Geneva, Sept. 07(SANA) The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization warned Monday from Geneva in western Switzerland that increasingly frequent wildfires and heatwaves threaten global air quality and public health, according to its annual Air Quality and Climate Bulletin cited by Reuters.
The WMO said climate change and air pollution are closely linked and should be addressed through coordinated policies rather than separately. It warned that meeting World Health Organization air quality guidelines could become increasingly difficult as the risk of severe wildfires rises.
Wildfires are becoming a growing source of harmful air pollution even as regulations have helped reduce emissions from industry and transport in several developed countries, the organization said.
The report highlighted the increasing impact of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, and ground-level ozone. Both pollutants are associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
PM2.5 concentrations in 2025 were above long-term averages in northern Canada, parts of Russia and West and Central Africa because of increased wildfire activity, according to the report.
Northwestern Spain experienced severe pollution after exceptional wildfires late in the summer.
A study cited by the WMO found that severe wildfire smoke events have tripled worldwide since the 1990s and may have contributed to around 100,000 additional deaths annually between 2010 and 2018.
WMO scientific officer Lorenzo Labrador told Reuters that even places where air is generally clean can experience serious deterioration when wildfire smoke causes substantial pollution.
Labrador said particles released by wildfires are particularly harmful because they contain a broad range of toxic chemicals. Inhaling them can cause inflammation throughout the body and contribute to lung disease.
The warning comes after parts of Europe, including Spain, France and Greece, experienced intense heatwaves and destructive wildfires this year.
R.H/R.K
