The U.S. State Department has ended a program that monitored air pollution in more than 80 countries, citing budget constraints, despite evidence that the data helped improve air quality awareness and policy.
Chico Harlan and Maxine Joselow report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- The U.S. had placed air quality sensors at embassies and consulates worldwide, often in countries where pollution data was limited or unreliable.
- The program contributed to reductions in air pollution and increased public awareness, particularly after its data revealed severe pollution levels in China.
- The decision to halt monitoring follows broader federal spending cuts and leaves a gap in global air quality data once published on AirNow.gov and ZephAir.
Key quote:
“The current budget climate requires us to make difficult cuts and unfortunately, we cannot continue to publish this data.”
— U.S. State Department spokesperson
Why this matters:
Air pollution is a major global health risk, cutting life expectancy more than smoking in some regions. The U.S. embassy monitoring program provided independent, publicly accessible pollution data in countries where governments often underreport or obscure the severity of air quality issues. Its data has driven policy changes, including China’s efforts to combat smog. Ending the program removes a key tool for scientists, health officials, and the public to track pollution trends, making it harder to hold governments accountable for air quality improvements.
Related: LISTEN: Pallavi Pant on decolonizing global air pollution research
