A recent study reveals that climate change-induced heat waves and wildfires are negating progress in U.S. air cleanliness, jeopardizing outdoor safety for children.
Saul Elbein reports for The Hill.
In short:
- The First Street Foundation's study predicts a return to 2004 air pollution levels by mid-century, erasing decades of clean air advancements.
- This decline affects U.S. air quality, with an estimated 14 million households facing "unhealthy" air annually, exacerbating risks for children and sensitive populations.
- California and other U.S. regions face increasing days of hazardous air quality due to wildfires and fossil fuel emissions, impacting more than 70% of Californians.
Key quote:
"We're wiping out two decades in air quality gains."
— Jeremy Porter, study coauthor
Why this matters:
Climate change poses ever-escalating challenges to public health and environmental policy, emphasizing a need for updated strategies to combat worsening air quality and its disproportionate effects on vulnerable populations.
