29 Nov Fires contribute to 1.5 million deaths annually, study finds

Air pollution from fires is linked to over 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year, primarily in developing nations, according to a significant study published in The Lancet.

Researchers warn this figure may rise as climate change increases the frequency and severity of wildfires.

The study, which examined both uncontrolled wildfires and planned agricultural burns, found that between 2000 and 2019, fire-related air pollution contributed to roughly 450,000 annual deaths from heart disease and 220,000 from respiratory diseases.

Over 90 per cent of these fatalities occurred in low- and middle-income countries, with nearly 40 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa. The highest death tolls were recorded in China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The authors called for urgent global action to mitigate the health impacts of fire-related pollution, highlighting the inequity faced by poorer nations that have limited resources to combat exposure.

They urged for increased financial and technological support to aid affected populations.

The study’s release coincides with UN climate talks, amid growing concerns over inadequate climate funding for developing countries. As the world experiences record-high temperatures, the pressing need to address climate change and its impacts on public health becomes increasingly urgent.