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On a special summer episode of Energy vs Climate, we’re addressing the record-setting wildfires that Canada has been experiencing this summer. We're joined by molecular paleoecologist Allison Karp to examine how fire has changed across geologic timescales and how much of this year's wildfires we can attribute to climate change.

EPISODE NOTES

@1:23 Allison Karp, paleoecologist at Yale and Brown University

@11:04 Earliest evidence of wildfire found in Wales 430 million years ago, BBC, original journal article here 

@11:33 Indigenous fire management and traditional knowledge

@15:20 Record-setting climate enabled the extraordinary 2020 fire season in the western United States

@16:31 Data attribution is political: Trump Blames Wildfires on Poor Forest Management. Biden Focuses on Climate Change 

@19:25 Politics aside, 1/2 to 2/3 of wildfires attributed to climate change due to increased aridity

@22:00 Economic toll and health impacts of wildfires

@28:55 Estimated 25% increase in particulate matter at size less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) attributed to wildfires

@26:02 Dr. Frances Moore and the shifting baseline syndrome

More from paleoecologist, Allison Karp:

• Fire contributing to grasslands expansion millions of years ago 
• Fire activity in savannas responded differently to increases in rainfall 1000s of years ago 

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