As climate change continues to reshape weather patterns globally, cities are grappling with increasingly severe environmental challenges. Recently, Toronto emerged as a startling example, facing the worst air quality on the planet due to smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario. This alarming situation not only demands immediate attention but also represents a broader call to enhance urban resilience in the face of growing climate-related threats.
Toronto has recently been identified as having the worst air quality among major cities worldwide, as thick smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario has enveloped the region, extending its reach into parts of the northeastern United States. This environmental crisis has prompted multiple health warnings and evacuation orders in response to deteriorating air quality conditions.
Despite Toronto being Canada’s largest city, wildfires are primarily affecting sparsely populated areas hundreds of miles away, although the smoke poses a significant threat to urban dwellers’ health. According to Environment Canada, the city recorded an Air Quality Health Index level exceeding 10, classified as “very high risk,” indicating hazardous conditions expected to persist through Thursday night.
In a report by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology firm, Toronto’s air quality was ranked as the worst globally, surpassing Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and New Delhi in India. Armen Araradian, an IQAir representative, noted that wildfires are the primary cause behind this spike in air pollution, compounded by unusually high temperatures.
Although this year’s wildfire season has been less severe compared to past years, there are currently over 800 active fires across Canada. A viral video highlighted the precarious situation when a Canadian National train was surrounded by flames near Armstrong, Ontario, prompting immediate evacuations and the suspension of rail operations as a precautionary measure.
The smoke from these wildfires has adversely impacted air quality across the United States, with areas including Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire experiencing significant pollution. In response, New York City officials issued an alert, advising residents to limit strenuous outdoor activities and take necessary precautions.
The National Weather Service further warned that smoky conditions might persist for the remainder of the week. Dan Westervelt, an associate professor at Columbia University, indicated that New York might not yet have seen the worst of the situation across the Great Lakes and New England regions.
With more than 80,000 fans expected to attend the FIFA World Cup final at an open-air venue in New Jersey this weekend, while another 50,000 plan to gather in Central Park, the effects of the smoke have cast a haze over these events. New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged individuals, particularly those with pre-existing health issues, to remain vigilant.
While this year’s wildfire season has started relatively slowly, compared to severe seasons in 2023 and 2025, officials are wary of potential threats, fueled by above-average temperatures in the region. As of Wednesday, there were approximately 835 active fires across the country, with 112 being classified as out of control, predominantly affecting central provinces such as Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. These wildfires have burned through a staggering 1.9 million hectares (4.7 million acres) to date.
According to Greg Evans, a professor of chemical engineering and applied chemistry at the University of Toronto, the combination of extreme heat and smoke challenges city infrastructure and public health. He urged cities to proactively prepare for the likely increase in such environmental occurrences in the coming decades, signifying an urgent need for effective climate adaptation strategies.
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