Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
United States: Netanyahu leaves the White House after he meets with Trump without making any statement.
Sources from Mehr News Agency: The Americans have requested, through intermediaries from various countries, the continuation of negotiations with Iran
Mehr News Agency, citing sources: The Iranian Foreign Ministry is considering a US request to continue negotiations after they failed to halt Iran's nuclear capabilities
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five martyrs and several wounded after the occupation targeted a group of civilians in Al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City
Hamas: The comprehensive failure, military, political, and moral, exposes the falsehoods of the Zionist propaganda machine and reaffirms that our struggle is one of willpower and steadfastness
Hamas: Hamas: The slogans of "crushing defeat" and "total eradication" of the movement have collapsed in the face of explosive tunnels and the Resistance’s ambushes
Hamas: 640 days into the aggression, the occupation has utterly failed to break Gaza’s will or subdue its resistance
Iranian FM spokesperson denies Trump’s claims about Iran requesting a meeting with the US: We have made no such request to the American side
OHCHR: We have concerns that Nasser's arrest is part of efforts to eliminate legitimate forms of Palestinian expression
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Six killed or injured in Israeli drone strike on displaced persons’ tents in Sanabel camp, al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis

Conspiracy theory of ‘ecoterrorism’ rages over Canada wildfires

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Jun 2023 10:12
4 Min Read

While alarming wildfires continued to burn across eastern Canada, social media posts insist "arson, not climate change" to be blamed, while others insist that the government is to be blamed.

  • x
  • In this photo provided by the Government of Alberta Fire Service, a burned section of forest in the area near Edson, Alberta, smolders, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Government of Alberta Fire Service/The Canadian Press via AP)
    In this photo provided by the Government of Alberta Fire Service, a burned section of forest in the area near Edson, Alberta, smolders, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Government of Alberta Fire Service/The Canadian Press via AP)

Online rumors that some of the recent wildfires in Canada were lit on purpose by environmentalists have gained traction as the country races into its worst wildfire season in history. 

"I bet a good portion of the wildfires raging across the country were started by green terrorists who want to give their climate change campaign a little boost," Maxime Bernier, a former foreign minister-turned fringe party leader, said in a June 5 tweet.  

With more than three million hectares burned thus far this season, 2023 has seen more wildfires in Canada than any other year. As a result, tens of thousands of people have evacuated.

On TikTok, a video already viewed almost 20,000 times, claims the fires in Nova Scotia were set "on purpose to push a climate change agenda."

Some people wondered how all the blazes could have begun on the same day as the flames moved through Quebec. Over a million people have seen a Facebook video where "a terrorist attack" is cited as the cause of the fires.

But Karine Pelletier from the province's Forest Fire Protection Agency said the causes are still under investigation. 

"There are a lot which are caused by humans, but these are almost always accidents," she said, noting that recent lightning strikes were to blame for many of Quebec’s wildfires.  

Alberta Wildfire said, as quoted by AFP, that unless lightning is involved, a blaze is classified as human-caused. This does not exclusively mean arson.

Related News

Heatwaves threaten economic growth in Europe and beyond, Allianz warns

Heatwave may kill 600 in UK, scientists blame climate change

"It could be related to general causes, including agriculture, forest industry, powerlines, or oil and gas industry, railroad or residential wildfires," said spokesperson Melissa Story. 

It is worth noting that conspiracy theorists have repeatedly attempted to link politically motivated arsonists to destructive wildfire seasons. 

This is the situation in Canada, where some social media users are using "verifiable" information about suspicious fires to spread rumors about unrelated incidents and places. 

'The Canadian government is starting wildfires'

In addition to alleged vigilantism, some people make the claim that the Canadian government intentionally stoked wildfires, either to promote its views regarding climate change or to drive people into cities where it will be simpler to enact "climate lockdowns".

Chris Russill, a professor at Carleton University studying climate change communication, related those fears to Canada's signing of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, which raised alarm about the impending climate crisis. 

As the Liberal government implemented stricter climate caps and taxes over the past decade, Russill said people in Canada's natural resource industries have grown defensive.

"This grievance isn't actually always about a global fear of shadowy UN elites or eco-vigilantes, even though that's how this gets taken up and incubated in this sort of narrative," he said. "It's expressing the fact that the relationship to the federal government and the provinces has become more insistent and more forceful."

Social media posts insist "arson not climate change" is responsible for the wildfires, but Natural Resources Canada told reporters on June 5 that this fire season was exacerbated by hot, dry, and windy conditions.   

"Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildland fires and creating longer fire seasons," said Mike Norton, director general of the Canadian Forestry Centre. 

Read next: Canada wildfires prompt Red air quality alert for Washington

  • Climate change
  • Canada
  • wildfires
  • Quebec

Most Read

Syria demands 1/3 of Golan, Lebanese areas for 'Israel' peace deal

Syria demands 1/3 of Golan, Lebanese areas for 'Israel' normalization

  • MENA
  • 4 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Al-Qassam hits IOF groupings in Khan Younis; ‘tough incident’ reported

3 Israeli soldiers killed by Resistance gunfire in south, north Gaza

  • Palestine
  • 4 Jul 2025
Concrete and rubble fall from a heavily damaged building as Israeli soldiers search for survivors in a residential area hit by a missile fired from Iran, near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)

'Israel' concealed damage inflicted by Iran in war, report finds

  • Politics
  • 5 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Big beautiful bill's ugly reality for American healthcare
US & Canada

'Big beautiful bill's' ugly reality for American healthcare

Ukrainian Forces struggle to hold Eastern front lines: NYT
Europe

Ukrainian forces struggle to hold eastern frontlines: NYT

Plan proposes transit camps for Gazans ahead of possible relocation
US & Canada

GHF proposed 'transit areas' plan prior to Gaza residents 'relocation'

Lavrov: IAEA will be held accountable for pre-strike Iran assessments
Europe

IAEA to be held accountable for pre-strike Iran assessments: Lavrov

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS