Canada’s pristine air quality has been long praised by its citizens and prized by its government. But the thick plumes of smoke and miles of haze released by a record-breaking season of wildfires deteriorated the country’s air so much that it has fallen behind the United States for the first time on record, highlighting the wide-ranging and damaging effects of the blazes.
IQAir, a Swiss organization, published its sixth yearly World Air Quality report on Tuesday. The report revealed that Canada’s air quality was poorer than that of the United States. Out of the top 15 most polluted cities in both countries, 14 were located in Canada. The overall air quality rankings for Canada and the United States were 93 and 102, respectively. (Bangladesh, ranked No. 1, had the most polluted air.)
The majority of these localities were concentrated in the western regions of Canada, where massive wildfires ravaged significant areas of land.
However, the report also identified Yellowknife, the hub of the Northwest Territories, as one of the most contaminated communities in the country. Despite its remote location, the city made news during the summer due to nearly 20,000 evacuations caused by the convergence of several wildfires in the area.
In the Canadian interagency fire centre’s final report of 2023, it was stated that there were a total of 6,551 fires which burned approximately 18,496,057 hectares of land. This is a significant increase compared to the 1,467,976 hectares that were burned in the previous year.
Paul Kovacs, the executive director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction at Western University, stated that for a significant period, we have viewed fires as a problem primarily confined to the western region. However, considering the recent season, it is crucial to recognize it as a nationwide issue that could lead to various consequences such as loss, damage, and health concerns in any part of our nation.
Air quality advisories were issued throughout Canada, from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, due to multiple fires. This included cities in Ontario, where such smoke and discolored skies are not typically seen. The eastern US also experienced negative effects on air quality due to these fires.
Although there have been months of negative news, the possibility of relief during the upcoming spring and summer seems more and more improbable.
According to Canada’s emergency preparedness minister, Harjit Sajjan, initial reports indicate that this year’s wildfire season may be more severe than the previous one. Sajjan shared this update with reporters at the end of February, after receiving a briefing from experts that he described as “alarming but not unexpected.”
During the winter, it became apparent that Canada was facing significant challenges as over 100 wildfires continued to burn in British Columbia. These fires were fueled by a drought in the fall and a surprisingly warm and dry winter.
Provincial premier David Eby expressed concern about the extreme weather conditions, stating that this summer could be challenging as records for drought, snowfall, and heat have been broken. He also announced that preparations for the wildfire season are already underway.
The province of Alberta, which is nearby, has also declared an early beginning to the wildfire season due to a dry and mild winter. They are worried about the next few months due to the lowest snowpack levels in the last 50 years.
Kovacs expressed that it can be difficult for government officials to determine the appropriate allocation of resources for preparing to combat wildfires. While there is a trend of increasing spending each year, governments also have to consider various competing priorities when deciding where to allocate funds.
Numerous environmental organizations have highlighted the connections between companies in the fossil fuel industry and the impacts of global warming.
Conor Curtis from the Sierra Club Canada Foundation suggests that the significant decline in air quality in Canada should prompt Canadian politicians to swiftly implement measures, such as implementing an emissions cap on the country’s oil and gas industry. This industry is primarily accountable for Canada’s contribution to climate change and has failed to decrease emissions despite their considerable profit. This inaction poses a massive risk to the health and homes of Canadians.
Source: theguardian.com
