NEW YORK – People will soon have the ability to utilize satellite technology and artificial intelligence to monitor dangerous soot pollution levels and their sources in local neighborhoods. This initiative is led by former Vice President Al Gore through his nonprofit organization, Climate TRACE.
The project expands on existing capabilities that already use satellites to monitor heat-trapping methane sources, now encompassing tracking for soot pollution across 2,500 cities worldwide. Gore emphasized the serious health risks associated with fine particle pollution, which claims millions of lives annually, including tens of thousands in the United States.
Equipped with 300 satellites and 30,000 ground-tracking sensors, the Climate TRACE initiative can currently identify 137,095 sources of soot pollution, with 3,937 classified as 'super emitters.' In about a year, Gore envisions that users will be able to access daily pollution data, enabling integration into weather apps similar to allergy reports.
Beyond displaying pollution levels, users will also be informed about the sources of these emissions. Gore stated, For the first time, individuals can gain precise insight into where air pollution is originating, ultimately empowering them to understand their local environmental health better. He emphasized the need for transparency, noting that this information can lead individuals to make more informed decisions regarding their health and environment.
Notably, although soot pollution is not classified as a direct climate change issue, it derives from the same fossil fuel combustion processes that generate greenhouse gases. Gore pointed out that fine particle pollution leads to substantial mortality rates, with nearly 9 million people dying each year, underscoring the critical need for awareness and action.
Gore's analysis within this initiative found that Karachi, Pakistan, has the highest exposure to soot pollution, followed by cities like Guangzhou, China, Seoul, South Korea, New York City, and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
