Recent research has shown children born will experience twice as many wildfires as their grandparents’ generation. Aside from the immediate destruction bought by these increasingly devastating events, chemicals in ash, smoke and flame retardants can contaminate the soil, air, and water, impacting millions of people. Soils become damaged and their ability to retain moisture and support crops is disrupted. Aerosols emitted during wildfires have been linked to climate change, and aquatic ecosystems can be put under significant stress, both by wildfire ash and flame retardants used to tackle the fire.
This panel will discuss how wildfires affect soil, air, and water, and how the chemical sciences can deliver a big impact in addressing this global challenge.
This panel will discuss how wildfires affect soil, air, and water, and how the chemical sciences can deliver a big impact in addressing this global challenge.
Agenda
- Welcome and introduction to panellists
- Panel Q&A and discussion
- Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts journal themed issue on Wildfires
- Close