started · updated
WMO warns wildfires and heatwaves threaten global air quality
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a warning that increasing wildfires and heatwaves are undermining global air quality and threatening human health. A new report highlights that while regulations in Europe and North America have successfully reduced industrial and transport-related PM2.5 emissions, exposure to fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke is rising.
Wildfire smoke is noted to be significantly more toxic than standard industrial or transport emissions. The WMO report emphasizes that air quality and climate change are deeply interconnected and must be addressed through coordinated policies rather than in isolation. The agency also called for improved monitoring of pollutants such as black carbon and microplastics.
Data from 2025 showed PM2.5 concentrations above long-term averages in northern Canada, parts of Russia, and western-central Africa due to increased fire activity. Conversely, China recorded below-average concentrations due to reduced human-activity emissions. The report notes that extreme smoke events have tripled globally since the 1990s and may have contributed to nearly 100,000 additional deaths annually between 2010 and 2018.
Entities
Lorenzo Labrador · United Nations · United Nations Environment Programme · World Health Organization · World Meteorological Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 24 SOURCES] The WMO warns that extreme wildfires and heatwaves are increasing and threatening global air quality and human health. amigoearuba.com · bosnainfo.ba · dailypharmanews.gr · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · +19 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Extreme smoke events globally have tripled since the 1990s. bosnainfo.ba · dailypharmanews.gr · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · radiosarajevo.ba · +3 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Vegetation smoke from wildfires is significantly more toxic than standard industrial or transport emissions. lesinguliersete.fr · imazpress.com · www.france24.com · amigoearuba.com · 1001infos.net · +2 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] PM2.5 concentrations in 2025 were above long-term averages in northern Canada, parts of Russia, and western-central Africa. bosnainfo.ba · dailypharmanews.gr · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · airqualitynews.com · +4 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Extreme smoke events likely contributed to nearly 100,000 additional deaths annually between 2010 and 2018. bosnainfo.ba · dailypharmanews.gr · radiosarajevo.ba · www.index.hr · airqualitynews.com · +1 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] There is a need for improved monitoring of pollutants including black carbon and microplastics. bosnainfo.ba · dailypharmanews.gr · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · www.france24.com · +4 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] Air quality and climate change must be addressed through coordinated policies rather than in isolation. bosnainfo.ba · dailypharmanews.gr · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · imazpress.com · +12 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Regulations in Europe and North America have reduced industrial and transport PM2.5 emissions, but exposure to fire-related PM2.5 is increasing. amigoearuba.com · bosnainfo.ba · dailypharmanews.gr · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · +10 more