden pallets already operate within mature systems of repeated use, repair, reconditioning,and recycling across Europe. Their circular performance cannot always be captured through individual rotation counts.
Timber traders, pallet makers, and furniture suppliers selling into Europe will not have to trace bamboo, rattan, or used and second-hand wood to a forest plot after the European Commission’s rewrite of the EU Deforestation Regulation’s product list came into force on Friday. That is according to 
AkzoNobel is marking World Green Building Week with the launch of ‘The case for wood in more sustainable buildings’, a 
At Stora Enso’s mill in Varkaus, Finland, recovered cardboard packaging is converted into new fibre raw material. The same fibre can be recycled up to 7 times before it becomes too short and weak for further use. The site contains Finland’s largest recycled-fibre processing facility. Covering approximately 3 hectares, it receives used packaging from households, retailers and packaging manufacturers. More than 95 per cent of paperboard and cardboard packaging is recycled in Finland. However, domestic collections do not provide enough material for the mill, which also imports recovered packaging from Sweden and the Baltic countries. Approximately 20 truckloads of recovered material arrive at the site each day. The compressed bales contain products such as milk cartons, pizza boxes and cereal packages.
For decades, architectural sustainability was dominated by operational performance. Better insulation, efficient mechanical systems, photovoltaic panels, passive solar strategies, and high-performance envelopes became the principal instruments for reducing environmental impact. Those measures remain important, but they no longer describe the entire carbon problem. A building can perform efficiently in operation while carrying an enormous historical carbon burden embedded in its concrete frame, steel reinforcement, glass, aluminum, masonry, finishes, foundations, and infrastructure. Once these materials have been manufactured, transported, assembled, and incorporated into a structure, their associated emissions cannot simply be erased by installing efficient equipment. This is where the concept of material memory becomes architecturally significant. Existing buildings contain not only physical material but also the emissions already invested in producing that material. Retaining a structural frame therefore represents more than preservation. It can function as a form of carbon avoidance.
Researchers have developed a phosphorus-free and formaldehyde-free lignin-derived phenolic resin that combines intrinsic flame retardancy, robust adhesion and effective fire protection when applied as a coating on wood. The material offers a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based phenolic resins. Conventional petroleum-derived phenolic resins face growing scrutiny due to sustainability concerns, inherent flammability and limited adhesion durability. In response, a recent study introduces a lignin-derived phenolic resin, designated SALG-PR, that is both phosphorus-free and formaldehyde-free. The material …delivers a fully bio-based network with multifunctional performance. The resin exhibits notable intrinsic flame retardancy, reaching a UL-94 V-0 rating and a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 62.4 %, values comparable to established petroleum-based resins and to previously reported bio-based flame-retardant materials. Direct exposure to a butane torch for 300 s did not lead to burn-through, and infrared thermography confirmed effective localisation of heat within the flame-impinged region, indicating a strong barrier effect.
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Wind turbines are a powerful alternative to fossil fuels, with wind power now accounting for about 10.5% of all utility-scale electricity generated in the United States. In Germany, the combination of wind and solar power has passed fossil fuels as the nation’s top electric generators. But the environmental impact of wind turbines and their massive blades cuts both ways. The blades are generally made of reinforced fiberglass, a material that is strong, light, and durable. They can last 20 to 30 years. But they’re so difficult to recycle that Europe came up with an unexpected new job for old wind turbines: Pedestrian bridge girders. A company in Germany has a solution that could make the recycling process easier. Voodin Blade Technology made 63-foot wind turbine blades from laminated veneer lumber (LVL). It’s not a completely new idea. In the 1980s, NASA approached Michigan boatbuilders Gougeon Brothers about applying their wood-composite techniques to wind turbines.
The European Union has updated its regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR), which is intended to ensure that products placed on or exported from the EU market do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation. …The EU amended the regulation in December 2024 and December 2025, introducing simplification measures intended to reduce administrative costs and compliance burdens for affected companies. The EUDR will begin applying to large and medium operators on December 30. Micro and small operators will be subject to the regulation beginning June 30, 2027, while micro and small operators already covered by the EU Timber Regulation will have a December 30 compliance date. The EUDR replaces the EU Timber Regulation and is part of the European Commission’s broader effort to reduce the EU’s contribution to global deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. …An 
After a long journey towards implementation, the controversial European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will become law on December 30, 2026, for large operators in the EU, and on June 30, 2027, for smaller operators. When it finally does, the likes of White Oak, Red Oak, Ash, and Walnut from the US will continue flowing into the European market without major hold-ups, thanks largely to the latest tweaks made to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)’s free compliance platform. “I’m very confident in saying that we are 100 percent EUDR compliant,” AHEC’s Tripp Pryor told HMR/Fastmarkets about the American Hardwood Assured (AHA) platform. …Last year saw AHEC make additional changes to ensure full compliance with the European Commission’s specifications around geo-coordinates and harvest sourcing. …Recent tweaks have incorporated preparatory AI to upload US Forest Service data and identify individual harvest sites within counties. “This is a natural fit for using an AI system,” Pryor said.
Scientists have identified a previously unknown frog species living in the seasonally flooded forests of the western Amazon. Named Adenomera varcena, the species adds to growing evidence that Amazonian biodiversity is even richer than it appears. The discovery also highlights the importance of cryptic diversity, in which animals that look nearly identical can actually belong to separate species. Researchers distinguished the new frog by combining several lines of evidence, including its DNA and distinctive call. The discovery grew out of field expeditions in the Upper Juruá River region of western Acre. Scientists surveyed forest fragments near the Moa and Crôa rivers, close to Cruzeiro do Sul. Confirming that the frog represented a new species required far more than simply examining its appearance. The team compared DNA data, recordings of its calls, body shape (morphology), habitat information, and specimens preserved in scientific collections.
ISLAMABAD — A surge in Indonesia’s wood pellet and chip production is driving a new wave of deforestation, threatening the vast archipelago’s remaining tropical forests, vital biodiversity hot spots and the land of Indigenous peoples, according to new satellite analysis from environmental nongovernmental organizations. …“The biomass industry has become a new driver of deforestation in Indonesia,” said Timer Manurung, of Indonesia-based organization Auriga Nusantara. “And most of the biomass product is for export, with Japan as the biggest destination.” As Japan’s demand for Indonesian wood pellets skyrockets in an effort to meet its own renewable energy goals, critics say continued subsidies and weak oversight of the supply chain are likely to allow continued razing of pristine Indonesian forests. …Environmentalists and scientists warn that continued rise in international demand coupled with weak domestic regulation will continue to accelerate deforestation.
Europe’s forest-based industries are entering a critical phase as policymakers seek to accelerate the bioeconomy while forests face growing pressures from climate change, natural disturbances and rising demand for wood-based resources. Against this backdrop, CEI-Bois and the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) held discussions with Sweden’s largest forest owner (Sveaskog), on the future of Europe’s woodworking, sawmilling and forest-based bioeconomy. The meeting focused on the current position and future prospects of Europe’s woodworking and sawmill industries. Discussions covered the opportunities presented by the upcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy, competitiveness challenges and the growing influence of EU sustainability and product-related legislation on forest-based businesses. A central message was that Europe’s bioeconomy ambitions will require a policy environment that recognises the diversity of regional forest resources and forest-based value chains. At the same time, Europe needs healthy, productive forests capable of providing raw materials while allowing industries to remain competitive.
CLARENCE TOWN, Australia — Australian firefighters say they are on alert as temperatures in the southern hemisphere begin to pick up, following a devastating fire season in Europe. Australia is already experiencing a strong El Nino weather event that typically brings with it hotter, drier weather, and an increased risk of wildfires. “We’re concerned this year that we’ll see increased fire risk (versus) prior years,” said Trent Curtin, head of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, the world’s largest volunteer firefighting force. Large parts of Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent, endured sweltering summers, leaving vegetation tinder-dry and fuelling severe wildfires. …Australia has a long history of fighting wildfires, including the 2019 to 2020 Black Summer blazes that destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people. …“For this year we’re alert but not alarmed,” said Alex Capararo, a sector commander for the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales.
A new chapter for FSC in New Zealand is taking shape, with New Zealand-based members unanimously voting to join Australia under a shared Australia and New Zealand’s (FSC ANZ) governance model. This decision marks an important milestone for FSC across the region, solidifying a formal role for New Zealand-based members in FSC Australia and New Zealand’s governance and laying a stronger foundation for expanding FSC’s work, engagement, and impact in New Zealand. …New Zealand-based directors will be added to the FSC ANZ Board at the next Annual General Meeting to strengthen New Zealand’s representation and voice across the organisation’s Environmental, Social and Economic chambers. …FSC ANZ is planning to establish a dedicated presence in New Zealand, adding a new team member based in the country to work closely with members, certificate holders and stakeholders on the ground. …For FSC, New Zealand is a crucial part of the organisation’s future.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said he wants to reinstate the death penalty for arsonists, following a wave of deadly forest fires. The official death toll stands at 12, but independent news outlets believe the figure is much higher. The president ordered the justice ministry to introduce changes to the criminal law introducing capital punishment for arsonists. Capital punishment remains in the country’s penal code for some offences, but no execution has been carried out since 1993. More than 100 wildfires have been recorded in recent days in the north-east of the country, most of which have been extinguished. …Under the current law, deliberately starting forest fires is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, or life imprisonment in certain cases. …While Algeria regularly experiences forest fires around the summer months, climate change has exacerbated the intensity and severity of recent wildfires in the country.
Don’t miss this highly anticipated session with Lars Kjellberg at CELCO 2026. Fifteen years ago, the dissolving pulp industry was entering what many believed would be a golden age. Demand forecasts pointed to unprecedented growth. Prices surged to record levels. New investments poured into the sector as producers rushed to capture what appeared to be a once-in-a-generation opportunity. But what actually happened? At CELCO 2026, renowned industry and financial markets expert Lars Kjellberg will take attendees through one of the most fascinating chapters in dissolving pulp history and explain why the industry’s next phase may look very different from the last. More importantly, Lars will share his perspective on whether the industry is now entering a period of tighter supply-demand balances, improving pricing conditions, and stronger returns.
Aden Pellet Enerji, a subsidiary of Pasifik Holding, has completed an export shipment of 3,375 tonnes of Green Planet branded wood pellets from its production facility in Giresun’s Espiye district, dispatched via 125 containers through Giresun Port to buyers across the European Union and the United Kingdom, with Italy and Slovenia identified as primary destinations. The shipment forms part of an ongoing export programme rather than a standalone transaction, with Pasifik Holding indicating that Aden Pellet’s international commercial operations continue on an established basis. This positions the company within Turkey’s growing wood pellet export sector, which has increasingly targeted European biomass markets as demand for solid biofuel continues to be shaped by EU renewable energy directives and member states’ efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for heating and power generation.
Do forests cool the planet or warm it? It’s a deceptively simple question with no clear answer. The catch is that the same forest can push climate in opposite directions at once. Forests are widely viewed as climate change mitigators—and planting trees as a partial climate solution—because they absorb carbon dioxide. Yet that framing is incomplete. Trees also release reactive gases called biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) that can influence cloud formation, contribute to air pollution, and extend the atmospheric lifetime of methane, a greenhouse gas that can trap about 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide. …Whether forests cool or warm the planet depends on how BVOCs behave once they leave the foliage. From there, the normal steps of plant metabolism synthesize and release BVOCs. …The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature estimates BVOC emissions by combining information about terrestrial vegetation with data on environmental conditions that influence emissions. 
With the impacts of climate change being felt across the globe, forests are under pressure as never before. While agriculture is the main driver of permanent deforestation, wildfires contributed 30% of tree cover loss and logging accounted for a 25% loss, according to WRI. This loss may be temporary, but forests can take decades to recover and may never return to full health. …Five years after countries pledged to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, there has been scant progress. And demand for timber, which is expected to grow 37% by 2050, could rise even higher if more wood is used for construction – a climate solution to replace high-carbon steel and cement. The most ambitious regulatory solution on offer is the EU’s deforestation regulation (EUDR), which will come into effect at the end of this year. …Supply chain leakage risks pushing illegal timber into less regulated markets. …Just 11% of timber firms can prove 90% of sourcing is deforestation-free.
Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reached a record high of 55bn t/CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2025, up by 0.9pc on the year, data from the EU’s independent emissions database for global atmospheric research (Edgar) show. These figures include the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector — which can act either as a source of carbon or a carbon sink. Excluding LULUCF, global GHG emissions rose to 54.1bn t/CO2e in 2025, an increase of 0.7pc on the year, Edgar found. The highest-emitting countries in 2025 were China, the US and India, with shares of 29.5pc, 11.1pc and 8.3pc of the global total, respectively, Edgar data show. …Of the top six emitters, the US and Indonesia recorded the most substantial increases in emissions in 2024-5 — a rise of 2.2pc or 131.5mn t/CO2e for the US and one of 1.2pc or 16.1mn t/CO2e for Indonesia.
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ANKARA, Turkey — Firefighters on Tuesday battled a wildfire in Turkey’s Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya that forced hundreds of people from their homes and injured at least two people, the state-run news agency reported. The fire broke out Monday evening in Antalya’s Aksu district and, fueled by strong winds, quickly spread into the neighboring Kepez district, Anadolu Agency reported. Two people were hospitalized with injuries to their legs while six others affected by smoke were treated on site, the report said. Authorities evacuated people from at least 254 homes in Aksu and Kepez and temporarily closed a highway between Antalya and the city of Isparta, located some 130 kilometers (80 miles) north. More than 2,000 homes in the region were affected by power outages, Anadolu reported. The agency said at least five firefighting aircraft, 10 helicopters, 110 fire extinguishing trucks and 600 personnel were deployed to battle the blaze.
Paris, France – A record-breaking summer that saw more than 1,000 wildfires has torched some 540,000 hectares of land across the European Union since mid-June, according to official data. Multiple back-to-back heatwaves fuelled by climate change scorched Europe, causing more than 30,000 excess deaths, widespread drought and devastating wildfires that forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, particularly in Spain and France. Temperature records across the continent were smashed, triggering dangerous blazes even in normally cool, wet areas such as Belgium and Scotland. …Four of the EU’s 15 largest fires of the last 10 years occurred this summer, according to European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) data. …Before the end of July, France had already broken its record for the total area burned in a single year since records began. …Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy are among the other southern EU nations that experienced an active fire season, a common summer phenomenon in the region.
Pontianak, Indonesia – Toiling around the clock, haggard Indonesian firefighters on Borneo island cannot keep up with the blazes devouring landscapes and shrouding communities in a cloying haze. They are fighting a perilous battle with limited weapons against fires blamed in part on a stronger-than-usual episode of the El Nino climate phenomenon parching Southeast Asia. Experts also blame climate change, decades of forest degradation and slash-and-burn land clearing practices that have changed the naturally fire-resistant landscape. “We are exhausted. Sometimes we carry out firefighting until dawn. Sometimes we don’t sleep,” said Sampe Ritonga, fire chief for Sintang regency. …Some 400 kilometres (250 miles) away in Pontianak — the capital of West Kalimantan province — people have been breathing foul air for weeks. …on Sunday, the level of PM2.5 pollution exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic metre, according to IQAir, a Switzerland-based monitor. That is more than 100 times the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit
Firefighting crews continued efforts Tuesday to bring under control a forest fire that started Monday evening in Antalya’s Aksu district in southern Türkiye and spread to nearby Kepez. The fire began in a forested area near the Karaöz neighborhood in Aksu and spread toward Kepez as strong winds pushed the flames across a wider area. The blaze affected areas around the Karaöz, Hatipler, Yeşilkaraman, Kızıllı and Çamlıca neighborhoods. As a precaution, the Northern Ring Road and part of the Antalya-Isparta highway were temporarily closed to traffic. The road was reopened under controlled conditions Monday morning. The fire reached the Antalya-Isparta highway, but crews prevented the flames from crossing the road through intensive firefighting efforts. Aerial operations began early Tuesday, with five aircraft and more than 10 helicopters joining the response. Around 110 firefighting vehicles and more than 600 personnel are also working to contain the blaze. Authorities evacuated 254 homes in the two districts.