The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned Friday that wildfires are releasing a “toxic mix” of pollutants that can travel thousands of kilometers, threatening public health far beyond the fire zones.
In its fifth annual Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, the UN agency stressed that air pollution and climate change are deeply interconnected and must be tackled together.
The report highlighted how massive wildfires in the Amazon, Canada, and Siberia in 2024 drove fine particulate matter (PM2.5) far above normal levels, with the Amazon Basin recording the highest spikes.
“These crises know no borders,” said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett, pointing to how extreme heat and drought fueled record wildfire seasons and worsened air quality for millions worldwide.
WMO scientists noted that wildfire smoke last year crossed the Atlantic, with Canadian blazes contributing to air pollution in Europe. PM2.5 particles, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, are particularly dangerous, linked to millions of premature deaths each year according to the World Health Organization.
The report also identified worsening air pollution in northern India’s densely populated Ganges Basin, driven largely by agricultural biomass burning, while eastern China showed notable improvements thanks to stricter air-quality policies over the past decade.
The WMO urged governments to strengthen monitoring and adopt stronger policies to protect human health, safeguard agriculture, and reduce economic losses.
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