Cleaner Air Will Make the Planet Hotter, According to New Study

Douglas McIntyre, Editor-in-Chief at Climate Crisis 24/7, highlights the unintended climate consequences of successful air pollution reduction in East Asia. A new study suggests that cleaner air—particularly the reduction of sulfur dioxide, a precursor to cooling aerosols—has led to a measurable increase in global warming since 2010. The report underscores a difficult trade-off between improving public health and preserving the planet’s delicate climate balance.