4.5M Deaths Yearly: UN Links Climate Crisis to Air Pollution

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The UN's latest report reveals a "witches' brew" of pollutants from fires in 2024 that worsened air quality for millions worldwide.

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Deadly PM2.5 particles from wildfires can penetrate deep into lungs and bloodstream, contributing to 4.5 million early deaths globally each year.

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The Amazon basin experienced the largest surge in harmful particles, while Canada, Siberia, and central Africa also recorded above-average PM2.5 levels.

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"Climate impacts and air pollution respect no national borders," warns WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett.

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Smoke from Canadian wildfires traveled all the way to Europe in 2025, proving how far air pollution can spread under the right conditions.

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The report points to concerning air quality in northern India's Indo-Gangetic Plain, home to over 900 million people facing increasing pollution and winter fog.

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"Persistence of fog is no longer a simple, seasonal weather event – it is a symptom of escalating human impact on the environment."

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Agricultural biomass burning in northern India is a major contributor to the region's worsening air quality and extended fog episodes.

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There's good news too - eastern China has successfully reduced harmful PM2.5 particles through ongoing environmental protection measures.

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"Over a 10-year period, Chinese cities have improved their air quality in a dramatic way," said Paolo Laj, WMO's global atmosphere chief.

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The WMO bulletin emphasizes that climate change and air quality are interconnected issues that must be addressed together to protect our planet and health.

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