UN Reports Wildfires Creating Toxic 'Witches' Brew' of Air Pollution

Impact of Wildfires on Air Quality: Wildfires are releasing pollutants that significantly degrade air quality across continents, with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) emphasizing the need to address climate change and air pollution together.

Longer Wildfire Seasons: The WMO reports that climate change is causing wildfire seasons to become stronger and longer, leading to increased PM 2.5 levels in regions like Canada, Siberia, and the Amazon, which can affect air quality globally.

Air Pollution and Health Risks: The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution results in over 4.5 million premature deaths annually, with pollution hotspots identified in northern India, where agricultural burning exacerbates air quality issues.

Improvements in Air Quality: Significant reductions in PM 2.5 levels have been observed in eastern China due to effective mitigation measures, demonstrating that targeted actions can lead to substantial improvements in air quality over time.