Wildfires - Photo © European Union 2026

As catastrophic wildfires sweep across Southern Europe, WWF warns that the EU is sleepwalking into a permanent wildfire crisis while simultaneously weakening key environmental protections that help safeguard people, economies and nature from climate impacts.

Today’s launch of the European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass risks becoming a victory for polluting industries at the expense of workers, the environment, and future prosperity.