Wildfires are fuelling air pollution, UN weather body says

Wildfires, which scientists believe are becoming more frequent due to climate change, were a major driver of air pollution last year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a report released on Friday.

According to the World Health Organization, ambient air pollution is responsible for 4.5 million premature deaths annually. The WMO’s 2024 report highlighted pollution hotspots in regions hit by severe wildfires, including the Amazon basin, Canada, Siberia and central Africa.

As global warming, largely fuelled by fossil fuel emissions, continues to reshape weather patterns, wildfires are spreading more widely and occurring more often. These fires add to the airborne particles already produced by burning coal, oil, gas and wood, alongside emissions from transport and agriculture.

“Wildfires are a significant source of particle pollution, and the problem is likely to worsen as the climate heats up, threatening infrastructure, ecosystems and human health,” the WMO warned.

Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett stressed: “Climate change and air quality cannot be dealt with separately. They must be tackled together if we are to safeguard our planet, our societies and our economies.”

Although the report focused on 2024, the WMO noted that record-breaking wildfires in southern Europe this year have also worsened pollution levels across the continent.

Still, there were some encouraging developments, with particle pollution in eastern China declining as a result of emission reduction measures.

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