Less Harmful Pollutants: a Lifesaving Trend!

Harmful pollutants for humans and ecosystems have passed their peak, meaning that countless lives could be saved if we accelerate this trending decline.

Global emissions of sulfur dioxide – the cause of acid rain – nitrogen oxides, and black and organic carbon have peaked and are now declining. Consequently, global air pollution is falling.

All data comes from the Community Emissions Data System, which produced consistent estimates of global air emissions species (Black carbon, Carbon monoxide, Carbon dioxide, Ammonia, Non-methane volatile organic compounds, Nitrogen oxides, Organic carbon, Sulfur dioxide) over the industrial era – 1750 to present – as well as Methane and Nitrous oxide over recent decades.