Increasingly intense wildfires and heatwaves are creating a growing threat to air quality around the world, making it harder for countries to meet international pollution targets, the World Meteorological Organization has warned.

In its latest Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, released on September 7, the United Nations weather agency said climate change and air pollution are closely connected and should be addressed through coordinated policies rather than separate environmental strategies.

Wildfire Smoke Creates a Growing Pollution Threat

Wildfires are becoming an increasingly important source of harmful air pollution even in regions where regulations have reduced emissions from factories and transportation.

Smoke from major fires contains fine particles known as PM2.5, along with ground-level ozone and other pollutants. These substances can travel long distances, meaning communities far from the original fire can experience deteriorating air quality.

The WMO warned that extreme wildfires are expected to become more likely as the climate warms, creating additional challenges for governments attempting to improve air quality.

Health Risks Extend Beyond the Fire Zone

The pollution generated by wildfires is particularly concerning because of its impact on human health.

PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and are associated with respiratory and cardiovascular problems. The WMO also highlighted the toxic mixture of chemicals contained in wildfire smoke, warning that inhalation can contribute to inflammation throughout the body.

This means wildfire pollution can become a public-health problem across entire regions rather than remaining limited to communities immediately threatened by flames.

Extreme Heat Can Worsen Air Pollution

The relationship between heat and air quality creates another layer of risk.

Heatwaves can contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, while hot and dry conditions can increase the likelihood and intensity of wildfires. Smoke from those fires can then further deteriorate air quality.

The WMO says these interconnected processes demonstrate why climate policy and air-pollution policy need to be considered together.

Pollution Hotspots Recorded Across Several Regions

The new bulletin points to significant wildfire-related increases in PM2.5 concentrations during 2025.

Northern Canada, parts of Russia and western-central Africa recorded concentrations above their long-term averages in connection with elevated fire activity. Northwestern Spain also experienced particularly high pollution following exceptional late-summer wildfires.

The findings illustrate how wildfire seasons can affect atmospheric conditions across borders and continents.

Global Smoke Events Becoming More Frequent

A study cited by the WMO found that extreme wildfire-smoke events have tripled globally since the 1990s.

The research also estimated that wildfire smoke may have contributed to nearly 100,000 additional deaths each year between 2010 and 2018, highlighting the potentially large health burden associated with worsening fire activity.

The figures underline why wildfire management is increasingly being treated as both a climate issue and a public-health priority.

Monitoring Still Has Major Gaps

The WMO also called for stronger monitoring of atmospheric pollutants.

While PM2.5 and ground-level ozone are increasingly tracked, other substances—including black carbon and microplastics—remain poorly monitored in many parts of the world.

Better observations would help scientists understand how pollution moves through the atmosphere and allow authorities to provide more effective warnings during dangerous smoke events.

Climate and Clean-Air Policies Need to Work Together

The WMO’s latest assessment suggests that progress in reducing pollution from traditional industrial and transport sources could be undermined by increasingly severe wildfire seasons.

Governments therefore face a dual challenge: reducing greenhouse-gas emissions that contribute to long-term warming while simultaneously preparing communities for the immediate air-quality consequences of fires and heatwaves.

Improved wildfire forecasting, stronger air-quality monitoring, public health warnings and coordinated climate policies could all become increasingly important.

A Growing Global Health Challenge

The latest WMO warning adds to evidence that climate change is changing the nature of air-pollution risks.

Wildfires can send hazardous smoke across national borders, while heatwaves can amplify pollution and increase human exposure. As extreme weather becomes more frequent and intense, protecting clean air will require cooperation between climate scientists, health authorities, emergency services and governments.

The WMO’s message is clear: air pollution and climate change cannot be treated as separate problems if countries want to protect public health and maintain progress toward cleaner air.