Indonesia’s most dangerous fires are burning underground - Science Daily

The smokestacks can stop. The oil wells can close. But the warming will persist for decades. A new study suggests that carbon dioxide released by the world’s biggest fossil-fuel and cement producers will continue keeping the planet warmer for centuries, even in a future in which humanity sharply cuts emissions. Researchers estimate that historical emissions linked to 178 “Carbon Majors” were responsible for about 0.66° Celsius of warming by 2025. In their lowest-emissions scenario, roughly 0.45° of that warming was still present in the year 2500.

6 min readImage of the Day for October 15, 2026During El Niño, a cascade of fires across the tropics begins in equatorial Asia and continues in the central and eastern Amazon. NASA Earth ObservatoryOct 15, 2026 Article Unlike a tornado or thunderstorm that can deliver destruction in minutes, El Niño exerts its influence over many months. This year, a drought accompanying El Niño has left the Amazon rainforest primed to burn, and scientists say the region has entered the early stages of what they think will be a long and severe fire season.

Firefighters have raised alarms about hot, fast, hard-to-extinguish fires in lithium batteries from e-bikes in people's homes (including ones in Toronto and Peterborough, Ont., just this week) and huge storage batteries at a P. E. I. solar farm last month. Concerns about lithium battery fires have led to bans of electric bikes and cars in some buildings, public transit and ferries, causing problems for people who rely on them. They've also made some people hesitant about trying electric vehicles. This week is Fire Prevention Week, and lithium batteries are the official theme. Here's a closer look at why lithium battery fires are a challenge and what can be done to minimize the risks. WATCH | Why lithium-ion batteries are so dangerous:Why lithium-ion batteries are so dangerousAugust 20|Duration 2:08Toronto has seen more than 200 per cent growth in lithium-ion battery fires since 2022, according to Toronto's Fire Chief. CBC's Lane Harrison explains what's behind the surge and why these fires are so difficult to fight. How common are lithium battery fires?