The worsening impact of climate change on wildfires and smoke

Scientists warn that the increasing severity of wildfires and smoke is not a "new normal," but rather a "new abnormal" caused by climate change. Wildfires are consuming three times more land in the United States and Canada each year compared to the 1980s, and studies predict that the situation will worsen. The drying atmosphere, fueled by global warming, creates more intense fires that produce harmful smoke. The problem will continue to worsen until greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced. Wildfire smoke exposes millions of people to unhealthy air, causing thousands of deaths annually. The toxicity of wildfire smoke particles is also a growing concern.