In this Science Talk, Dr. Mojtaba Sadegh will explore the paradox of wildland fires: global burned area has declined by 26% over the past two decades, yet human exposure has surged by 40%. Drawing on new research published in Science, the talk highlights that more than 440 million people worldwide were exposed to wildfires between 2002 and 2021, with Africa bearing 85% of this burden. The discussion will also examine the role of climate change, which has driven a 54% increase in extreme fire weather, and human factors such as the rapid expansion of the wildland–urban interface.
Speaker
Dr. Mojtaba Sadegh
Lead, Climate and Wildfire Analytics
