The effects of Canada's burning wildfires on New York show the shape of things to come for climate change.

Last week New York City was shrouded in smoke from wildfires nearly 2,000 kilometres away in Quebec, Canada, bringing the attention of global media. Thomas Smith writes that while forest fires in Canada are not unusual, they have begun unusually early, likely due to an unseasonal heatwave experienced by much of northern Canada. He argues that fossil-fuel induced climate change and irresponsible land management practices are driving more extreme, larger and more destructive fires, and that we should expect a devastating fire season in Canada and more smoke episodes downwind.