Air pollution from fires linked to over 1.5 million deaths annually
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Landscape fires have a devastating global impact on air pollution attributing over 1.5 million deaths annually to this growing issue.
The majority of these fatalities occur in low and middle-income countries, where the burden of climate change-induced disasters is most pronounced.
A recent study published in The Lancet says more than 90% of these fatalities occur in developing nations. The airborne pollutants from fires are linked to approximately 450,000 deaths annually due to heart disease and 220,000 deaths from respiratory illnesses.
Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of the crisis, accounting for nearly 40% of fire-related deaths, while countries such as India, China, Indonesia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo report some of the highest death tolls.
Landscape fires, encompassing wildfires and controlled agricultural burns, are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. This trend is expected to escalate, worsening air pollution and its associated health impacts. For example, illegal farm field burning in northern India has been linked to severe air quality issues, including the toxic smog currently enveloping New Delhi.
The study emphasizes the disproportionate impact of fire-related air pollution on poorer nations, which often lack access to resources like air purifiers, masks, or the means to relocate from affected areas. The disparity underscores "climate injustice," where nations contributing the least to global warming bear the brunt of its consequences.
Researchers have urged urgent measures to address the escalating death toll from fire-related pollution. They advocate for increased financial and technological support for vulnerable regions to help mitigate the impacts of air pollution.
This plea coincides with recent developments in global climate discussions. While UN climate talks pledged more funding for climate action, developing nations criticized the measures as insufficient. Meanwhile, countries like Ecuador are grappling with immediate climate disasters, such as forest fires that have devastated thousands of hectares of land.
