Europe's 2026 wildfire season burns 650k hectares, costs estimated at €50B annually

The European Environment Agency estimates climate-related disasters cost Europe €50 billion per year, with the 2026 summer alone incurring billions. By early September, over 650,000 hectares burned—double the 2006-2025 average—and the fire season continues. This underscores accelerating climate impacts and fiscal strain on EU member states.