Air Pollution: A Decreasing Global Threat?

Air pollution is one of the most serious risks to human health globally, and air pollution emissions have decreased substantially in recent years. However, the magnitude of change varies by demographics, with certain populations experiencing smaller reductions or even increases in air pollution emissions. For instance, in the US, an increase in a county's average Hispanic or Indian American population percentage resulted in a relative increase in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia emissions. In the EU, while air pollutant emissions continue to fall, ammonia emissions have not declined significantly and have even increased in some member states. Globally, the decline in pollution is attributed to China, which has seen a 40% decrease in pollution since declaring a war against pollution in 2013. Despite overall decreases in air pollution, certain pockets of inequities remain, and more action is needed to achieve zero-pollution targets and improve air quality.

The Clean Air Act has improved air quality in the US

Air pollution emissions have decreased substantially in the US over the last few decades. The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, has played a significant role in improving the air quality in the country.

The Clean Air Act is a law that defines the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation's air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. The Act has been amended several times to address the changing nature of air pollution and to strengthen enforcement mechanisms.

One of the key achievements of the Clean Air Act has been the reduction of common pollutants such as particles, ozone, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Since 1970, the combined emissions of these six common pollutants have dropped by 78%. This has led to dramatic improvements in the quality of the air that Americans breathe. For example, between 1990 and 2020, national concentrations of air pollutants improved by 73% for carbon monoxide, 86% for lead, 61% for annual nitrogen dioxide, 25% for ozone, 26% for 24-hour coarse particle concentrations, 41% for annual fine particles, and 91% for sulfur dioxide.

The Clean Air Act has also led to improvements in vehicle pollution control. New passenger vehicles are now 98-99% cleaner for most tailpipe pollutants compared to those from the 1960s. Fuels have also become much cleaner, with lead eliminated and sulfur levels reduced by more than 90%. These improvements have resulted in healthier air for Americans and visibly reduced smog in cities.

In addition to improving air quality, the Clean Air Act has also contributed to the development of new emission control technologies. The automotive catalytic converter, for example, is considered one of the great environmental inventions of all time. The Act has also had financial benefits, with the American economy stimulated by the development of new technologies and industries.

While the Clean Air Act has led to significant improvements in air quality, there is still work to be done. Many places in the United States still have poor local air quality, and air pollution continues to be a major environmental health risk. The transportation sector, in particular, remains a large source of carbon pollution, and the EPA is working to develop standards to address this issue.

The EU's Clean Air Outlook report shows decreasing air pollution

The EU Clean Air Outlook report is published by the European Commission and assesses the prospects for reducing air pollution in the EU by 2030 and beyond. The report is based on modelling work and evaluates the extent to which emission reduction obligations under the NEC Directive would be fulfilled under various policy scenarios.

The First Clean Air Outlook was published in June 2018, and the Second EU Clean Air Outlook report was released on 8 January 2021. The 2021 report projects that the number of premature deaths due to air pollution will be reduced by more than half in 2030 compared to 2005, provided that EU countries implement the air pollution and climate measures outlined in existing EU legislation. The report also emphasizes that there is room for further improvement, as additional measures to reduce air pollution would bring greater societal benefits.

The EU Clean Air Outlook reports analyze the impact of new measures implemented since the previous report to reduce air pollutant emissions from various sources. This includes initiatives outlined in the member states' National Air Pollution Control Programmes (NAPCP) and updates to the EU energy and climate policy in 2018. The reports also consider improvements in national emission inventories and assess the implications of emission reductions in terms of air quality, health, and ecosystem impacts.

While the EU Clean Air Outlook report acknowledges decreasing air pollution, it also highlights that air quality remains a significant risk to the health and ecosystem quality of the EU. To address this challenge, the EU has established a comprehensive clean air policy framework with three key pillars: ambient air quality standards, emission reduction targets, and emissions standards for significant pollution sources. The EU's zero-pollution ambition, outlined in the European Green Deal, aims to protect the health and ecosystems of European citizens.

China's war against pollution has reduced global pollution

Air pollution emissions have decreased substantially over the last few decades, although the magnitude of change varies by demographics. In 2023, about 66 million tons of pollution were emitted into the atmosphere in the United States. Despite this, between 1970 and 2023, the total emissions of the six principal air pollutants dropped by 78%. Since 1970, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set and implemented emissions standards to control pollution from passenger vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, buses, and construction.

China has also been fighting its own war on pollution, which has contributed to the reduction of global pollution. In 2014, the Chinese government announced its "war on pollution", marking a shift away from the country's long-standing strategy of prioritizing economic growth over environmental concerns. China entered the 2010s as the world's largest consumer of energy and coal, the largest automobile market, and the largest emitter of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Severe air pollution episodes in large urban centers such as Beijing resulted in a public outcry over the lack of basic public information.

The Chinese government undertook unprecedented regulatory changes, including recognizing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as a primary pollutant and establishing a national standard to limit it, setting pollution reduction as a key bureaucratic target, and launching a nationwide, real-time air quality monitoring and disclosure program. These changes led to significant improvements in data availability and accuracy. Using data from China's new real-time monitoring network, which covers 98% of the population, studies have found that local air pollution levels have fallen significantly.

China's war on pollution has had a significant impact on global pollution levels. With China being the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, its efforts to reduce pollution have contributed to the global decline in emissions. China's success in reducing pollution levels has been a positive step towards improving the health and quality of life for people around the world.

US vehicle pollution control has been a major success

Air pollution emissions have decreased substantially in the US over the last few decades, and vehicle pollution control has been a major success story in this regard.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has played a pivotal role in reducing vehicle pollution. Since 1970, the EPA has set and implemented stringent emissions standards for various vehicles, including passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, and buses. These standards have been instrumental in reducing common tailpipe pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particle emissions. As a result, new cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks are now approximately 98-99% cleaner than models from the 1960s and 1970s.

The EPA's efforts to reduce vehicle emissions have sparked innovation in the automotive industry. For instance, the automotive catalytic converter, considered one of the greatest environmental inventions, was a direct response to emissions standards. Additionally, the adoption of modern technologies, such as computers, fuel injection, and on-board diagnostics, has led to vehicles that are not only cleaner but also higher quality, more reliable, and more durable.

The benefits of these advancements extend beyond just emissions reductions. Cleaner fuels have contributed to improved air quality in US cities, even as populations and vehicle miles traveled have increased. The reduction in lead emissions is particularly notable, with levels of lead in the air decreasing by 94% between 1980 and 1999 due to the phase-out of leaded gasoline.

Furthermore, the EPA's standards are expected to have a positive economic impact. The auto industry's transition to electrification and the development of clean vehicle technologies are projected to create jobs and reduce costs for consumers. The Biden-Harris Administration's pollution standards for model years 2027 and beyond are estimated to provide nearly $100 billion in annual net benefits, including $13 billion in public health benefits and $62 billion in reduced fuel and maintenance costs.

While the US has made significant progress in vehicle pollution control, it is important to acknowledge that challenges remain. Many places in the US still struggle with poor local air quality, and certain populations have experienced smaller reductions or even increases in air pollution emissions. Addressing these disparities and continuing to innovate will be crucial in the ongoing fight for cleaner air and a healthier environment for all Americans.

Air pollution is a serious health risk

Both short- and long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to a range of diseases, including stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, trachea, bronchus and lung cancers, aggravated asthma, and lower respiratory infections. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified air pollution, particularly PM2.5, as a leading cause of cancer. Additionally, air pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter increase the amount and seriousness of lung and heart disease and other health problems.

Children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing heart and lung disease are especially vulnerable to the health risks of air pollution. Children and adolescents are more susceptible as their bodies, organs, and immune systems are still developing, and they have little power to protect themselves or influence air quality policies. Women and children are also more affected by household air pollution, as they tend to spend more time indoors. People in low socioeconomic neighborhoods and communities may be more vulnerable to air pollution due to various factors, including proximity to industrial sources of pollution, poor nutrition, and stress.

While air pollution emissions have decreased substantially in recent decades, certain populations have experienced smaller reductions or even increases in air pollution emissions. For example, an increase in the average Hispanic or Indian American population percentage in a county has been linked to a relative increase in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia emissions from industry, energy generation, and agriculture. Therefore, it is essential to address the disparities in air pollution emissions reductions and protect vulnerable populations from the serious health risks associated with air pollution.

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