WMO Links Rising Wildfires to Global Air Pollution Surge

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported that wildfires, increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change, significantly contribute to global air pollution by releasing a complex mix of harmful particles, including PM 2.5 aerosols that penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system. These wildfires have caused above-average pollution levels in regions such as the Amazon basin, Canada, Siberia, and central Africa, with Canadian wildfires also impacting air quality in Europe. The WMO emphasizes that climate change and air pollution are interconnected issues that must be addressed together to protect human health, ecosystems, and economies. Ambient air pollution, driven by fossil fuel emissions and exacerbated by wildfires, leads to approximately 4.5 million premature deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. Despite these challenges, some regions like Eastern China have seen improvements in particle pollution levels due to reduction efforts. The WMO calls for enhanced monitoring and policies to mitigate these growing risks and safeguard environmental and public health globally.