Record heat drives global ozone crisis, exposing 34% of population to extreme pollution
The inaugural Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) report reveals that 34% of the global population faced 'extremely poor' ozone levels in 2026, driven by record heatwaves and wildfires. While Europe saw 50% of its population exposed to unsafe levels, with Milan among the worst-affected cities, Asia suffered the highest exposure rates. Although EU regulations have successfully reduced other pollutants, ozone remains a stubborn issue due to its link with rising temperatures.