GENEVA (SANA) — The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned Friday that air pollution and climate change must be addressed together, urging stronger international cooperation to safeguard human health, ecosystems, and the global economy.
“Climate change and air quality cannot be addressed in isolation. They go hand-in-hand,” said Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General. “We must tackle both to protect our planet, communities, and economies.”
Releasing its 2025 Air Quality and Climate Bulletin on the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, the UN agency highlighted how extreme heat and drought fuel wildfires, which in turn degrade air quality for millions of people.
The bulletin details new global data on particulate matter, aerosols, wildfires, urban smog, and shipping emissions. It emphasizes the need for more robust monitoring networks and stronger collaboration between nations.
“Wildfires are a big contributor to particle pollution and the problem is expected to increase as the climate warms, posing risks for infrastructure, ecosystems, and human health,” the WMO said.
The World Health Organization estimates that outdoor air pollution contributes to more than 4.5 million premature deaths annually, alongside heavy environmental and economic costs.
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