Wildfires, Heatwaves Threaten Global Air Quality and Health, UN Warns
The WMO said fire-related PM2.5 exposure has risen as extreme smoke events have tripled globally since the 1990s.
- On Monday, the World Meteorological Organization warned that intensifying wildfires and heatwaves threaten global air quality goals, emphasizing that climate change and air pollution are intrinsically linked and require coordinated policy responses.
- Burning vegetation releases toxic fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, while ground-level ozone accumulates when temperatures rise; Lorenzo Labrador, a WMO scientific officer, noted these wildfire-generated microparticles are "much more toxic" than emissions from industrial sources.
- Extreme fire-smoke events have tripled globally since the 1990s, contributing to nearly 100,000 additional deaths annually between 2010 and 2018; the WMO warned that conventional risk models may underestimate wildfire-attributable mortality by up to 93 percent.
- The WMO identified black carbon and microplastics as poorly tracked pollutants, with simulations estimating 51 million tonnes for land and 22 million tonnes for the ocean; black carbon deposits on snow and ice hasten melting by reducing sunlight reflection.
- While regulations in Europe and North America have reduced industrial emissions, exposure to fire-related PM2.5 has increased; the agency stressed that complementary policies are essential because pollutants remain insufficiently monitored despite widespread presence.
33 Articles
33 Articles
The pollution caused by forest fires and increasing heat waves risks undermining global progress in improving air quality and protecting people's health, warns the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Climate change makes it increasingly difficult to achieve international air quality objectives, under conditions where extreme fires become more likely.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hyun Young-bok = A report has been released stating that wildfires and heatwaves, occurring frequently due to the aftermath of climate change, are threatening global air quality.
The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned today that pollution from increased forest fires and heat waves
The World Meteorological Organization warns about the effects of fires and heat waves. Smokes generate significant pollution to fine particles. Heat waves promote the formation of ground-level ozone, with serious health consequences. - Pollution: heat waves and fire smoke threaten air quality (Health and well-being).
Fires and heat waves could counter efforts to improve air quality, warns the World Meteorological Organization.These events have "major" and underestimated health consequencesThe increase in fires and heat waves threatens efforts to improve air quality, with increasing health consequences, warned the World Meteorological Organization Monday (WMO).In its annual bulletin on air quality, WMO warns about the proliferation of "extreme forest fires", …
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns in its latest report that increasingly destructive forest fires and heatwaves could undermine global efforts to improve air quality, while climate change is making it increasingly difficult to meet international air quality goals.
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