A new study has revealed that air pollution caused by fires is responsible for over 1.5 million deaths globally each year, with the vast majority of these deaths occurring in developing nations. The research, published in The Lancet journal, warns that this death toll is likely to increase as climate change exacerbates the frequency and intensity of wildfires. The international team of researchers analyzed data on “landscape fires,” which include both wildfires and controlled burns used in agriculture.
The study highlights that between 2000 and 2019, approximately 450,000 deaths annually from heart disease were linked to fire-related air pollution. Additionally, around 220,000 deaths were attributed to respiratory diseases caused by smoke and particulate matter released during fires. Overall, the study found that 1.53 million deaths each year are associated with air pollution from landscape fires.
More than 90 percent of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, with nearly 40 percent of them concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. The countries most affected by fire-related air pollution include China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Indonesia, and Nigeria. In India, illegal burning of farm fields in northern regions has contributed to severe smog that has recently affected New Delhi, one of the world’s most polluted cities.
The researchers have called for urgent action to address the rising death toll linked to landscape fires. They emphasized the issue of “climate injustice,” where the countries contributing least to global warming are suffering the most from its impacts. The study points out that poorer nations often lack the resources and infrastructure to protect their populations from the harmful effects of fire-related air pollution. For instance, measures such as evacuating affected areas, using air purifiers, or wearing masks are not accessible to many people in low-income countries.
In response, the researchers have urged for increased financial and technological support for nations most impacted by these fires. The study’s release comes shortly after UN climate talks, where delegates agreed to increase climate funding, a move that many developing countries deemed insufficient. It also follows a national emergency declared by Ecuador due to forest fires that have devastated over 10,000 hectares in the country’s southern regions. With the world experiencing record-breaking heatwaves, hurricanes, floods, and other extreme weather events, the study underscores the growing dangers posed by climate change and the urgent need for action to mitigate its effects
