NewKerala.com

Key Points

Wildfires are creating dangerous air pollution that travels across continents, according to the UN's weather agency. These fires release tiny PM2.5 particles that can penetrate deep into human lungs and cause serious health problems. The World Meteorological Organization warns that climate change is making wildfires more frequent and severe. They're calling for better monitoring and policies to address this growing global health threat.

Key Points: WMO Warns Wildfires Drive Global Air Pollution Health Risks

  • Wildfires release PM2.5 particles penetrating lungs and cardiovascular systems
  • Climate change increases wildfire frequency and pollution risks
  • Pollution from Canadian fires degraded European air quality
  • Amazon basin recorded largest PM2.5 surge in 2024
3 min read

Wildfires drive global air pollution, WMO warns of rising health risks

UN agency reports wildfires create harmful "witches' brew" pollutants affecting continents away, with PM2.5 particles causing 4.5M premature deaths annually.

"What we have from these fires is essentially a witches' brew of components that pollute the air - Lorenzo Labrador, WMO Scientific Officer"

Geneva, September 5

Wildfires contributed significantly to air pollution last year, releasing a "witches' brew" of harmful pollutants that can affect air quality even continents away, the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in its fifth annual Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, Al Jazeera reported.

The WMO highlighted that wildfires, which have likely become more frequent due to climate change, pose growing risks to infrastructure, ecosystems, and human health.

"Wildfires are a big contributor to particle pollution and the problem is expected to increase as the climate warms, posing growing risks for infrastructure and ecosystems and human health," the agency said, according to Al Jazeera.

"Climate change and air quality cannot be addressed in isolation. They must be tackled together in order to protect our planet, our communities, and our economies," added Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett, Al Jazeera reported.

The report noted that tiny particles called aerosols, particularly those with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres (PM 2.5), are especially harmful because they can penetrate deep into the lungs or cardiovascular system.

Wildfires in 2024 led to above-average PM 2.5 levels in Canada, Siberia, and central Africa, with the Amazon basin recording the largest surge, Al Jazeera added.

WMO Scientific Officer Lorenzo Labrador, who coordinated the bulletin, said wildfires in Canada also affected air quality in Europe.

"We had that last year and this year as well. So you have a degradation in air quality across continents when the meteorological conditions are right," Labrador told a news conference. "What we have from these fires is essentially a witches' brew of components that pollute the air," Al Jazeera reported.

The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths annually.

The WMO called for improved monitoring and policies to safeguard human and environmental health and reduce agricultural and economic losses, Al Jazeera reported.

Paolo Laj, WMO's global atmosphere chief, highlighted successful mitigation measures in some regions. "Look at Europe, Shanghai, Beijing, cities in the United States: Many cities have taken measures and you see in the long term, a strong decrease" in recorded air pollution, he said. "Over a 10-year period, Chinese cities have improved their air quality in a dramatic way. It's really impressive what they have done," Al Jazeera added.

Laj further said that while there is no single solution to drastically cut air pollution, "when measures are taken, it works," underscoring the importance of proactive environmental policies.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The part about pollutants traveling continents away is eye-opening. Canadian wildfires affecting European air quality shows how interconnected our world is. We're all breathing the same air ultimately.
A
Arjun K
While I appreciate the global perspective, I wish the report had more data on how this specifically affects South Asia. Our region faces unique air quality challenges that need targeted solutions.
S
Sarah B
The success stories from China and other cities give me hope. If they can dramatically improve air quality in 10 years, other nations can too. We need similar determination in policy making.
V
Vikram M
4.5 million premature deaths annually is a staggering number. This should be treated as a global health emergency. Governments need to prioritize clean air policies with the same urgency as pandemic responses.
M
Michael C
The Amazon basin recording the largest surge in PM 2.5 is particularly worrying. Protecting rainforests isn't just about biodiversity - it's directly linked to global air quality and human health.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50