Figure 1. Wildfire burning in the Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada. Image source. Adobe stock
Climate Change Exacerbating Wildfires in North America
Climate change increases the incidence of wildfires, and wildfire pollution in turn contributes to climate change. Over the past month and a half, hundreds of wildfires have spread across Canada, burning through millions of acres of forests. The pollution caused by wildfires adds to the already alarming levels of greenhouse gases. Toxic Carbon Monoxide pollution is a severe health hazard. Compounded by the reduced forest cover available for absorption of CO2, the situation gets worse every year. This problem, which the western United States is all too familiar with, is now spreading in the eastern part of North America, where it was relatively less common.
How Wildfires Occur
In Canada, the wildfire season runs from May through October, but such destruction so early in the season is rare. Canada experienced its hottest day ever when Lytton, British Columbia recorded 49.6 degrees Celsius in 2021; it tied with Death Valley, California as the hottest place in North America that day. 2023 may turn out to be the worst year for Canadian wildfires. The correlation between wildfires and hot weather is obvious. Dry, hot weather causes more lightning. Normally, most of North America’s wildfires are started by lightning. The rest are caused by humans in various ways such as discarded cigarette butts, sparks from passing trains, electrical faults, overheated vehicles etc.
Dealing with the Threat
Policy makers must consider emissions from industrial activity, wildfire pollution, CO2 release from natural phenomena, such as volcanic activity etc. across the world comprehensively. Political divisions, international borders and separate zones of responsibility mean nothing as we continue to see during this current North American wildfire crisis. Smoke from the Canadian fires has spread across a large portion of the U.S., affecting air quality for millions across the U.S. East Coast along with huge sections of the Canadian population. Similar situations arise every year in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia from forest burning in Indonesia. Parts of northern India is annually engulfed in thick smog for several months due to seasonal stubble burning in certain states, affecting tens of millions of people in Delhi and beyond.
Ray of Hope
Some policy makers, scientists and climate activists have begun to agree that a proactive and thoughtful approach, with a will to take positive and corrective action, compounded with joint and coordinated effort across the world may help us avert a climactic disaster. It’s heartening to see the U.S. and Canadian authorities working together sharing resources and personnel to deal with the present wildfire crisis. Such collaboration will greatly augment our ability to prevent or in the least reduce, the incidences of wildfires in the future. It will also enhance our ability to meet our climate goals. More such collaborative efforts across the world, even by setting aside geo-political, social, and economic differences where necessary is how we will surmount the climate challenge as a global community.
Comments