900 Million People Live Near 'Superemitters' in Global Pollution Crisis
A new interactive map by Climate Trace has revealed a grim reality: nearly 900 million people worldwide live near 'superemitters', industrial facilities spewing extreme levels of toxic PM2.5 particles. This comes at a crucial time as the UN discusses global decarbonization measures.
The map, which tracks pollution in over 2,500 urban areas, highlights cities like Karachi, Guangzhou, Seoul, and New York as epicenters of this issue. These 'superemitters' include power plants, refineries, and ports, all contributing to the 8.7 million premature deaths caused by fossil fuel pollution each year.
The United States, with its intensive fossil fuel extraction and processing activities, is notably highlighted. Despite this, former US President Donald Trump dismissed climate science as a 'hoax', drawing criticism. Without a swift transition to clean energies, hundreds of millions will continue inhaling toxic air daily.
The Climate Trace map underscores the urgent need for global action. With 1.6 billion people exposed to toxic air pollution from fossil fuel burning, and nearly 900 million people living near superemitters, the stakes couldn't be higher. The UN's decarbonization discussions must address this pressing issue to protect millions of lives.
