Global, Ozone and Pollution

WHO issues new, lower Global Air Quality Guidelines for classical pollutants

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

New WHO has issued new Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) that reduce levels of key air pollutants, some of which also contribute to climate change. Since WHO’s last 2005 global update, there has been a marked increase of evidence that shows how air pollution affects different aspects of health. Source: WHO.

Pollution

Pollution Global 2005 Ozone

Global study links daily exposure to ozone pollution to increased risk of death

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FEBRUARY 11, 2020

Daily exposure to ground level ozone in cities worldwide is associated with an increased risk of death, according to the largest study of its kind, published in an open-access paper in The BMJ. Ground level ozone is a highly reactive gas commonly found in urban and suburban environments, formed when pollutants react in sunlight.

Ozone

Ozone Pollution Global South America

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

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MAY 12, 2020

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. Ozone is harmful to humans at ground-level, causing pulmonary and heart disease.

Ozone

Ozone Pollution Global Iran

Study finds pollution emitted near equator has biggest impact on global ozone

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NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Since the 1980s, air pollution has increased worldwide, but it has increased at a much faster pace in regions close to the equator. They found that the increase in ozone burden due to the spatial distribution change slightly exceeds the combined influences of the increased emission magnitude and global methane.

Ozone

Ozone Pollution Global North Carolina

Study: ozone levels higher across China than in other countries tracking the air pollutant

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

In China, people breathe ozone-laden air two to six times more often than people in the United States, Europe, Japan, or South Korea, according to a new international study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. 2017 for one ozone metric. The inset shows ozone trends in Beijing (red) and Los Angeles (blue).

Ozone

Ozone Pollution China South Korea

TOAR shows present-day global ozone distribution and trends relevant to health; public database

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FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Ozone levels across much of North America and Europe dropped significantly between 2000 and 2014. People living in parts of southern Europe, South Korea and southern Japan and China also experienced more than 15 days a year of ozone levels above 70 ppb. Trends in daily maximum ozone levels (known as 4MDA8) at urban and non-urban sites.

Ozone

Ozone Global North America Colorado

China study connects ozone pollution to cardiovascular health

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JULY 17, 2017

Exposure to ozone, long associated with impaired lung function, is also connected to health changes that can cause cardiovascular disease such as heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke, according to a new study of Chinese adults. The findings associated ozone exposure with markers of platelet activation and increased blood pressure.

Ozone

Ozone Pollution Connect Connected

New study puts air-pollution related deaths in India in 2019 at 1.67 million

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DECEMBER 27, 2020

Air pollution in India resulted 1.67 million deaths in 2019—the largest pollution-related death toll in any country in the world—and also accounted for $36.8 The 2019 death toll attributed to air pollution in India accounted for 17.8% Pollution takes an enormous human toll in India. It is causing 1.67

Pollution

Pollution India 2019 Boston

Study links ambient PM2.5 and ozone specifically caused by vehicle exhaust emissions to ~361,000 premature deaths worldwide in 2010 and ~385,000 in 2015

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MARCH 1, 2019

A new study provides the most detailed picture available to date of the global, regional, and local health impacts attributable to emissions from four transportation subsectors: on-road diesel vehicles; other on-road vehicles; shipping; and non-road mobile engines such as agricultural and construction equipment. of global ambient PM 2.5

Ozone

Ozone 2015 2010 Exhaust

HEI report finds current levels of air pollution have reduced life expectancy by 1.67 years on average worldwide

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APRIL 10, 2019

The Health Effects Institute (HEI) has released the annual State of Global Air (SoGA) 2019 report and website. This year’s report includes the latest results on air pollution exposure and its health burden around the world based on the 2017 GBD (Global Burden of Disease) study. and tropospheric ozone. Ambient PM 2.5

Pollution

Pollution Ozone 2017 2019

CSIRO study finds ozone uptake in oceans much lower than previously thought

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JULY 31, 2019

CSIRO scientists have developed a new way to account for ozone in computer simulations of the climate. This latest modeling shows that the oceans take much less ozone out of the atmosphere than previously thought. Ozone (O 3 ) is formed by reactions of chemicals such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds—i.e.,

Ozone

Ozone Climate Global Water

UCL-led study finds climate impact caused by growing space industry needs urgent mitigation

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JUNE 26, 2022

The rapidly growing space industry may have a greater climate effect than the aviation industry and undo repair to the protective ozone layer if left unregulated, according to a new study led by UCL and published in the journal Earth’s Future as an open-access paper. The space industry is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors.

Climate

Climate Ozone Industrial Industry

International study finds air pollution leads to millions of hospital visits for asthma attacks worldwide

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OCTOBER 28, 2018

Air pollution—specifically PM 2.5 , ozone and NO 2 —could be to blame for up to 33 million emergency asthma attack visits to hospital a year, according to a new open-access study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. 37% and 73% of ozone and PM 2.5 Anthropogenic emissions were responsible for ?37%

Pollution

Pollution Ozone International Aura

MIT study: half of US deaths related to air pollution are linked to out-of-state emissions

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FEBRUARY 15, 2020

The study focuses on the period between 2005 and 2018 and tracks combustion emissions of various polluting compounds from various sectors, looking at every state in the contiguous United States, from season to season and year to year. Scientists have long known that pollution observes no boundaries, one of the prime examples being acid rain.

MIT

MIT Pollution Emissions 2005

Study finds US air pollution deaths nearly halved between 1990 and 2010

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OCTOBER 20, 2018

A new study led by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found that deaths related to air pollution in the US were nearly halved between 1990 and 2010. This study demonstrates that those changes have had a real impact with fewer people dying each year due to exposure to outdoor air pollution.

Pollution

Pollution 2010 Ozone North Carolina

Study estimates ~4M children worldwide develop asthma each year because of NO2 air pollution

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APRIL 11, 2019

About 4 million children worldwide develop asthma each year because of inhaling nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) air pollution, according to an open-access study published in The Lancet Planetary Health by researchers at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH). —Susan Anenberg.

Pollution

Pollution United Arab Emirates South Korea Las Vegas

Study: air pollution causes 800,000 extra deaths a year in Europe and 8.8 million worldwide

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MARCH 12, 2019

Air pollution could be causing double the number of excess deaths a year in Europe than has been estimated previously, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal. Air pollution caused twice as many deaths from CVD as from respiratory diseases. The researchers found that air pollution caused an estimated 8.8

Pollution

Pollution Europe Cyprus Bulgaria

Satellite method provides insight into ozone-NOx-VOCs sensitivity for different locations

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NOVEMBER 7, 2017

Ozone pollution near Earth’s surface is one of the main ingredients of summertime smog. It is also not directly measurable from space due to the abundance of ozone higher in the atmosphere, which obscures measurements of surface ozone. —Jin et al.

Ozone

Ozone Insight Netherlands North America

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

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MAY 5, 2014

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). Preliminary global mean CO 2 concentrations in February 2014 were 398.06 Ozone formation. Scenario A2 and RCP 8.5.

Ozone

Ozone Climate Change Pollution Climate

California introduces first-in-nation rules to reduce climate “super pollutants” from commercial refrigeration, air conditioning equipment

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DECEMBER 14, 2020

HFCs are synthetic gases that are used in a variety of applications, but mainly to replace ozone-depleting substances in aerosols, foams, refrigeration and air-conditioning. The California Air Resources Board recently approved first-in-the-nation rules to curb the impact of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.

Pollution

Pollution California Commercial Climate

CU Boulder study: routine household activities generate air quality on par with major polluted city

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FEBRUARY 18, 2019

Cooking, cleaning and other routine household activities generate significant levels of volatile and particulate chemicals inside the average home, leading to indoor air quality levels on par with a polluted major city, according to a study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. Earlier post.).

Pollution

Pollution Ozone Clean Cleaning

CARB, NOAA, NASA and San Jose State University scientists team up to study ozone transported across Pacific

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JUNE 17, 2016

As California continues to reduce local sources of ozone, ozone entering the state from the Pacific makes up a larger fraction of measured ozone levels. An ozonesonde is a balloon which measures ozone from the surface to more than 10 kilometers above the ground.

San Jose

San Jose Ozone Universal Transportation

Study first to quantify amount of US pollution resulting from Chinese manufacturing for exports

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Average annual percentage of black carbon pollution related to Chinese exports. China is responsible for only a small percentage of the annual pollution in the US, but powerful global winds known as “westerlies” can push airborne chemicals across the ocean in days, particularly during the spring, causing dangerous spikes in contaminants.

Pollution

Pollution Chinese Manufacturer Ozone

Fast action on black carbon, ozone and methane could help limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees C

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JUNE 15, 2011

Global benefits from full implementation of the identified measures in 2030 compared to the reference scenario. Fast action on pollutants such as black carbon, ground-level ozone and methane may help limit near term global temperature rise and significantly increase the chances of keeping temperature rise below 2 °C (3.6 °F)—and

Ozone

Ozone Carbon Climate Change Global

Large scale epidemiological study associates PM2.5, NO2 pollution with kidney, bladder and colorectal cancer death

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OCTOBER 31, 2017

Air pollution is classified as carcinogenic to humans given its association with lung cancer, but there is little evidence for its association with cancer at other body sites. The results were similar in two-pollutant models including PM 2.5 and NO 2 and in three-pollutant models with O 3. μg/m 3 increase in exposure.

Pollution

Pollution Ozone 2004 2017

Congressman introduces “Super Pollutant” emissions act

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MAY 10, 2013

US Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) introduced the Super Pollutant Emissions Reduction Act (SUPER Act) of 2013, legislation aimed at combating short-lived climate pollutants, which are only somewhat addressed by disparate government programs. C in projected cumulative warming by 2050 and 1.1 °C

Pollution

Pollution Emissions Ozone Climate Change

Study finds modifying urban form may be a strategy to reduce air pollution

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OCTOBER 30, 2017

Based on their findings in a new study, researchers from the University of Washington and the University of Minnesota suggest that modifying urban form—as a means of affecting motor vehicle usage—may be a strategy to mitigate urban air pollution. Their paper appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Pollution

Pollution New Zealand Minnesota Ozone

Toyota develops tropospheric ozone-concentration simulator for South and East Asia

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MAY 25, 2011

have developed a simulator able to predict tropospheric ozone concentrations across the whole of South and East Asia. Tropospheric ozone is the main cause of photochemical smog, an atmospheric pollutant harmful to human health and plant growth. Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Toyota Central R&D Labs.,

Ozone

Ozone Asia Toyota India

Study finds global emissions of ethane and propane underestimated by more than 50%

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FEBRUARY 27, 2018

Global levels of the hydrocarbons ethane and propane in the atmosphere have been underestimated by more than 50%, according to a new study by a team of scientists from Europe and the US. Levels of ethane and propane declined in many places the 1980s and 1990s, but global growth in demand for natural gas means these trends may be reversing.

Emissions

Emissions Global Ozone 2011

UCI-led study finds California’s strict air quality regulations have helped farmers

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MARCH 17, 2020

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine and other institutions have conducted a statistical analysis of pollution exposure and yields from 1980 to 2015 on a key sector making up about 38% of the state’s total agricultural output: perennial crops such as almonds, grapes, nectarines, peaches, strawberries and walnuts.

Ozone

Ozone Davis San Diego Pollution

Low-lying and other vulnerable countries calling for fast action on non-CO2 global warming pollutants

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NOVEMBER 29, 2010

Led by the tiny Pacific island of the Federated States of Micronesia, a growing group of low-lying islands and other vulnerable countries are calling for fast action on the approximately 50% of global warming that is caused by pollutants other than carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). million lives lost each year due to black carbon soot.

Micronesia

Micronesia Pollution Ozone Global

Study Links Springtime Ozone Increases Above Western North America to Emissions in Asia

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JANUARY 21, 2010

Springtime ozone distributions for 1984, 1995–2008 in the mid-troposphere (3.0–8.0 Springtime ozone levels above western North America are rising primarily due to air flowing eastward from the Pacific Ocean, a trend that is largest when the air originates in Asia. The US EPA recently proposed new tougher ground-level ozone standards.

North America

North America Ozone Asia America

UNEP study: small number of measures targeting black carbon and tropospheric ozone could yield immediate climate benefits

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FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Global benefits from full implementation of the identified measures in 2030 compared to the reference scenario. Black carbon and tropospheric ozone are harmful air pollutants that also contribute to climate change. Full implementation of these measures would reduce future global warming by 0.5 °C Click to enlarge.

Ozone

Ozone Climate Carbon Climate Change

Study finds anthropogenic PM and dust undercutting global solar energy production

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JUNE 27, 2017

Percent reduction in visible solar energy due to ambient PM (plus a small contribution from ozone) (A), only dust PM deposition (B) deposition of all PM components (C), and atmospheric and deposited combined (D; note change in scale). The Arabian Peninsula loses much more solar power to dust than it does manmade pollutants, Bergin said.

Solar

Solar Energy Global Production

HEI launches two new non-tailpipe particulate emission studies

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JANUARY 8, 2023

Research teams will also measure concentrations of exhaust pollutants in an attempt to disentangle non-tailpipe and tailpipe pollution, to better understand how each effects human health. 10 ) of urban air, a fraction known to be enriched with non-tailpipe constituents. People with asthma represent a major vulnerable group.

Emissions

Emissions Pollution Exhaust London

Northwestern/Princeton study explores air quality impacts of aggressive conversion to EVs

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APRIL 15, 2019

The exponentially increasing global market share of EVs has prompted research on their efficacy in reducing greenhouse gases, but comparatively little effort has focused on their impact on air quality. This despite evidence that suggests air pollution impacts from the transportation sector exceed those from greenhouse gases. …

Conversion

Conversion Jordan Ozone Coal

Study finds household and outdoor air pollution contributes to more than 5.5 million premature deaths worldwide per year

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FEBRUARY 12, 2016

New research shows that household (indoor) and outdoor air pollution contribute to more than 5.5 In the context of the Global Burden of Disease 2013 study ( earlier post ), researchers from Canada, the United States, China and India quantified air pollution levels and attributable health impacts for 188 countries for the period 1990-2013.

Pollution

Pollution Coal Asia India

Study finds power law scaling relationship between urban population and NO2 pollution

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AUGUST 25, 2013

The approximate linear relationship for each region is notable, suggesting that the dependence of urban NO 2 pollution upon population follows a power law scaling with population. These regions contain two-thirds of total global anthropogenic NO x emissions. Credit: ACS, Lamsal et al. Click to enlarge. for India to 0.66 ppb (India).

Pollution

Pollution Power Powered India

Air pollution could claim 6.6 million lives per year by 2050, double current rate; small domestic fires and ag the worst offenders

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

If air pollution emissions continue to rise at the current rate, some 6.6 The largest sources of air pollution are not industry and transport but small domestic fires and agriculture. The largest sources of air pollution are not industry and transport but small domestic fires and agriculture. Credit: Nature, Lelieveld et al.

Pollution

Pollution Ozone Saudi Arabia Asia

International study identifies 14 key measures to reduce methane and black carbon emissions; reduction in projected global mean warming of ~0.5 °C by 2050

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JANUARY 13, 2012

A study by an international team of researchers, led by Drew Shindell of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, has identified 14 measures targeting methane and black carbon (BC) emissions that could reduce projected global mean warming ~0.5°C °F) by 2050, as well as improving human health and agriculture.

Carbon

Carbon Ozone Emissions International

California ARB releases concept paper for public review on reducing short-lived climate pollutants

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MAY 8, 2015

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has released , for public review, a concept paper to initiate discussion on the development of a Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) include methane, tropospheric ozone, black carbon, and fluorinated gases.

Pollution

Pollution Climate Concept California

HEI: 95%+ of world’s population live in areas of unhealthy air

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APRIL 18, 2018

Seven billion people, more than 95% of the world’s population, lived in areas exceeding the WHO Guideline for healthy air in 2016, according to a new global study. State of Global Air 2018. Population-weighted seasonal average ozone concentrations in 2016. State of Global Air 2018. State of Global Air 2018.

Pollution

Pollution Coal 2016 India

New international Climate and Clean Air Coalition to focus on reduction of short-lived climate pollutants

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FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Global benefits from full implementation of measures for reduction of short-lived climate pollutants in 2030 compared to the reference scenario. Such pollutants together account for approximately one-third of current global warming, have significant impacts on public health, the environment, and world food productivity.

Climate

Climate Pollution Clean Cleaning

Study Concludes Warming Climate Will Increase Ozone Levels in Major California Air Basins; Climate Change and Regional Air Quality Are Intertwined Problems

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JULY 22, 2010

Illustration of projected ozone changes in the South Coast region due to climate change in 2050. Areas in orange and red could see ozone concentrations elevated by 9 to 18 parts per billion. Our study reveals that climate change and regional air pollution are intertwined problems. Click to enlarge.

Climate Change

Climate Change Ozone Climate California

WHO issues new, lower Global Air Quality Guidelines for classical pollutants

Global study links daily exposure to ozone pollution to increased risk of death

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

Study finds pollution emitted near equator has biggest impact on global ozone

Study: ozone levels higher across China than in other countries tracking the air pollutant

TOAR shows present-day global ozone distribution and trends relevant to health; public database

China study connects ozone pollution to cardiovascular health

New study puts air-pollution related deaths in India in 2019 at 1.67 million

Study links ambient PM2.5 and ozone specifically caused by vehicle exhaust emissions to ~361,000 premature deaths worldwide in 2010 and ~385,000 in 2015

HEI report finds current levels of air pollution have reduced life expectancy by 1.67 years on average worldwide

CSIRO study finds ozone uptake in oceans much lower than previously thought

UCL-led study finds climate impact caused by growing space industry needs urgent mitigation

International study finds air pollution leads to millions of hospital visits for asthma attacks worldwide

MIT study: half of US deaths related to air pollution are linked to out-of-state emissions

Study finds US air pollution deaths nearly halved between 1990 and 2010

Study estimates ~4M children worldwide develop asthma each year because of NO2 air pollution

Study: air pollution causes 800,000 extra deaths a year in Europe and 8.8 million worldwide

Satellite method provides insight into ozone-NOx-VOCs sensitivity for different locations

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

California introduces first-in-nation rules to reduce climate “super pollutants” from commercial refrigeration, air conditioning equipment

CU Boulder study: routine household activities generate air quality on par with major polluted city

CARB, NOAA, NASA and San Jose State University scientists team up to study ozone transported across Pacific

Study first to quantify amount of US pollution resulting from Chinese manufacturing for exports

Fast action on black carbon, ozone and methane could help limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees C

Large scale epidemiological study associates PM2.5, NO2 pollution with kidney, bladder and colorectal cancer death

Congressman introduces “Super Pollutant” emissions act

Study finds modifying urban form may be a strategy to reduce air pollution

Toyota develops tropospheric ozone-concentration simulator for South and East Asia

Study finds global emissions of ethane and propane underestimated by more than 50%

UCI-led study finds California’s strict air quality regulations have helped farmers

Low-lying and other vulnerable countries calling for fast action on non-CO2 global warming pollutants

Study Links Springtime Ozone Increases Above Western North America to Emissions in Asia

UNEP study: small number of measures targeting black carbon and tropospheric ozone could yield immediate climate benefits

Study finds anthropogenic PM and dust undercutting global solar energy production

HEI launches two new non-tailpipe particulate emission studies

Northwestern/Princeton study explores air quality impacts of aggressive conversion to EVs

Study finds household and outdoor air pollution contributes to more than 5.5 million premature deaths worldwide per year

Study finds power law scaling relationship between urban population and NO2 pollution

Air pollution could claim 6.6 million lives per year by 2050, double current rate; small domestic fires and ag the worst offenders

International study identifies 14 key measures to reduce methane and black carbon emissions; reduction in projected global mean warming of ~0.5 °C by 2050

California ARB releases concept paper for public review on reducing short-lived climate pollutants

HEI: 95%+ of world’s population live in areas of unhealthy air

New international Climate and Clean Air Coalition to focus on reduction of short-lived climate pollutants

Study Concludes Warming Climate Will Increase Ozone Levels in Major California Air Basins; Climate Change and Regional Air Quality Are Intertwined Problems

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