NEW YORK (AP) — A new initiative, spearheaded by Al Gore's Climate TRACE coalition, aims to empower individuals to monitor dangerous soot pollution in their neighborhoods. Using advanced satellite technology and artificial intelligence, the system will enable residents in 2,500 cities worldwide to track pollution sources in a manner similar to storm monitoring.
The extension of Climate TRACE, which already utilizes satellites for monitoring heat-trapping methane sources, now includes the tracking of soot pollution—tiny particles that contribute to widespread health risks. Particle pollution is responsible for the deaths of millions globally each year, with tens of thousands of fatalities reported in the U.S.
Through the combined use of 300 satellites and 30,000 ground-tracking sensors, the initiative identifies over 137,000 sources of particle pollution, including more than 3,900 classified as 'super emitters.' In the near future, users will have access to daily reports, allowing the data to integrate into common weather applications, similar to allergy reports.
Gore emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, When people have a very clear idea of this, then I think they’re empowered with the truth of their situation. The initiative seeks to shed light on pollution sources, which, despite not contributing to climate change in the same way as greenhouse gases, result from the same fossil fuel combustion processes.
The Climate TRACE data identifies Karachi, Pakistan, as having the highest number of residents exposed to soot pollution, followed by cities such as Guangzhou, Seoul, New York City, and Dhaka.
