The claim that wildfires emit more carbon dioxide (CO2) than human activity is not accurate. Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are the primary drivers of increased CO2 emissions and contribute significantly more to atmospheric CO2 levels compared to wildfires.
While wildfires do emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, their overall contribution to atmospheric CO2 is much smaller than that of human activities. According to scientific studies, including a comprehensive analysis published in the journal Science in 2018, human activities are responsible for the majority of CO2 emissions, accounting for approximately 80% or more of global CO2 emissions. This includes emissions from burning fossil fuels for transportation, energy production, industrial processes, and deforestation.
In contrast, wildfires are a natural phenomenon that releases CO2 when vegetation and organic matter burn. Wildfires can vary in intensity, size, and frequency, but their emissions are typically considered to be a smaller fraction of the total CO2 emissions compared to human activities. It's worth noting that while wildfires release CO2, they also contribute to the carbon cycle by returning carbon to the atmosphere that was previously absorbed by vegetation during photosynthesis.
It's important to rely on scientific research and data when evaluating claims about CO2 emissions. The consensus among climate scientists is that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are the primary drivers of increased atmospheric CO2 levels, which contribute to climate change. While wildfires do have an impact on local and regional air quality, ecology, and carbon cycling, they are not the main source of global CO2 emissions.