The United Nations have issued a warning stating, “Climate change is causing frequent extreme heat waves and wildfires which will worsen air quality around the world. It will significantly harm human health and ecology.”

A new report by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns that pollution and climate change will combine to harm billions of people over the next century. The organization called for early action to protect the world from this terrible damage.

WMO’s annual Air Quality and Climate Bulletin examine the impact of wildfires across Siberia and North America in 2021. It has been seen that the health risk due to wildfires has dramatically increased. Even in eastern Siberia, air pollution has reached unprecedented levels.

Particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (Fine Particles -PM 2.5)) in diameter is considered harmful. These particles can enter the lungs or respiratory system.

In a statement, Petteri Taalas, Chief of WMO, said, ”Fires and associated air pollution expect to increase as the world warms. Besides the impact on human health, it will also hugely impact the ecosystem. It is because pollution will spread from the atmosphere to the earth’s surface.

Considering the global expansion, the area affected by wildfires has decreased in the last two decades. It is because it reduces fires in grasslands and savannah areas.

However, the WMO says fires have increased in North America, the Amazon, and Australia. However, a warmer climate can increase pollution and worsen air quality and wildfires.

Petteri Taalas further said ”Europe and China had seen a huge boom this year, coupled with stable upper atmospheric conditions, intense solar heat, and low wind speeds. All of these lead to high pollution levels. These are predictions of the future. We fear that the fire level, intensity, and duration will increase. It can worsen air quality. This situation is known as the climate penalty.”

Ozone in the stratosphere provides essential protection from cancer-causing Ultraviolet rays. However, when this Ozone layer comes close to the earth, it harms human health. This ozone layer is losing due to climate change.