A new report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns of the increasingly negative impact of the vicious cycle of climate change, forest fires and air pollution on human health, ecosystems and agriculture.
The newsletter “Invest in clean air now” was published on the occasion of Clean Air Day for Blue Skies, which is celebrated on September 7. Its authors point out that air pollution is responsible for more than 4.5 million premature deaths annually, with significant economic and environmental costs.
Report explores the complex relationship between air quality and climate change, which, according to WMO Deputy Secretary General Ko Barrett, cannot be treated separately but go hand in hand.
Forest fires as a cause and effect of pollution
Forest fires have many causes, such as poor land management and human activities (intentional or accidental fires). However, climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heat waves and prolongs dry periods, which increases the risk of fires. These fires, in turn, seriously affect air quality.
Smoke from forest fires contains harmful chemicals that not only endanger human health, but also damage plants, ecosystems and crops, while at the same time increasing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, explains Dr. Lorenzo Labrador from SMO.
For example, the 2023 fire season was a record in Canada, with as many as seven times more hectares burned than the 1990–2013 average. The fires burned from May to September, worsening air quality in eastern Canada and the northeastern US, with smoke reaching as far as Greenland and Europe, with emissions well above the 20-year average.
Solid microparticles are a threat to health and agriculture
Solid microparticles PM 2.5 (diameter 2.5 micrometers or less) pose a serious health hazard, especially if inhaled over a long period of time. The main sources are the burning of fossil fuels, forest fires and desert dust.
In addition to health impacts, these particles reduce crop productivity, especially in polluted areas such as China, India and Southeast Asia, where they can reduce yields by 15 percent. The particles block sunlight and interfere with natural plant processes, such as the exchange of water vapor and carbon dioxide. At the same time, agriculture itself contributes to the emission of these particles by burning stubble and using fertilizers.
The conclusion of the World Meteorological Organization report highlights the interconnected effects of climate change, air pollution and forest fires, which together create a vicious cycle with serious consequences for human health, ecosystems and agriculture. The key message of the report is that climate change and pollution must be treated together, because their effects are closely related, and urgent measures are needed to protect human health, natural resources and the global economy.
Energy portal
Source: energetskiportal.rs
