A World Meteorological Organization report released to coincide with the UN’s international day for clean air has documented how climate-related weather events are undermining air quality progress in multiple regions. Areas that had previously achieved reductions in pollution from vehicles and industrial sources are now facing degraded air quality due to smoke from intensified wildfires, while heat waves are triggering increases in ground-level ozone formation.
Wildfire smoke poses significant health threats, containing high concentrations of fine particulate matter and triggering oxidative stress in human bodies. Research cited in the report links wildfire smoke exposure to increased asthma attacks, hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, elevated respiratory medication use, and adverse impacts on mental health and birth outcomes. One study indicates that a tripling of wildfires since the 1990s contributed to nearly 100,000 deaths annually during the period between 2010 and 2018.
Ground-level ozone represents another critical concern, particularly during the intense and prolonged heat waves that have affected Europe in recent months. Ozone acts as a powerful oxidant that damages lung tissue, causes inflammation, and can lead to circulatory and cardiovascular problems. In heavily polluted regions, approximately one in five deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is now attributed to prolonged ozone exposure.
The report highlights how fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, creates a problematic feedback loop affecting both air quality and climate. These microscopic particles are emitted by fossil fuel activities, agriculture, heating systems, transport, wildfires, and dust storms. Once airborne, they alter cloud properties and brightness, affecting planetary climate patterns. Additionally, when particles such as black carbon settle on snow and ice surfaces, they reduce reflectivity and accelerate melting, intensifying global warming.
WMO officials stressed that addressing climate change and air quality requires an integrated approach, noting that reducing greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously reduces air-quality-degrading substances. The organization identified comprehensive reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption as the most effective solution.
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