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Studies find global COVID-19 lockdowns have significantly reduced PM2.5 and NO2 pollution, but ozone up

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Levels of two major air pollutants have been reduced significantly since lockdowns began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a secondary pollutant—ground-level ozone—has increased in China, according to new research. For comparison, columns over the same time periods are shown for 2019.

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Carnegie study finds climate impact of particulates varies greatly depending on where the pollution originated

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However, aerosols have a much shorter lifespan in the atmosphere than the gases responsible for global warming, resulting in an atmospheric distribution that varies by region, especially in comparison to carbon dioxide. For example, aerosols from India cool their country of origin 20 times more than they cool the planet.

Climate 170
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Study measures the effect of regional change in clouds caused by ships’ emissions; masking GHG warming

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This puffy line is not just exhaust from the engine, but a change in the clouds that’s caused by small airborne particles of pollution. Pollution from ships creates lines of clouds that can stretch hundreds of miles. The difference helps explain how much industrial pollution influences clouds. NASA Earth Observatory.

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PSI team develops web tool for consumers to compare environmental impact of passenger cars in detail

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The system will graph lifecycle impact for a range of specified powertrains, for a large number of impact categories: Climate change [kg CO 2 -eq.]. The top sample above shows climate change impact; the subsequent chart shows human toxicity. Sample results from Carculator. Depletion of fresh water reserves [m 3 ].

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Global Carbon Project: Global carbon emissions growth slows, but hits record high

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The findings are outlined in three new papers published in Earth System Science Data , Environmental Research Letters , and Nature Climate Change. Billed by some as a “bridge fuel” away from more pollutive energy sources, natural gas produces significantly fewer carbon dioxide emissions than oil or coal. Peters, R.M.

Carbon 195
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EEA report: EVs are better for climate and air quality

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Battery electric cars emit less greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their entire life cycle than petrol and diesel cars, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report. Shifting to electric vehicles could also reduce noise pollution, especially in cities where speeds are generally low and traffic often stands still.

Climate 268
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Study finds rising temperatures increase risk of unhealthy ozone levels absent sharp cuts in precursors

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Ozone pollution across the continental United States will become far more difficult to keep in check as temperatures rise, according to new work led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Ozone pollution also damages crops and other plants. Scenario A2 and RCP 8.5. Ozone formation.

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