According to a World Meteorological Organization study, billions of people are breathing polluted air, and this is causing more than 4.5 million premature deaths each year.
Experts say that smoke from forest fires spreads over large areas and poisons the air. In 2024, the highest levels of harmful PM 2.5 particles in the air were recorded in Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Canada, Central Africa, and Siberia.
However, a decrease in pollutants has been observed in some regions, particularly in Eastern China and Europe. For example, air quality in Shanghai has improved as a result of tree planting and the introduction of electric transportation. Despite this, surface-level ozone – a key component of smog – remains at high levels.
