Climate change threatens air quality
High temperatures promote the formation of pollutants. The World Meteorological Organisation warns that further deterioration of air quality is to be expected. Expanding low-emission zones can further reduce air pollution.
Despite some deniers, it is now clear that climate change is real and not good news, he said. However, as global warming progresses, the consequences on the environment, the air and eventually the population become clearer and more noticeable. In particular, the quality of the air, both inside and outside cities, seems to be worsening with a worrying trend.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warned of this last Wednesday on the occasion of Clean Air Day. In its report, it said of the real danger that the expected interaction between pollution and global warming would pose to hundreds of millions of people. By causing more and more intense heat waves and droughts, climate change has a direct effect on air quality. This is because pollutant levels are sensitive to atmospheric conditions - such as solar radiation, wind strength and temperatures, explains WMO chief Petteri Taalas.
Among the pollutants the World Meteorological Organisation particularly warns against is ozone. Also favoured by high temperatures, the important atmospheric trace gas is now reaching peak levels near the ground. Especially in this extremely warm summer, unprecedented levels were measured. The high number of forest fires registered worldwide, also an indirect consequence of global warming, is also causing concern among experts. According to the European Earth Observation Service Copernicus, emissions from forest fires in Europe this summer were higher than at any time since 2007. It's a trend that doesn't seem likely to go down. Forest fires and the associated air pollution are expected to increase. "Even in a low emissions scenario," Taalas explains.
Although Asia is currently more affected by pollution than other regions, there is no place on earth that is not threatened by the effects of the climate crisis. What we are currently experiencing "is a foretaste of things to come, as we expect the intensity and duration of such phenomena to continue to increase," WMO chief Taalas adds. They could become even more frequent if the average global temperature continues to rise - and reaches, say, three degrees above pre-industrial levels.
Solutions must be found, both at national and international level. Since climate change is ultimately a problem that transcends geopolitical borders. Starting with an attempt to actually comply with the Paris Agreement is certainly a good idea. However, more concrete measures can already play a fundamental role locally - at least in limiting the damage.
For example, the expansion of the environmental zone network, as well as the simultaneous tightening of the regulations intended for it, are still considered effective means of regulation to reduce pollutant levels and consequently to protect air quality. Not only in areas with, for example, high traffic density on the roads, but also in regions where forest fires are frequent. Not only because these also emit harmful pollutants into the air, but also to reduce the additional emissions caused by traffic through temporary driving bans. The principle of temporary environmental zones is already being successfully implemented in France - here the zones are also activated when ozone levels are too high and driving bans are imposed. Thus, the interaction between climate change and pollution can be at least partially alleviated.