The wildfire smoke enveloping New York City, Washington, D.C., and much of the East Coast is another example of the climate crisis, the White House said Wednesday.

Wildfires from the north have sent large swaths of the eastern United States into dangerous levels of smoke and smog, including Washington, D.C. But it’s not merely a natural disaster, according to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

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“This is yet another alarming example of the ways in which the climate crisis is disturbing our lives and our communities,” she said. “That’s why, from day one, President Biden rightfully recognized the climate crisis, climate change, as one of the four crises facing our nation as he was coming into the oval office.”

The other three crises were COVID-19, a wobbly economy, and racial injustice.

Air quality in the Washington area plummeted overnight as smoke from wildfires in Canada traveled south into the U.S.

The National Weather Service is advising that people in much of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic should avoid outdoor activities on Wednesday because the air quality is unhealthy.

AirNow rated the air quality in Washington as “very unhealthy” at 10 a.m. local time, meaning that “the risk of health effects is increased for everyone.” The rating is the second-highest on the six-category scale, below “hazardous.”

The service says that exposure to poor air quality can cause headaches, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and irritation in the eyes and throat, among other adverse reactions. They also recommend that “wearing a mask may help limit irritation for those suffering from respiratory illnesses.”

President Joe Biden did not wear a mask as he strolled the outdoor parts of the White House grounds Wednesday, Jean-Pierre said, and neither have administration staff. However, she stressed that the outdoor walks were brief.

“I just don’t have anything to share on any changes to how the president is going to be approaching this,” she said. “We’ve been walking back and forth across the colonnade, and nobody is wearing a mask.”

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But the Biden administration will continue making climate change a priority even as the smoke clears.

“I’m not an expert, but it’s clear, as we have seen over the last couple of decades, that climate change has been a real problem,” Jean-Pierre said. “It is the science that shows us that.”

Original Location: Wildfire smoke another sign of climate crisis, White House says

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