As the sun rises in New York City on June 30, 2023, smoke shrouds the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center. This captivating image, captured from Jersey City, New Jersey, depicts the unfortunate reality of the city’s deteriorating air quality.
The latest data tracked by IQAir reveals a disturbing trend – four out of the five cities with the worst air quality in the world are located in North America. This shocking revelation is primarily attributed to the devastating forest fires spreading across Canada, which have consequently polluted the air across the entire continent.
New York City now holds the second position for the worst air quality globally, surpassed only by Jakarta. With an alarming air quality index (AQI) of 162, the city is grappling with significant pollution levels that pose severe health risks to its residents.
Not far behind, Toronto and Montreal rank as the third and fourth cities respectively, with AQIs of 155 and 153. On the AQI scale, any reading above 150 indicates “unhealthy” air.
Surprisingly, Washington, D.C., sitting hundreds of miles away from the Canadian wildfires, secures the fifth spot. While its air quality is relatively better than the other North American cities on the list, it still records an AQI of 122, which is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
The ongoing Canadian wildfires, fueled by climate change-induced record heat and drought, have been burning for weeks. This calamitous combination of factors has created ideal conditions for more intense and longer-lasting wildfires, as revealed by scientific research.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently emphasized the gravity of the situation, warning citizens about the potentially perilous air quality and its direct link to the effects of climate change. Hochul emphasized that this is an issue impacting the current generation and should not be dismissed as a problem for future generations.
— CNBC’s Cat Clifford contributed to this report.
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