America's blame game over Canada's wildfire smoke misses the point, experts say

September 25, 2025

Canadian wildfires have sparked international controversy as Republican lawmakers from Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota filed a complaint with the EPA requesting an investigation into Canada's wildfire management. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew dismissed these actions as political posturing while the 2025 wildfire season is on track to become Canada's second-worst on record. A recent study in Nature revealed that smoke from Canada's 2023 wildfires caused over 87,500 acute and premature deaths worldwide, including 4,100 in the US.

Who is affected

Residents of US Midwest states affected by drifting smoke (over 20 million Americans according to Callahan)
Manitoba residents, including thousands forced to evacuate
Two people in Manitoba who died when trapped by flames
Global populations experiencing health impacts from wildfire smoke, with 87,500 acute and premature deaths worldwide attributed to Canada's 2023 wildfires
US residents (4,100 acute smoke-related deaths)
European populations (over 22,000 premature deaths)
People with conditions like asthma and heart disease that are exacerbated by PM2.5 air pollution

What action is being taken

Republican lawmakers from Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota have filed a formal complaint with the US Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA is reviewing the complaint and will "respond through appropriate channels"
Canada has pledged more than $47 million for research projects to help communities better prepare for and mitigate wildfires
Both countries are sharing firefighting resources, with Canadian water bombers deployed in California and over 600 US firefighters assisting in Canada
Over 500 fires are still actively burning in Canada as of mid-September, mostly in British Columbia and Manitoba

Why it matters

Wildfire smoke contains harmful PM2.5 pollution that triggers inflammation, exacerbates conditions like asthma and heart disease, and can damage neural connections
The death toll from wildfire smoke represents a serious public health issue comparable to major diseases like breast or prostate cancer
Climate change is making wildfire seasons start earlier, end later, and burn more land on average
The international impacts of the smoke illustrate how climate change effects can become global rather than just local
The situation highlights the need for international cooperation on climate issues rather than blame-shifting

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC