The planet is burning.  Photograph: Vikas Choudhary/CSE
Climate Change

Burning planet

The first four months of 2026 have witnessed immense conflagrations worldwide, with more predicted as the year continues

Vikas Choudhary

More land has been burned during the first four months of 2026, than during the same period in any other year, according to the World Weather Attribution as reported by Akshit Sangomla of Down To Earth.

WWA is a global consortium of scientists who assess the contribution of warming and consequent climate change in the increase of frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather events across the world.

More land has been burned during the first four months of 2026, than during the same period in any other year.

The largest area was burnt in Africa. In Asia too, there were extensive outbreaks of fire in countries such as India, China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.

Things are only set to worsen with a Super El Nino on the way.

And with a Super El Nino on the way, things are only set to worsen.