Climate change threatens outdoor activities for children due to deteriorating air quality

A recent study reveals that climate change-induced heat waves and wildfires are negating progress in U.S. air cleanliness, jeopardizing outdoor safety for children.

Saul Elbein reports for The Hill.

In short:

• The First Street Foundation's study predicts a return to 2004 air pollution levels by mid-century, erasing decades of clean air advancements.
• This decline affects U.S. air quality, with an estimated 14 million households facing "unhealthy" air annually, exacerbating risks for children and sensitive populations.
• California and other U.S. regions face increasing days of hazardous air quality due to wildfires and fossil fuel emissions, impacting more than 70% of Californians.

Key quote:

"We're wiping out two decades in air quality gains."

— Jeremy Porter, study coauthor

Why this matters:

Climate change poses ever-escalating challenges to public health and environmental policy, emphasizing a need for updated strategies to combat worsening air quality and its disproportionate effects on vulnerable populations.