Canadian wildfires have affected the air quality for millions of Americans, but can the blazes be blamed on climate change?
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00:00Apocalyptic-looking images of New York City made the rounds on social media after smoke
00:04from wildfires in Canada took over the sky and caused the air quality to reach hazardous levels.
00:10So is the climate crisis to blame? Brute can explain in less than 60 seconds.
00:14While wildfires are a natural part of a healthy ecosystem, climate change and the harsh conditions
00:18that have come with it have made them significantly worse. For example, the record-breaking high
00:23temperatures and drought conditions in Canada can be linked to climate change. And both of
00:28those conditions have made it more difficult to contain and put an end to the 400-plus active
00:33fires currently burning across the country. Climate change and fossil fuels are also
00:37affecting air pollution and therefore affecting air quality levels. In NYC, AQI reached the 400s,
00:44a hazardous level for anyone. For comparison, the 2020 wildfire season in California,
00:49which is largely considered the worst in US history, saw levels in the 200s.