Forests that once experienced periodic fires are now exposed to longer fire seasons and increasingly extreme fire behaviour. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Europe’s wildfire season has gradually expanded beyond its traditional summer window, with heightened risks beginning earlier in spring and increasingly extending into autumn. Copernicus estimates that the 2026 wildfire season has already released approximately 8.31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, temporarily offsetting part of Europe’s emissions reduction efforts. OutlookEurope’s wildfire emergency has evolved into far more than an environmental crisis. It has become a test of the continent’s economic resilience, infrastructure security, climate adaptation policies and long-term land management strategy.