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.
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