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Wildfires and heat waves threaten global air-quality gains
The World Meteorological Organization studied how air pollution and climate change are connected.
It warned that hotter weather and stronger wildfires can make the air unhealthy.
Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles called PM2.5.
These particles can travel far from the fire and harm people’s lungs and hearts.
Ground-level ozone is another harmful pollutant discussed in the report.
Some countries have reduced pollution from factories and vehicles, but wildfire pollution is growing.
The report says extreme smoke events have become much more common since the 1990s.
Scientists expect meeting air-quality goals to become harder if wildfires keep increasing.
The agency says countries should address climate change and air pollution together.
The World Meteorological Organization warned that increasingly intense wildfires and heat waves could undermine air-quality improvements.
Wildfires are becoming a larger source of harmful pollution as industrial and transport emissions decline in many developed countries.
The report highlighted PM2.5 and ground-level ozone, which are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
Extreme fire-smoke events have tripled globally since the 1990s and may have contributed to nearly 100,000 additional annual deaths from 2010 to 2018.
The WMO urged coordinated climate and air-pollution policies, along with better monitoring of pollutants and aerosols.
- Who
- The World Meteorological Organization, with comments from scientific officer Lorenzo Labrador.
- What
- It warned that wildfires and heat waves are threatening progress on air quality and public health.
- Where
- Impacts were reported in parts of Europe, northern Canada, parts of Russia, western-central Africa and northwestern Spain.
- When
- The report was discussed on September 7; it reported pollutant concentrations during 2025.
- Why
- Climate change is making extreme heat and wildfires more frequent, intense and longer-lasting, increasing harmful pollution.
Key facts
- Key pollutants
- Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, and ground-level ozone.
- Health risks
- The pollutants are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
- Smoke trend
- Extreme fire-smoke events have tripled globally since the 1990s.
- Estimated deaths
- Wildfire smoke may have contributed to nearly 100,000 additional deaths annually between 2010 and 2018.
- 2025 hotspots
- PM2.5 levels were above long-term averages in northern Canada, parts of Russia and western-central Africa; northwestern Spain was also identified as a hotspot.
- Recommended response
- The WMO called for coordinated climate and air-pollution policies and improved monitoring of pollutants and aerosols.
Quotes
Lorenzo Labrador
Scientific officer at the World Meteorological Organization
“No matter how clean your city or your region is … if you have a lot of pollution brought about by wildfires, that has the potential to negatively impact air quality in those regions as well”
theprint.in
Sources
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