Climate change, wildfires and human health
Source
Climahealth
This policy brief summarises new evidence on how climate change will increase the health risks from wildfires across the world. Wildfires and air pollution related to wildfire smoke have an impact on our health.
Key messages that emerge from the brief include:
- Wildfire pollution is an important and increasing impact of climate change on human health that affects populations globally.
- Wildfire pollutants contribute to respiratory, cardiovascular, and pregnancy-related health effects, increasing premature deaths.
- Wildfire pollution is increasing globally, making it more difficult for countries to reach their National Air Quality Standards
- Wildfire smoke can be much more toxic to human health as compared to air pollutants from other sources such as industry or power generation.
- In the last two decades, exposure to wildfire particulate matter (PM2.5) increased by 60% globally, and by 40% over Europe.
- Smoke from wildfires can be transported over long distances. Large fires in remote regions such as the Arctic can have substantial health impacts in neighbouring more densely populated areas.
Explore further
Hazards
Wildfire
Number of pages
4 p.
Publication Year
2024