The Multiplier Effect of Climate Change

The World Meteorological Organization’s August 2025 report indicates that extreme heat events worldwide have created a vicious cycle of wildfires and air pollution. Smoke from Canadian wildfires caused PM2.5 concentrations in the northern United States to surge to eight times daily levels, while agricultural droughts triggered by southern European heatwaves accelerated the migration and dispersion of heavy metals in soil. More critically, glacial melting induced by high temperatures is releasing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that have been sequestered for centuries, with mercury emissions from Arctic permafrost regions now three times higher than pre-industrial levels.