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While New York is choking on smog, for Beijing, New Delhi and other cities it's just another day
As smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets New York, residents are grappling with severe air pollution, a rare occurrence for the city. However, in many major cities across Asia, battling intense air pollution caused by smoke, fossil fuels, and industrial chemicals has become the norm, writes Jessie Yeung for CNN.
In a nutshell
The images of cities engulfed in smoke have shocked the nation, prompting authorities to issue air quality alerts along the East Coast. While scenes like this are rare outside of West Coast states that regularly face wildfires, combating smog is a longstanding battle in many parts of the world. Last year, six of the world's most polluted cities were in India, and air pollution is estimated to be reducing the life expectancy of millions of Indians by up to nine years.
Key quote
The image of the United Nations building in New York, barely visible through orange smog, “is the perfect image for how world leaders have failed at stopping the climate crisis,” tweeted scientist and climate advocate Lucky Tran on Wednesday, adding in a separate post: “Today New Yorkers and East Coasters are experiencing this impact first hand.”
Big picture
Fossil fuel combustion, along with other factors like dust storms and wildfires, releases harmful pollutants such as fine particulate matter into the atmosphere. These pollutants can travel deep into the lungs and bloodstream, leading to various health problems including asthma and heart disease. The exacerbation of wildfires and their subsequent impact on air quality are directly linked to human-caused climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for effective measures to address the climate crisis and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
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Move to electric vehicles could save nearly 90,000 lives in US by 2050, study says
A new report from the American Lung Association that reveals that if gas-guzzling vehicles were replaced by zero-emissions vehicles like electric cars, trucks, and SUVs in the US by 2035, the nation could witness a significant reduction in premature deaths, reports Jen Christensen for CNN.
In a nutshell
The Driving to Clean Air: Health Benefits of Zero-Emission Cars and Electricity report states that by 2050, there could be 89,300 fewer premature deaths and 2.2 million fewer asthma attacks, resulting in 10.7 million fewer lost workdays. However, achieving these health benefits would also require a transition to clean noncombustion electricity sources such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and nuclear power.
Key quote
“This transition to zero-emission technologies is critical as a whole but especially critical in making sure that we’re targeting policies and investments and incentive programs so that all communities can take advantage of these health benefits and more healthier transportation choices,” report author William Barrett said.
Big picture
Transportation, identified as the leading source of air pollution and carbon emissions, poses a grave threat to public health, particularly impacting low-income communities and communities of color. The shift to zero-emission vehicles necessitates upfront investments, but the health benefits are expected to outweigh the costs. Efforts by the auto industry, the federal government, and Congress, including stricter emissions standards and incentives for electric vehicles, are crucial steps toward accelerating the transition.
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Wildfires in Nova Scotia are 'out of control' and forcing 16,000 people from their homes
Raging wildfires that have burned through thousands of acres have forced more than 16,000 Canadians to evacuate their homes and triggered a burn ban in Nova Scotia, as the region experiences record-breaking heat.
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'Murderers and criminals:' Meteorologists face unprecedented trolling from conspiracy theorists
“Murderers.” “Criminals.” “We are watching you.” These are just a handful of the threats and abuse sent to meteorologists at Spain’s national weather agency in recent months. The harassment of meteorologists by conspiracy theorists and climate deniers is not confined to Spain.
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Climate activists dye iconic Italian fountain water black
A group of climate activists in Italy have poured what they described as “a charcoal-based black liquid” into the water of Rome’s famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) – to “sound the alarm about the black future that awaits humanity.”
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As flooding increases, these cities are designed to work with - not against - the water
Cities’ relationship with water is a fragile balance. Too little leads to parched landscapes and water shortages; too much can cause deadly flooding, washing away homes, lives and livelihoods.
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