New climate stripes reveal pollution disparities since 1850

Scientists have developed climate stripes that visualize pollution trends since 1850, highlighting global inequalities and the potential for improvement through government action.

Gary Fuller reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• Air pollution stripes show worsening pollution in many regions, though improvements are possible with focused government efforts.
• London and Beijing have seen significant air quality improvements after government interventions.
• The project uses data from climate models and satellite observations to map pollution from 1850 to today.

Key quote:

“Air pollution is often called the invisible killer but these images make the invisible visible.”

— Dr. Kirsty Pringle, University of Edinburgh

Why this matters:

The air quality stripes make pollution trends tangible, emphasizing the need for policy action to combat this global health crisis. Without intervention, poor air quality will continue to cause millions of premature deaths.

Related EHN coverage:

• Air pollution linked to millions of birth complications across the globe
• In polluted cities, reducing air pollution could lower cancer rates as much as eliminating smoking would
• Listen: Bad air polluting our brains