Norway announced its participation in two new international initiatives to strengthen global cooperation against forest fires during the UN Climate Summit in Brazil. The move responds to a surge in large-scale fires worldwide, driven by a warming and increasingly dry climate that has expanded fire risk across multiple regions.
The Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment stated that 135,000 km² of forest burned globally last year, an area exceeding one-third of Norway’s landmass. Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen emphasized the urgency of collective action, noting that forest fires continue to destroy livelihoods, release massive greenhouse gas emissions, and threaten biodiversity. He reiterated that the issue has become a global challenge requiring coordinated responses.
Brazil and Canada initiated the two new cooperation platforms, which aim to enhance prevention, preparedness, and joint firefighting capabilities. The measures include improving early detection systems, building technical capacity in high-risk areas, and integrating fire-prevention mechanisms into national planning frameworks. Both initiatives seek to support countries that experience heightened risk due to rapid environmental changes.
Norway reinforced its commitment by expanding support through the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI). Last year, half of the global burned forest area was located in the tropics, where NICFI has been active. In Brazil, Norwegian support helped strengthen fire preparedness in 61 municipalities—covering roughly 470,000 km², an area comparable to the combined size of Norway and Portugal.
In Southeast Asia, Norway allocated approximately 20 million NOK to bolster fire prevention and response efforts in seven Indonesian provinces. Additional contributions include funding for monitoring and fire-preparedness programs in Central African countries through the CAFI partnership, along with equipment and training for 16 local firefighting units in Colombia.
Norway stated that these efforts reinforce its long-term commitment to safeguarding tropical forests, where 67,000 km² were lost in 2024—an area equivalent to the Netherlands and Belgium combined. Government officials affirmed that the new initiatives will help countries address fire risks more rapidly and effectively as climate-driven disasters intensify. (*)
