Limiting Global Warming Can Reduce U.S. Wildfire Smoke Related Deaths by Thousands Annually

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A study led by researchers at Stony Brook University has estimated the economic and social costs of wildfire smoke pollution in different climate scenarios. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), show that under a 3 degrees Celsius mark of current global warming projections, annual smoke-related mortality in the U.S. could reach 64,000 deaths, a 60% increase over the estimated deaths related to wildfire smoke that occurred during 2011-2020.

Why it matters

Wildfires and the resulting smoke pollution pose a significant public health threat, with the potential to cause thousands of additional deaths annually if global warming continues unabated. This study underscores the importance of limiting global temperature rise to mitigate the devastating impacts of wildfire smoke on communities across the United States.

The details

The Stony Brook-led study used future climate scenarios to estimate the economic and social costs of wildfire smoke pollution. The researchers found that under a 3 degrees Celsius mark of current global warming projections, the annual smoke-related mortality in the U.S. could reach 64,000 deaths, a 60% increase over the estimated deaths related to wildfire smoke that occurred during 2011-2020.

• The study's findings were published on March 2, 2026.