Wildfire Management: Canada’s Carbon Opportunity and a Lesson for All

Abstract

Canada’s recent wildfires have released well over half a gigaton of carbon dioxide in a single season, which on par with the annual emissions of Japan or Germany. Removing this volume through engineered carbon capture would cost more than one trillion dollars, yet only a fraction of that is spent on wildfire suppression and sustainable mitigation. Proactive forest management, which includes thinning, harvesting, and putting fuel wood to productive use, offers a far more cost-effective path, reducing fire intensity while creating low-carbon products and rural jobs. Redirecting even a small share of carbon-offset spending toward such projects could fund lasting prevention. For both Canada and elsewhere, investing in prevention is sound climate policy and an economic imperative.