King's College London

Researchers say the G7’s landmark wildfire deal will only make a real difference if it looks beyond who started a fire and prioritises fire prevention over high‑tech responses.

As wildfires become more frequent and more destructive, the King's researchers also say local communities must be given real power to make decisions, not just be consulted.

The comments respond to the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter, agreed by G7 countries in 2025. The Charter recognises the role of Indigenous fire knowledge and calls for a ‘whole‑of‑society’ approach to living with fire.

The impetus for the Charter is that the frequency and intensity of extreme wildfires worldwide has more than doubled over the past two decades.

NASA analysis of satellite data shows that the most extreme fires are becoming larger, hotter and longer‑lasting, particularly in temperate and boreal forests.

While the Charter is widely seen as a positive step, researchers from King’s College London and international partner institutions say its impact will depend on how it is put into practice.

One concern is the Charter’s strong focus on preventing human‑caused fires. Reducing accidental and deliberate ignitions matters, the researchers say, but it should not distract from the wider drivers of wildfire risk.

“Wildfires are increasingly shaped by climate change, land‑use decisions, economic pressures and changes in how land is managed,” said Professor of Environmental Geography, James Millington. “Focusing too narrowly on who starts a fire risks missing the bigger picture.”

Writing in Nature Communications, the researchers also stress that Indigenous and local knowledge is often included without giving communities real authority. In many regions, people with long experience of living with fire are asked to share knowledge but are excluded from decision‑making.

For community‑led fire management to work, the authors argue, local and Indigenous groups need secure land rights, clear authority and the ability to shape fire governance on their own terms.

“Without this,” says lead author, Dr Kapil Yadav “well‑intentioned policies risk repeating old patterns of control and exclusion.”

Another issue raised is how fire itself is understood. In many parts of the world, carefully managed burning plays an important role in livelihoods, biodiversity and reducing wildfire risk.

Treating all fire as dangerous can discourage or criminalise these practices, sometimes increasing the risk of larger and more damaging fires.

The Charter also highlights the role of technology, including fire detection systems and advanced firefighting equipment. While these tools are important, the researchers warn against relying on them alone.

“Long‑term resilience depends on investing in communities and learning how to live safely with fire, not just how to fight it,” added Professor in Environment and Development, Kate Schreckenberg.

The work was supported by the Leverhulme Trust and involved researchers from King’s College London and several international partner institutions through the Just Fire team of the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires Environment and Society.

 

Yadav, K., Croker, A., Ford, A. et al. The Kananaskis Wildfire Charter: a good start. Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-70040-y