Annual CO₂ emissions from wildfires in Greenland
Greenland: Annual CO₂ emissions from wildfires was 19,403 tonnes in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual CO₂ emissions from wildfires in Greenland, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2026, annual co₂ emissions from wildfires in Greenland stood at 19,403 tonnes.
The figure is down 85.5% on the previous year and down 49.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from wildfires in Greenland peaked at 734,629 tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2004.
Greenland ranks 163rd of 248 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from wildfires in Greenland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 116,365 tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2005 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2007 | 9,935 tonnes | — |
| 2008 | 20,833 tonnes | +109.7% |
| 2009 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2010 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2011 | 20,717 tonnes | — |
| 2012 | 23,312 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 2013 | 10,263 tonnes | -56.0% |
| 2014 | 33,928 tonnes | +230.6% |
| 2015 | 148,378 tonnes | +337.3% |
| 2016 | 38,182 tonnes | -74.3% |
| 2017 | 734,629 tonnes | +1824.0% |
| 2018 | 155,967 tonnes | -78.8% |
| 2019 | 555,892 tonnes | +256.4% |
| 2020 | 173,057 tonnes | -68.9% |
| 2021 | 91,065 tonnes | -47.4% |
| 2022 | 58,460 tonnes | -35.8% |
| 2023 | 51,496 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2024 | 117,606 tonnes | +128.4% |
| 2025 | 134,256 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 2026 | 19,403 tonnes | -85.5% |
Greenland compared with similar countries
- Greenland's 19,403 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 41,059 tonnes, 47% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Greenland's 19,403 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 120,250 tonnes, 16% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from wildfires in Greenland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +1824.0% | 38,182 tonnes | 734,629 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21,019 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 116,365 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 172,127 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 734,629 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 92,192 tonnes | 19,403 tonnes | 173,057 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Greenland
- 160 Switzerland 26,336 tonnes compare
- 161 Slovakia 23,188 tonnes compare
- 162 Solomon Islands 20,989 tonnes compare
- 164 Comoros 18,859 tonnes compare
- 165 Guadeloupe 17,336 tonnes compare
- 166 Cyprus 16,019 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Greenland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 148,208 kg (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 0.8215 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 0.8215 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0031 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) 0.8215 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 0.8215 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions 0.0031 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Direct emissions 0.0023 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Indirect emissions (N2O that) 0.0002 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Indirect emissions (N2O that leaches) 0.0005 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from wildfires in Greenland?
- Annual co₂ emissions from wildfires in Greenland was 19,403 tonnes in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from wildfires recorded in Greenland?
- The highest recorded value was 734,629 tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from wildfires recorded in Greenland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2004.
- How does Greenland rank for annual co₂ emissions from wildfires?
- Greenland ranks 163rd out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Greenland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greenland data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual CO₂ emissions from wildfires. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Carbon dioxide released by wildfires in tonnes. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.