Europe's wildfires are burning at a scale never seen before, and climate change is making it worse. New analysis by World Weather Attribution (WWA) warns that human-caused climate change has made extreme, fire-prone weather conditions 20 times more likely in Spain and at least twice as likely in France.

The study examined surface temperatures, drought, humidity and wind speed, and found that without curbing fossil fuels, humanity may soon be approaching the limits of its ability to adapt.

Land use patterns and vegetation structures have also played a role, said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and one of the report's authors. 

In Spain, rural land abandonment has allowed vegetation to grow unchecked, creating dry fuel for extreme heat. In France's Bordeaux region, densely planted pine forests are highly flammable when dried out and a lack of agricultural firebreaks has made it easier for fires to spread.

Heatwaves have also accelerated surface water loss, drying out vegetation and creating more fuel for fires.

Scientists warned that as global temperatures continue to rise above pre-industrial levels, extreme heatwaves and droughts will become more frequent. Without deep cuts in emissions, adaptation will become increasingly difficult, if not impossible. Reducing reliance on fossil fuels is an urgent priority, Otto said.