California wildfires and planetary health

• Main Author: Pey, Peili
• Other Authors: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
• Format: Commentary
• Language: English
• Published: 2025
• Subjects: Social Sciences; Country and region studies; Non-traditional security
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/182627
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The California wildfires are an environmental disaster, but they also point to a deeper set of challenges, not only for the United States of America but for the global community. Such wildfires, which are ever-increasing in frequency and scale due to the impact of climate change, result in structural damage and long-term health risks that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities and are a costly burden to the state. A planetary health approach highlights the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the climate-environment-health interface in managing the risk and incidence of wildfires.