"Worsening Heatwaves and Fires → Vicious Cycle of Air Quality Deterioration, Hundreds of Millions More Affected"

WMO, Report on 'Air Quality and Climate Status'

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on the 7th (local time) that air pollution is worsening as heatwaves and wildfires last longer due to climate change.

In its "State of Air Quality and Climate" report released that day, the WMO warned that hundreds of millions of additional people will suffer from the interaction between air pollution and climate change. It emphasized the urgent need to establish countermeasures to curb this.

According to the report, last year's hot and dry weather triggered large-scale wildfires in Siberia and the western United States, increasing fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5μm or less in the atmosphere. Substances meeting the fine particulate matter standard were intensively emitted in Siberia, Canada, and the western US during July and August last year. Eastern Siberia recorded the highest levels of fine particulate matter since observations began, due to high temperatures and dry soil.

While the number of fires in savanna and grassland regions has decreased over the past 20 years, leading to a reduction in total global fire-affected areas, the western US, South America's Amazon, and Australia have seen increases. The WMO explained that in addition to wildfires, rising temperatures are causes of increased pollutants and deteriorating air quality. This outcome is expected even if a "low-carbon scenario" aimed at minimizing greenhouse gas emissions is implemented. When air pollutants settle on the ground, they can also impact ecosystems.

The report emphasized, "Heatwaves will occur more frequently, more intensely, and for longer durations, worsening air quality."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.