From the wooded glens of Arran to the rugged expanses of Inverpolly in the northwest Highlands, wildfires have erupted across the country in recent weeks, torching landscapes and displacing wildlife in what experts warn is becoming a dangerous new normal.
Climate scientists and government ministers say the recent fires — including a major blaze on the Isle of Bute last week — are further proof that rising global temperatures are reshaping Scotland’s natural environment. And with spring only just underway, concern is growing about what lies ahead.
“These fires are not isolated — they are part of an escalating pattern,” said Lorna Slater, Scottish Greens co-leader and minister for green skills, circular economy, and biodiversity. “Climate change is intensifying the risk and severity of wildfires in Scotland. The science is clear, and the consequences are terrifying.”
From Holyrood Park to the Highlands
The fires have come earlier than expected and hit regions previously considered low-risk. Remote glens, peatlands, and even urban-adjacent parks like Holyrood Park and the Pentland Hills have felt the impact of extreme dryness and unseasonal heat.
While official estimates of damage are still being compiled, early assessments suggest multiple hectares of land have been scorched, threatening biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. Firefighters have worked around the clock in treacherous conditions, with some battling blazes on multiple fronts across Argyll and Bute, the Cairngorms, and Skye.
Political Firestorm
The climate-linked crisis has added fuel to Scotland’s heated political debate over emissions targets and environmental policy. The Scottish Greens, currently part of the Scottish Government via their cooperation deal with the SNP, have called for renewed urgency in reaching net zero goals.
“Gratitude to firefighters is not enough. We need political courage,” said Slater. “The loss of habitats, homes, and livelihoods must galvanise our response — not slow it down.”
Her comments come as opposition parties, particularly the Scottish Conservatives and Reform UK, continue to challenge key elements of the climate agenda, including low-emission zones, investment in active travel infrastructure, and the pace of transition away from fossil fuels.
Slater directly accused some parties of “undermining the goal of net zero,” calling such stances “not just irresponsible — but dangerous.”
Urban Risk, Rural Fallout
Climate modelling has long warned that Scotland is not immune from the effects of global warming, but the pace at which wildfire risk has grown is surprising many. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) says it has seen a surge in wildfire incidents in the last two years, often in areas not traditionally considered high risk.
Even urban centres like Edinburgh are now considered vulnerable, with flood risk zones expanding and fire threats creeping closer to populated areas.
“We’re seeing the real-time loss of biodiversity — birds, insects, even deer populations are being displaced or wiped out,” said a spokesperson for NatureScot. “What’s worrying is how quickly these impacts compound across ecosystems.”
Pressure on Policy
Scotland has committed to a legally binding net zero target by 2045, five years ahead of the UK-wide goal. Yet the route to that target is proving contentious, especially as the country grapples with economic pressures, rising energy costs, and political instability.
The Scottish Greens have identified transport and buildings as the top two sources of emissions and say a shift to walkable communities and clean public transport is essential. They’ve also renewed calls for a complete halt to public investment in fossil fuel infrastructure and more aggressive support for wind, solar, and tidal energy projects.
“We have the tools to act — the technology, the science, the knowledge,” said Slater. “What we need now is the will.”
A Warning on the Wind
The growing frequency and ferocity of wildfires are unlikely to abate without systemic change, say environmental researchers. Without a marked shift in climate policy and public investment, Scotland could face a future of regular natural disasters — not only fires, but floods, crop failures, and widespread ecological disruption.
“We’re at a tipping point,” said Dr. Emily Keir, a climate policy expert at the University of Strathclyde. “What used to be freak events are now annual, even seasonal. If that doesn’t prompt a rethink, I don’t know what will.”
For now, Scotland’s firefighters remain on alert. And for many across the country — from city residents to Highland crofters — the message from the flames is clear: the climate crisis is not on the horizon. It is already here.
