London, UK. As wildfires tear through parts of Scotland and Wales, UK climate justice group 350.org warns the UK government not to fuel the climate crisis with bad policy decisions.
Over the past week, Scotland has faced multiple wildfires, notably in Galloway near Glentrool, where extensive blazes prompted evacuations and required significant firefighting resources, including helicopters. In Wales, fire services have been under considerable pressure, responding to a surge in wildfires that have strained resources and highlighted the increasing frequency of such incidents.
Emergency services have been challenged by the scale and speed of the fires, which are hitting long before the usual summer fire season. According to reports, at least 286 wildfires have hit the UK so far this year, more than 100 above the number recorded in the same period in 2022, when there were record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented wildfire activity.
Matilda Borgstrom, UK Campaigner at 350.org:
“The UK government must urgently course correct. Every delay, every new fossil fuel approval, brings more destruction. These wildfires are not just freak events — they are warnings. March 2025 was the hottest on record, and we are already feeling the consequences. The climate crisis is not some far-off threat — it’s happening here, now. The government must act urgently. That means taxing the richest to fund real climate solutions — and it means ruling out any new oil and gas, including dangerous projects like the Rosebank oil field. We cannot afford to pour fuel on the fire while our communities burn.”
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Media Contact: Mark Raven, +447841474125, [email protected]