20 states have issued alerts! More than 100 million people are affected... The United Nations abandons flag raising, 600 flights cancel haze | United States | United Nations

Since the beginning of this year, Canada has experienced 2422 wildfires, and there are still over 400 wildfires burning. The large amount of haze generated by wildfires has affected many parts of Canada and entered the northeast of the United States in a southeast direction under the influence of low pressure, resulting in thick smoke covering the US capital Washington and the largest city New York. Due to severe air pollution and significantly reduced visibility, people's lives have been greatly affected.

Canadian wildfires continue to spread, affecting the lives of American people

Satellite images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States show that on the 5th, haze poured into several northeastern states of the United States from Quebec, Canada; On the 6th, the coastal low-pressure system continued to push haze from Canada into the northeastern United States; On the 7th, haze arrived over New York and New Jersey, and then swept across the northeastern United States; On the 8th, the haze continued to push southward, covering the capital city of Washington and other areas.

Due to a significant decrease in air quality, only a silhouette of Capitol Hill, which is usually clearly visible, remains.

Florida tourist Brian: The poor air quality has ruined my interest in taking photos. I can't even see Capitol Hill, and I could have taken very beautiful photos.

Frank, a local resident of Washington: I have lived here for 25 years and have never seen a similar situation before, which is really surprising. I think this is part of climate change.

Severe air pollution poses a health threat to elderly people with underlying illnesses and those working outdoors.

Washington resident Neil: I won't take a walk for an hour and a half like usual in the morning. My heart is beating faster and my breathing is fast, which is not good for me. After all, I am 69 years old and I also have cardiovascular problems.

According to data from the Air Quality Tracking website, on the 8th, the PM2.5 pollution index in the northeastern United States, including New York, Philadelphia, and the capital city of Washington, exceeded 150. The PM2.5 pollution index in Washington once exceeded 300 on the same day.

Philadelphia resident Alison: Air pollution has reached a serious level, and many people with respiratory problems cannot go out.

According to US media reports, 20 states in the Northeast and other regions of the United States have issued air quality warnings, affecting over 100 million people. The United Nations headquarters in New York abandoned flag raising for the first time on the 8th due to air pollution. According to US media reports, polluted weather is expected to continue until the weekend.

About 600 flights cancelled in the United States due to significant decrease in visibility

Due to the continuous haze causing severe air pollution and a significant decrease in visibility, the US air transportation industry has been affected to a certain extent.

On the 8th, the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States announced the suspension of some flights to airports in New York City, Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and other locations. According to statistics, about 600 flights in the United States have been cancelled.

In addition, the US Aviation Administration has warned that due to reduced visibility caused by air pollution, aircraft must slow down when approaching airports, and therefore flights departing or landing from Dallas, Charlotte, New York, and Philadelphia may continue to be delayed.

The intensification of climate change and frequent wildfires have become a global problem

The situation of wildfires spreading in Canada this time is very severe. In recent years, many parts of the world have also experienced frequent wildfires. What are the underlying reasons behind this phenomenon? Some studies suggest that climate change is the main cause.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the 8th that in 2020, forest fires ravaged Australia, and the smoke from forest fires in California also shrouded multiple cities from Seattle to San Diego. In 2021, wildfires swept through Greece and in 2022, they swept through Portugal. As forests around the world become increasingly dry against the backdrop of climate change, the wildfires that ravaged Canada are becoming increasingly frequent.

Carly Phillips, a member of the American Union of Concerned Scientists, said this is because the rate of warming in the Arctic region is nearly four times faster than in other parts of the world. Phillips said that in the past 60 years, the average area of annual forest fires in the northern regions of Canada and Alaska in the United States has almost doubled, and the frequency of large-scale wildfires is also increasing. The vast Siberian forests in Russia have also been continuously engulfed by large-scale wildfires. Nathan Gillett, a scientist from the Canadian Department of Environment and Climate Change, has published multiple research reports on the relationship between climate change and wildfire risk. He said he is concerned about the wildfires currently burning across Canada, but he is not surprised.

"These fires clearly indicate that this is no longer a regional issue," said Matt Weiner, CEO of the non-profit organization "Super Fire Prevention and Control Action"

The Guardian reported on the 8th that a study supported by the US Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that climate change is the main driving factor for the continued increase in hot and dry fire weather in Canada. A United Nations report last year warned that due to climate change, the intensity of wildfires worldwide is expected to increase by 57% by 2090.

Mustafa Ali, Executive Vice President of the National Wildlife Conservation Union in the United States: The temperature is rising, and rising temperatures will lead to more droughts. We are discussing wildfires, so more droughts will cause fires.