Fires "poison" the air - UN warns: Extreme heat is increasing global pollution
Increasingly intense wildfires and extreme heat waves are threatening global efforts to improve air quality and protect human health.
The warning comes from the World Meteorological Organization, which in its latest report highlights the close link between climate change and air pollution.
According to the UN agency, while environmental regulations have helped reduce emissions from industry and transport in many developed countries, forest fires are becoming an increasingly large source of pollution.
The problem is not limited to areas where fires erupt. Smoke and harmful particles can spread over great distances, affecting air quality in cities and regions far from the fire centers.
The focus is particularly on fine particles PM2.5 and ground-level ozone, which are linked to respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease.
Experts warn that the situation could worsen as the planet warms. Heat waves are becoming more frequent, more intense and longer, while dry conditions create more favorable terrain for large fires.
This year alone, severe wildfires have hit parts of Europe, including Spain, France and Greece, creating severe episodes of smoke pollution.
The report shows that during 2025, PM2.5 levels were above long-term averages in some areas of Canada, Russia and Africa, largely due to increased wildfire activity. Northwest Spain was also identified as a hotspot after severe fires last summer.
A study included in the report shows that extreme episodes of wildfire smoke pollution have tripled globally since the 1990s.
Experts also call for better monitoring of pollutants in the atmosphere, including black carbon and microplastics, which they say remain inadequately monitored.
The UN agency's message is that climate change and air pollution cannot be addressed in isolation. Policies on climate, air quality and public health must be coordinated, as extreme fires are expected to become an increasingly serious threat to the air we breathe.
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