Wildfires intensified by climate change are significantly worsening global air pollution, according to a new report released on Thursday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The report finds that smoke from large-scale wildfires in 2024 contributed to hazardous air quality across multiple continents, affecting millions of people and raising new public health concerns.
The WMO’s fifth Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, published from Geneva, highlights a direct link between climate-driven wildfires and increased levels of fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. These microscopic particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
The report warns that the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires are accelerating a cycle of pollution that transcends national boundaries. The year 2024 saw significant wildfire activity in key regions, including Canada, the Amazon basin, Siberia and parts of central Africa. Satellite-based atmospheric monitoring and model simulations confirmed that these fires led to marked increases in airborne pollutants, particularly PM2.5 concentrations, in regions both near and far from the actual fire zones.
In some cases, smoke traveled thousands of kilometers, with Canadian wildfires impacting air quality as far away as Europe. WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett said the data reinforces the urgent need for integrated action on both climate change and air pollution. He emphasized that rising global temperatures are not only driving extreme heat and drought conditions, which make fires more likely, but also deteriorating air quality that can cause long-term health problems.
Global air pollution spikes as wildfire activity intensifies
The WMO report includes model-based estimates of global PM2.5 anomalies for 2024 compared to a 20-year baseline from 2003 to 2022. It shows significantly elevated PM2.5 levels in regions affected by fire activity. The Amazon, in particular, recorded a major increase, while parts of North America and northern Eurasia also experienced air quality deterioration linked to widespread wildfires.
Beyond the immediate health impacts, wildfire smoke contains a complex mixture of pollutants including carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and black carbon. These substances not only pose risks to human health but also contribute to broader climate impacts, such as altering cloud formation and accelerating ice melt in polar regions due to deposited soot.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is already responsible for over 4.5 million premature deaths annually. The WMO bulletin suggests that without coordinated global policy efforts, this number could rise due to the compounded effects of climate change and wildfire emissions. Vulnerable populations in low-income regions are expected to bear the greatest burden.
Wildfire emissions compound long-term climate and health effects
The report also notes some encouraging trends. Regulatory measures in parts of North America, Europe and East Asia have resulted in gradual reductions in anthropogenic aerosol emissions over time. However, progress remains uneven, and many regions continue to see high or increasing pollution levels due to a combination of industrial activity and environmental factors such as wildfires.
The WMO called for enhanced global cooperation on atmospheric monitoring, early warning systems, and cross-border policy initiatives to address the twin challenges of air quality and climate. The organization stressed that tackling these issues in tandem can produce mutual benefits for public health, ecosystems and long-term economic stability.
As wildfires continue to increase in scale and frequency, the WMO’s findings underscore the importance of aligning environmental policies with climate adaptation strategies to safeguard air quality and public health in a warming world, while also strengthening global monitoring systems, disaster preparedness, and long-term resilience planning. – By Content Syndication Services.