Air Pollution Rises, But Not Everywhere, UN Agency Reports

Global Air Quality Crisis and the Role of Wildfires

As billions of people around the world continue to breathe in polluted air, which is responsible for over 4.5 million premature deaths annually, the United Nations has drawn attention to the significant impact of microscopic smoke particles from wildfires. These particles can travel vast distances, often crossing international borders and affecting regions far from their origin.

Lorenzo Labrador, a Scientific Officer at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), emphasized that "air quality respects no boundaries." He noted that the smoke from wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula during this record-breaking season has already been detected in Western Europe and could potentially spread across the entire European continent.

In presenting the latest WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, which analyzes data from various global sources, Mr. Labrador highlighted a concerning trend of pollution degradation worldwide. The bulletin includes a map showing concentrated areas of fine particle markers known as PM 2.5 from wildfires, appearing as deep red blotches in regions such as Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Canada, central Africa, and Siberia. This data reinforces a disturbing pattern of declining air quality observed in previous years.

Mr. Labrador explained that the increasing intensity and duration of wildfire seasons are largely attributed to climate change. As temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, the conditions for more frequent and severe wildfires become more prevalent.

Positive Developments in Air Quality Improvement

Despite these challenges, there have been some positive developments. The WMO scientist pointed out a reduction in emissions in certain parts of the world, particularly in eastern China and Europe, on a year-on-year basis. Paolo Laj, Chief of Global Atmosphere at WMO, stated that "when we see that countries or regions or cities are taking measures to fight against bad air quality, it works."

Eastern China, for example, has made progress in improving air quality by expanding green spaces and planting more trees. In cities like Shanghai, efforts to enhance urban environments have contributed to better air quality. Additionally, although traffic remains heavy, many vehicles are now electric, reducing harmful emissions.

However, despite these improvements, very few cities globally meet the air quality standards recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Mr. Laj stressed that this indicates ongoing concerns regarding public health. While pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) are decreasing due to stricter emission controls, ground-level ozone—mainly responsible for smog—has not shown similar declines. This is partly due to global warming, as ozone is a secondary pollutant formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere that require sunlight.

The Interconnection Between Air Quality and Climate Change

The WMO air quality bulletin addresses multiple factors contributing to poor air quality, including wildfires, winter fog, shipping emissions, and urban pollution. It underscores the close relationship between air quality and climate change. Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General of the WMO, emphasized that "climate change and air quality cannot be addressed in isolation. They go hand-in-hand and must be tackled together in order to protect the health of our planet, our communities, and our economies."

The United Nations is also working to address household air pollution, which poses one of the greatest public health threats, especially for children. Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighted that "cleaner cooking technology is plentiful, relatively inexpensive, and already helping to save lives." However, she noted that the challenge lies in making this technology accessible to more people.

Efforts to combat air pollution and climate change require coordinated global action, with a focus on both reducing emissions and implementing sustainable solutions. As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify, addressing air quality will remain a critical priority for ensuring the health and well-being of populations worldwide.