Particulate Matter from Transport, Industry, and Agriculture Remains a Major Health Hazard
On Friday, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a stark warning regarding the ongoing pollution from fossil fuel combustion and other human activities that contribute to climate change, exacerbating the issues of air quality and public health, reports 24brussels.
The Air Quality and Climate Bulletin 2025, released ahead of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on September 7, highlights a dangerous feedback loop between climate change and air pollution. This loop is significantly driven by tiny airborne particles known as aerosols, which play a critical role in various environmental phenomena.
The report outlines the contributions of aerosols to wildfires, winter fog, shipping emissions, and urban pollution, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced atmospheric monitoring and coordinated policies to protect both human health and the environment while minimizing economic losses.
Particulate matter from transportation, industry, agriculture, wildfires, and desert dust remains a severe health threat. Ambient air pollution is responsible for over 4.5 million premature deaths annually, incurring profound environmental and economic costs worldwide.
The WMO report emphasizes the growing influence of wildfires on particle pollution, a trend expected to escalate with climate change, which poses increasing risks to infrastructure, ecosystems, and human well-being. Additionally, it points out that although fog is a seasonal phenomenon, its increasing frequency and duration are becoming more closely associated with pollution from vehicles, construction, heating, livestock, and vegetation burning.
“Climate impacts and air pollution respect no national borders — as exemplified by intense heat and drought which fuel wildfires, worsening air quality for millions of people. We need improved international monitoring and collaboration to meet this global challenge,” stated WMO Deputy Secretary Ko Barrett.
