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5 things you need to know: How to protect your health from wildfire smoke

Published: June 20, 2025

Latest stories in Environment

A boy and a girl looking at river with magnifier in the woods.

Youth are charting new freshwater futures by learning from the water

Land-based learning programs can help address ecological grief and foster community

Insects in the city: How urban trees could better support biodiversity

Why planting trees that support insects and microbes matters more than you might think

Residential area at Cannes Neighbourhood Park and Major MacKenzie Dr. , Woodbridge, Canada

Net-zero homes are touted as a solution to climate change

Government and industry collaboration can help overcome cost and technological barriers to net-zero home ownership

Aerial view a wetland stillwater surrounded by wildfire damage.

Four ways to build wildfire resiliency in BC

Getting tougher on building codes, regulating development and creating FireSmart incentives for homeowners could help, UBC experts say

Dr. Orlando Rojas, Scientific Director of the BioProducts Institute at UBC, along with UBC students, is featured in the photo

Tapping the power of plants to fight microplastics

UBC researchers have found a way to remove microplastics from our water supply—using natural, renewable materials

Fresh fishes in wood crates basket in a fish market.

Why the health of the ocean hinges on ‘infinity fish’

How the future of fishing and fish connects to economics and the way we value—or don’t value—nature

Fireman rescue an old couple from their flooded house with a boat. On Cousineau St., in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough, Montreal, the river rose and flooded the street and a dozen of houses.

Urban flooding calls for new stormwater infrastructure in Canadian cities

How we can make Canadian cities more flood-proof

Sunset and fog at Buttle Lake in Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island.

People, climate to intensify pressure on popular BC provincial parks

Planning is needed to balance overcrowding, wildlife protection, say UBC Okanagan researchers

Basic income could solve global poverty and stop environmental destruction, study finds

Providing a basic income could boost global GDP while acting to curb environmental degradation

Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly in a garden

The mystery of the missing butterflies in Vancouver

Here’s what may have happened to all the butterflies, and what we can do to help

Young female runner warming up before running at morning forest trail

Is it safe to exercise in extreme heat and smoky skies?

How to assess conditions and adapt your exercise routine to wildfire smoke and heat

Keep outdoor play spaces cool: the best trees, shrubs and plants for shade

How to build sun-safe and creative outdoor play environments

A fox roaming the streets in search for food left by people in garbage bags.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed our patterns and behaviours, which in turn affected wildlife

How we can promote co-existence between humans and wildlife

Indigenous data sovereignty can help save British Columbia’s wild salmon

Indigenous peoples are global leaders in environmental justice and conservation

Helicopter fighting British Columbia forest fires during a hot sunny summer day.

The wildfire season has started—here’s what we need to know in 2024

What individuals, businesses and communities can do to reduce their wildfire risk

Close-up of a Xylopa (Carpenter Bee or lonely Bee) foraging sweet pea flowers

Where the wild bees are—and aren’t—impacts food supply

How the public can help protect wild bees and preserve biodiversity

A digitally edited image juxtaposing a ripe tomato against a detailed globe representing earth, emphasizing contrast and scale, set against a vibrant red background.

Balancing sustainable agriculture with the need to feed the world

These sustainable farming practices can help us produce more food while fighting climate change

Farming our way to a future more resilient to climate change

Farmers do more than produce food—sustainable farming practices can help fight climate change

A photo of Professor Karen Bakker on the TED stage with an orca on the LCD screen behind her.

How AI could transform our relationship with the natural world

Technology could help us decode the sounds of nature and non-human communication

A photo of steam rising from smokestacks in a rural sunset sky.

Tips for how to cope with climate anxiety

These steps can help you move from eco-anxiety to positive action

Easy ways to conserve water this summer

Tips for conserving water in British Columbia

Three killer whales at Vancouver island, British Columbia, Canada

With only low-fat Chinook on the menu, southern resident killer whales are going hungry

Food quality, not just quantity, matters when it comes to the health and survival of southern resident killer whales

A photo of a man sitting in an airplane seat looking out the window with rocket debris flying past

Airplanes face a growing risk of being hit by uncontrolled re-entries of rockets used to launch satellites

While the probability of an airplane being struck by space debris is extremely small, it could justify regulatory action

How the COP27 climate conference could confront colonialism by centring Indigenous rights

Many “green” solutions represent more violations of Indigenous rights and territories, without consultation or consent

Photo of Dr. Simon Donner on stage at Tedx

Why our imaginations are the key to solving climate change

Envisioning a different future can help us overcome inaction on climate change, says Dr. Simon Donner in his TEDx talk

Next-generation batteries power a more sustainable future

UBC researchers are developing better batteries for electric cars, solar panels and more

Harnessing the power of forests to fight climate change

Dr. Suzanne Simard’s Mother Tree Project at UBC could transform how we manage forests.

A collage showing a family cleaning up at the beach, a plate of sushi, sockeye salmon spawning

5 things you can do to help BC’s marine ecosystems

From reducing your plastic use to choosing sustainable seafood, every action counts

A Grizzly bear sitting on the banks of a river.

BC is facing a steep decline in sockeye salmon

As BC coastal waters warm, sockeye salmon are moving north to Alaska. Here’s what’s moving up to BC

A close-up photo of a mosquito biting someone's finger

How to repel mosquitoes and avoid bites

Tips on the best mosquito repellents and more from a UBC Department of Zoology expert

An illustration of an electric car plugged into a charger and surrounded by plants.

How climate storytelling helps people navigate complexity and find solutions

Despite learning that climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists predicted, society has been slow to decrease the use of fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate storytelling can help us navigate the complexity and find solutions.

A person's hand holding rice grains to show world hunger

‘Too many people, not enough food’ isn’t the cause of world hunger and food insecurity

Inequity and armed conflict play a large role in world hunger

Photo of smoke from a forest fire near Pearchland British Columbia Canada

Why protecting air quality in BC matters to your health — not just during wildfire season

Vancouver has some of the best air quality in the world. Here’s why we need to fight for it.

A collection of images depicting what effects affect air quality

What exactly is air quality, and what affects it in BC?

Learn about air pollution sources and how weather and location affect air quality in BC

Half the world is facing water scarcity, floods and dirty water — large investments are needed for effective solutions

Water needs to be at the centre of climate change strategies with a better understanding of the costs and benefits of solutions

BC heat waves threaten survival of bee colonies

Insulated bee hives could protect bees from heat stress

Second-hand gifts, new experiences: shaking up holiday gift giving

More sustainable gift options can help beat inflation while reducing holiday landfill waste

Sea turtle swimming next to tiger with plastic bag caught in its shell

Instead of shopping this Black Friday, consider curbing your consumption

With plastic in everything from computers to clothing, UBC researchers connect what we’re buying to what’s harming our oceans

COP26: Strong carbon-trading rules could help the world avoid dangerous levels of global warming

An international emissions-trading system being discussed at COP26 could bring an end to the production of coal-fired electricity

Aerial photo of a fishing trawler in the ocean with its nets cast out into the water to catch fish with

Putting an end to billions in fishing subsidies could improve fish stocks and ocean health

UBC’s Dr. Daniel Skerritt explains how fishing subsidies limit our ability to sustainably manage our fisheries

A river and mountain in Banff National Park, Canada, a place protected by conservation measures

How to meet the ambitious target of conserving 30 per cent of Earth by 2030

Canada’s new conservation goal, 30 by 30, requires innovative action to protect natural areas

Illustration showing how pollination works with insects, and how it leads to fruit and vegetables

How fruits and vegetables have sex

What exactly is pollination? UBC’s Dr. Claire Kremen breaks it down

An illustration showing how insect biodiversity affects the foods we eat

With biodiversity under siege, even blueberries and chocolate could be at risk

When pollinators like native bees are threatened, so is the abundance and diversity of foods we eat

A person listens to UBC talks on his headphones

6 talks to feed your mind and soul

These UBC-hosted talks shed light on everything from social justice to romantic relationships

Environmental human rights illustration showing a young girl among leaves

Why all human rights depend on a healthy environment

Environmental degradation threatens our human rights, including the rights to life, health and food