Transcript:
Satellites in space are enabling researchers to track air pollution on Earth – and show that it’s possible to improve air quality and reduce climate change at the same time.
Susan Anenberg is at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.
Her team analyzed 15 years of satellite data for more than 13,000 cities worldwide.
Anenberg: “So we can get a sense for how pollution is changing in every city on the planet.”
They looked at concentrations of three pollutants that harm people’s health and at emissions of carbon dioxide, which warms the climate.
In more than half of the cities, all four pollutants rose or fell together. That’s because they’re often caused by the same culprit: burning fossil fuels.
In cities that are burning more fossil fuels, like in parts of India and sub-Saharan Africa, concentrations of all four pollutants increased.
Anenberg: “There is a lot of economic growth happening, there’s population growth … and there are no strong emission control regulations.”
Whereas in places that have taken steps to limit fossil fuel use, pollution fell across the board.
So burning fewer fossil fuels can reduce climate change and improve people’s health.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
Great Job YCC Team & the Team @ Yale Climate Connections Source link for sharing this story.
