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<ul class="summary-list"><li>At <keyword id="12037021" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="cop26" source="Orion">COP26</keyword>, a collaboration in the form of the CommonSensing project urges us to look to <keyword id="11895441" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="space" source="Orion">space</keyword> for <keyword id="11896311" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword> solutions. </li><li>The project will help <keyword id="12507543" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fiji" source="Orion">Fiji</keyword>, <keyword id="12507544" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vanuatu" source="Orion">Vanuatu</keyword>, and the <keyword id="12279524" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="solomon-islands" source="Orion">Solomon Islands</keyword> build resilience to the effects of climate change, and provide evidence for financing.</li></ul>Climate change innovation must transcend the boundaries of planet earth itself. Or so advocate astronauts, space agencies, and satellite technologists at Glasgow's COP26 climate summit, where the <a href="https://www.commonsensing.org.uk/#:~:text=IPP%20CommonSensing%20is%20an%20innovative,of%20satellite%20remote%20sensing%20technology.">CommonSensing solution</a> - an international project for building climate resilience through satellite remote sensing technology - is being showcased.Space has been co-opted as the playground of billionaires such as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-stepping-down-amazon-ceo-space-2021-2">Jeff Bezos</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-rise-of-elon-musk-2016-7">Elon Musk</a>. But those working within the sector argue it is time for a perspective shift - technology and, specifically satellite data, is brimming with potential in aiding humanitarian crises, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts."When you look down on the planet, you see signs of both the cause and effect of climate change," explained British <keyword id="12153790" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="astronaut" source="Orion">astronaut</keyword> Tim Peake, speaking at COP26. From aerial views of North American wildfires and Amazon deforestation to smog build-up above the Himalayas, Peake has seen it all. But space, he says, will also provide solutions in the form of data that is needed for informed decision-making. "We haven't got the time or money to get it wrong," he says.Afghanistan, Nigeria, Thailand, and Malawi, are all among those already leveraging satellites to <a href="https://unctad.org/news/countries-look-satellite-technology-tackle-food-insecurity">tackle issues of food insecurity</a>. But using space to combat climate change is relatively new terrain, though one gaining in traction; in May, NASA reinvigorated its role as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01230-5">informing US Climate policy</a>; climate-related mission, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-look-for-ground-breaking-uk-led-esa-mission-to-detect-climate-change">TRUTHS</a>, has just been launched in the UK. Half of all "essential climate variables" - empirical data supporting climate science and predicting future change - are collected from space. But until now, this data has had an accessibility problem. The CommonSensing solution, bringing together the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), Satellite Applications Catapult, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Devex, the United Kingdom's Met Office, The University of Portsmouth, Sensonomic, and Spatial Days, wants to change this.Specifically, the coalition will be working with <keyword id="12507542" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="small-island-developing-states" source="Orion">Small Island Developing States</keyword> (SIDS). Though on the frontlines of the <keyword id="11896310" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="climate-crisis" source="Orion">climate crisis</keyword>, SIDS contribute least to greenhouse gas emissions and have limited access to crucial, climate-related data.By focusing on Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Fiji, all with populations living just five meters above sea level, the CommonSensing solution aims to improve food security, disaster response, and track the effects of climate change."We use geospatial technologies, typically satellite imagery, to create resilience to climate change," says Einar Bjørgo, UNOSAT Director. "Combining it with information like population distribution and vulnerabilities to climate hazards, which helps governments develop short-term tools to help with disaster preparedness, but also long-term initiatives that open access to climate funds."Each country is also receiving technical training in interpreting satellite data, and climate finance advisors will be embedded within governments. To receive financing, developing countries must often prove the effects of climate change through data reporting. But, as UNOSAT technical expert for Fiji, Lebaiatelaite Gaunavinaka, puts it, "There's a lack of accessible, relevant data robustly supporting evidence-based proposals." This data is crucial for demystifying investment criteria, she says.In Fiji, projects are already underway. Seawall interventions protect against water rising and coastal erosion, seedlings are distributed to enhance food security efforts, and coral biodiversity is safeguarded through mangrove planting."As a last resort, at-risk communities are flagged for relocation," says Guanavinaka. Satellite data can directly assist with these on-the-ground projects, she adds. "We mapped mangroves covering five islands and shared the data and methodology with the Ministry of Forest and Ministry of Lands so they can replicate the same for the smaller islands." Covid-19 has slowed progress, but the teams remain optimistic. "It's important to have people from the governments of SIDS sitting with us over time," says Bjørgo. "We are sharing data among each organization, and involving those on the ground." This kind of collaboration, he adds, is infinitely useful in advancing the science and funding that will combat climate change.

Space technology can help countries disproportionately impacted by climate change get the help they need

With New Delhi <a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3036505/delhi-air-pollution-driving-tourists-away-and-spurring" class="link-text">engulfed in toxic smog</a>, a new establishment offering people a breath of fresh air is proving popular in the Indian capital.Over the past fortnight, the city has seen a public health crisis, with authorities twice declaring a pollution emergency and shutting schools while advising the elderly and infants to stay indoors. Concentrations of the most harmful airborne pollutants in the a city of 25 million are regularly about 20 times the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/topics/world-health-organisation" class="link-text">World Health Organisation</a> safe limit as industrial pollution and vehicle exhaust fumes – combined with smoke from crop stubble burning – cast a toxic pall over the metropolis. But at Oxy Pure customers can inhale 80-90 per cent pure oxygen infused with essential oils such as peppermint, cinnamon, lavender and lemongrass for 299 rupees (US$4.17) per 15-minute session. Nishika Waghela, 33, breathes in oxygen mixed with different scents at Oxy Pure. Photo: Reuters The <keyword id="1853846" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="oxygen-bar">oxygen bar</keyword> was launched in May by Aryavir Kumar and Margarita Kuritsyana, and supplies its scented air through lightweight tubes placed under the customers’ nostrils. Kumar said he gets between 30 and 40 customers per day, as well as providing “portable cans” of air that they can carry around with them. Some of those who have tried it after suffering the ill effects of pollution – itchy eyes, runny noses and throat infections – say they were unsure if the therapy had a psychological effect, but it did make them feel refreshed. A motorcyclist passes a worker sweeping a road shrouded in <keyword id="68139" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smog">smog</keyword> in New Delhi. Photo: Bloomberg Others were less sure, however, with several taking to social media to criticise the very concept behind the bar and one declaring that Delhi “has officially gone mad”. Doctors say taking oxygen for a short while, even in high concentrations, has no benefit, and breathing extremely high levels can actually be harmful, including causing lung damage. Several Delhi residents, like Kapil Gulliya, who works with a financial services firm, described the oxygen bar as a gimmick, misusing the alarm over pollution for commercial purposes. “What use is 15 minutes of oxygen when pollution is many times the <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> safe limits here, equal to smoking 30 cigarettes a day?” Last week, <a href="https://www.scmp.com/topics/india" class="link-text">India</a>’s Supreme Court criticised the government for making “little constructive efforts” to curb pollution. The court has ordered a new clampdown on stubble burning on farms surrounding the capital.Bonny Irengbam, a senior sales assistant at Oxy Pure, told The Indian Express newspaper that “some people, who try it for the first time, will feel relaxed and fresh. But only people who undergo the sessions regularly will get real benefits of the aroma.” Irengbam said he does not encourage back-to-back sessions and advises his customers to stick with one 15-minute session per day. “I was passing by and saw that they were offering pure oxygen. I thought I’ll give it a try and went for the lemongrass flavour. It was refreshing,” Manjul Mehta, an Oxy Pure customer, told the daily. Oxy Pure is located in an upscale mall in the south of Delhi, with a second outlet expected to be launched by next month at Delhi’s main airport, according to Irengbam.

In smog-choked New Delhi, enterprising oxygen bar soothes residents’ lungs – for a price

It is a known fact that India’s capital <keyword id="6358777" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="New-Delhi">New Delhi</keyword> is facing a crisis when it comes to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=delhi+air+pollution">air pollution</a>, to an extent that it was one and a half times worse than the pollution levels in Beijing over the past week. 
 
Recently, an Indiaspend analysis of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/This-is-how-bad-Delhis-pollution-is-and-its-goingto-get-worse-if-we-do-nothing-about-it/articleshow/50140542.cms">PM 2.5 concentration levels</a> found that "the average weekly PM 2.5 concentration in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=delhi">Delhi's</a> air was 230.9 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m³), giving it a 'very poor' rating of air quality under the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB). This rating means that it could lead to 'respiratory illness on prolonged exposure'. 
 
Another study by the Kolkata-based Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) shows that nearly half of Delhi’s school children suffer from permanent lung damage while around 10,000 people will die prematurely from air-pollution in Delhi. 
 Additionally, the hazardous <keyword id="68139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Smog">smog</keyword> which engulfed the city in the past few days reducing visibility down to about 200 metres has also forced a handful number of residents to move out of Delhi or atleast contemplate living somewhere which doesn’t resemble ‘living in a gas chamber.’ 
 
Even as the dangers of breathing the polluted air looms right in front of the citizens residing in what is being considered as the most polluted cities in the world, why then are they so blithe in taking steps to protect themselves from the choking air? 
 
Granted, the sale of air purifiers are on the rise with more and more people bringing it in their homes in a bid to chase clean air to breathe, but it should be kept in mind that air purifiers work only indoors, not outdoors. 
 <keyword id="3171236" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="anti-pollution-masks">Anti-pollution masks</keyword> are widely considered the easiest way for an individual to protect themselves from not just dust but also contaminants present in the air, but in the city of Delhi, residents using such masks are still a rarity. 
 
The reason for this is undoubtedly the lack of awareness. Anish Kapoor from Shiva Industries which makes a variety of anti-pollution masks (used even by the Delhi police) available online says that there has been no change in his sales numbers as people are least bothered about masks. 
 
“Not only are they not aware of the dire consequences of the pollution, but they are also quite unaware of the existence of anti-pollution masks and where to get them. The fact that wearing a mask is not considered ‘cool’ doesn’t help either,” Kapur states. 
 
The anti-pollution masks are available both online and offline. They can be bought from chemists and from Select City Walk and shops in Khan Market, being judiciously priced from Rs 180 to Rs 750. There are designer varieties as well, which are priced Rs 2,000 onwards. 
 
According to Vikas Yadav, shopkeeper at Khan Market whose medical store sells about 20-30 masks on a good day, the majority of people who buy them are either people with existing respiratory illness or foreigners. 
 
“I expected more people to buy the masks considering how difficult breathing has become in the city, but unfortunately sales have been maegre,” Yadav summed up. 
 
He is of the belief that for the situation to improve, it is imperative that the government takes steps to educate the people on the importance of these masks and the dire effects of the air quality in the city. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Pollution in Delhi is
increasing, but the demand for anti-pollution masks is not- here’s why

<ul><li>SC asks Centre to call environmental experts, including from IIT, to the court within 30 minutes.</li><li>The apex court blamed the state government for the high levels of pollution across all major stations in Delhi.</li><li>Pollution level in Delhi peaked to a three-year high on Sunday </li></ul>The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> of India asked the Indian government to call environmental experts from IIT, and other top institutions within half an hour to address the hearing on Delhi’s pollution crisis. It further took serious note of crop burning in Punjab, Haryana and Western UP, says it cannot go unabated every year. “Can we survive in this atmosphere? This is not the way we can survive, Delhi is choking every year and it cannot be done in a civilised country. No one is safe even inside homes; it is atrocious. People are losing precious years of their lives due to pollution,” said SC on Delhi-NCR pollution. The apex court blamed the state government for the high levels of pollution across all major stations in Delhi. SC said it will not tolerate this and make state governments liable for them. Delhi records poorest air quality in 3 years Pollution level in Delhi peaked to a three-year high on Sunday notwithstanding claims of heightened checks and curbs by authorities. The Centre reviewed the situation with the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab and announced that Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba would monitor it on a daily basis. After Delhi, all schools up to Class 12 were also closed in the National Capital Region till Tuesday. Heavy smog disrupted traffic at Delhi airport as 37 flights were diverted and more than 250 departures and 300 arrivals were delayed were due to poor visibility, officials said. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 494 at 4 pm on Sunday, the highest since November 6, 2016 when it was 497. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called Delhi a "gas chamber" and blamed stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab for the apocalyptic haze shrouding Delhi. The share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution stood at 46% on Friday, the highest so far. It dropped to 17% on Saturday and is expected to be at 12% on Sunday, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor SAFAR. (With inputs from PTI) See also: <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="71885433" title="These 8 houseplants can save you from plummeting air quality levels" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

SC says bring environmental experts to court within 30 mins over Delhi air crisis

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image">REUTERS</div></div>Choking <keyword id="68139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Smog">smog</keyword> all but shut down one of northeastern <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>'s largest <keyword id="6399501" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Cities">cities</keyword> on Monday, forcing schools to suspended classes, snarling traffic and closing the airport, in the country's first major air pollution crisis of the winter.
An index measuring PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), reached a reading of 1,000 in some parts of Harbin, the gritty capital of northeastern Heilongjiang province and home to some 11 million people.
A level above 300 is considered hazardous, while the World Health Organisation recommends a daily level of no more than 20.
The smog not only forced all primary and middle schools to suspend classes, but shut the airport and some public bus routes, the official Xinhua news agency reported, blaming the emergency on the first day of the heating being turned on in the city for winter. Visibility was reportedly reduced to 10 meters.
The smog is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
Air quality in Chinese cities is of increasing concern to China's stability-obsessed leadership because it plays into popular resentment over political privilege and rising inequality in the world's second-largest economy.
Domestic media have run stories describing the expensive air purifiers government officials enjoy in their homes and offices, alongside reports of special organic farms so cadres need not risk suffering from recurring food safety scandals.
The government has announced plans over the years to tackle the pollution problem but has made little apparent progress.
Users of China's popular Twitter-like Sina Weibo microblogging site reacted with both anger and bitter sarcasm over Harbin's air pollution.
"After years of effort, the wise and hard-working people of Harbin have finally managed to skip both the middle-class society and the communist society stages, and have now entered a fairyland society!" wrote on user.
Other parts of northeastern China also experienced severe smog, including Tangshan, two hours east of Beijing, and Changchun, the capital of Jilin province which borders Heilongjiang.
Last week, Beijing city released a color-coded alert system for handling air pollution emergencies, to include the temporary halt of construction, factory production, outdoor barbeques and the setting off of fireworks. Beijing suffered its own smog emergency last winter when the PM2.5 surpassed 900 on one particularly bad day in January.
(Reporting By Adam Rose; Editing by Ben Blanchard and Michael Perry)

Smog Shuts Down Chinese City Of 11 Million

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke to crowd outside Los Angeles City Hall on Friday, calling out the role of the climate crisis in California wildfires and condemning inaction against it.</li><li>"I visited Paradise in California, and I met with survivors who showed me around the devastation," she said to the crowd. "Street after street with no houses left. I heard heartbreaking stories. Eighteen-thousand buildings were destroyed, and at least 86 people died."</li><li>The young activist said that the onus is placed upon the youth to save the environment if older generations continue to fail to act on the climate crisis.</li><li>Despite touting a number of green environmental policies, California remains one of the biggest oil producers in the country, causing poor air quality in many populated cities.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>"Today in California, we can see the wildfires happening just around the corner, wildfires that are being intensified by the climate crisis," climate activist <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/greta-thunberg-bio-climate-change-activist-2019-9">Greta Thunberg</a> said to a large crowd gathered outside Los Angeles City Hall on Friday.The 16-year-old from Sweden has been touring North America since August and has become the face of youth activism in the fight to combat climate change, visiting the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/24/us/greta-thunberg-whats-next-trnd/index.html">US, Canada, and Mexico</a>.During her stop in Los Angeles, she discussed the role of climate change in California's devastating wildfires - wildfires that are currently burning across the state - and condemning inaction against it.The night prior, the <a href="https://www.insider.com/maria-fire-easy-fire-ventura-county-california-2019-11">Maria Fire</a> sprung up in Ventura County up the coast, northwest of Los Angeles County, and quickly spread. Earlier that week, the <a href="https://www.lafd.org/news/getty-fire">74%-contained</a> Getty Fire forced evacuations in Los Angeles, and burned 10 residences. In Northern California, the <a href="https://www.insider.com/california-fire-updates-sonoma-county-kincade-fire-2019-10">Kincade Fire</a> has burned through more than 77,000 acres and is 70% contained.Thunberg spoke at the Youth Climate Strike in Los Angeles, which was organized to protest fossil fuel and oil production in the state. Despite touting a number of environmental policies, California remains one of the <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/sd-fi-california-crudeoil-20180711-story.html">biggest oil producers</a> in the country, which leads to negative effects, like <a href="https://www.cleanwateraction.org/features/threats-oil-and-gas-production-california">poor air quality</a>, in many populated cities.At the rally, Thunberg described her visit to Paradise, California, which was ravaged by the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-fire-burned-town-of-paradise-california-to-the-ground-2018-11?r=UK&amp;IR=T">Camp fire</a> in 2018, taking numerous lives and destroying thousands of buildings. The Camp fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in <a href="https://abc7news.com/most-destructive-wildfires-in-california-history/2516857/">California history</a>."I visited Paradise in California, and I met with survivors who showed me around the devastation," she said to the crowd. "Street after street with no houses left. I heard heartbreaking stories. Eighteen-thousand buildings were destroyed, and at least 86 people died."According to a release, the strike was organized to "uplift three core demands for Governor [Gavin] Newsom around California's fossil fuel production":<ul><li>Roll out a 2,500-foot health and safety buffer to protect frontline communities;</li><li>Stop issuing any new fossil fuel permits to protect our climate future; and</li><li>Drop existing oil production with a just transition to a clean energy economy.</li></ul>The pollution that fuels the climate crisis is also affecting people's day-to-day lives. Youth activist Kevin Patel, 19, said he developed heart palpitations caused by the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-california-emissions-rules-la-smog-photos-2019-9">smog in Los Angeles</a> when he was in fifth grade, and he has dedicated much of his time to raising awareness and promoting action to solve the climate crisis ever since."It was a huge factor why I got involved in the climate crisis, because I knew that if I don't act, if I don't share my story, then how are other others in my community going to be aware of what's going on and how they're being affected as well?" Patel told Insider.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div>Youth activist Cemre Gonen, 17, came down on a bus to Los Angeles from the Bay Area to assist in organizing the Youth Climate Strike in LA. She echoed Patel's sentiment on raising awareness, more notably in adults and people of power."I hope that power-holders are held accountable for their roles in causing the climate crisis," Gonen wrote in an email to Insider. "I hope that adults let go of their fear for progress, and take necessary action to save life as we know it.''The onus has been placed upon the youth to save the environment if older generations continue to fail to act, Thunberg said."The older generations are failing us. They are failing future generations," she said. "But future generations do not have voice, and the biosphere doesn't have a voice.""So we will be the voice that speaks up for them. We will be the voice that speaks up for ourselves," Thunberg continued.Gonen wrote in the email that it is easy to lose hope with the current state of the climate crisis, but she said she takes her fear for the future to keep her motivated to make a difference."My generation literally has climate anxiety because we understand the gravity of this issue. So it is definitely easy to lose hope sometimes, especially when adults refuse to act, in fear of change," Gonen in the email. "However, I channel that frustration, anger, and disappointment into my work and use it to fuel my activism. I believe in us and the work that youth like me are doing.""We are the hope," she continued, "and I believe that our society can change, because we have to."<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-greta-thunberg-speaks-protests-communicates-2019-9">THE ART OF ACTIVISM: How Greta Thunberg's matter-of-fact way of speaking and taking action turned her into a global icon</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/greta-thunberg-ellen-degeneres-meeting-trump-waste-of-time-2019-11">Greta Thunberg told Ellen DeGeneres that meeting with President Trump would be 'a waste of time, really'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/greta-thunberg-help-returning-to-europe-un-climate-summit-moved-2019-11">Greta Thunberg is stuck on the wrong continent after the year's most important UN climate-change summit got moved from Chile to Spain</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/greta-thunberg-asks-why-adults-mock-threaten-teenagers-2019-9">Greta Thunberg responds to 'haters,' asking why adults 'spend their time mocking and threatening teenagers and children for promoting science'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-tweet-greta-thunberg-speech-un-climate-action-summit-2019-9">Trump said Greta Thunberg seems like she has 'a bright and wonderful future' the same day she gave an impassioned speech at the UN about the devastating impact of climate change</a></li></ul>

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg condemns inaction against the climate crisis in Los Angeles as wildfires rage across California

<div class="image-container click-to-enlarge" style="width:940px"><div class="image"><a title_source="Andy Blair" title_caption="On Nov. 24, 1966, a killer smog blanketed New York City, spurring emergency anti-pollution measures into action." class="zoomin" href="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/50f725fe6bb3f70249000000-960/manhattan%20smog.jpg"></a></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wavz13/4083896787/">Andy Blair</a>On Nov. 24, 1966, a killer <keyword id="68139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Smog">smog</keyword> blanketed <keyword id="72226" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="New-York-City">New York City</keyword>, spurring emergency anti-pollution measures into action.</div>
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-pollution-is-out-of-control-2012-11">China's pollution is notoriously bad</a>.
But the deadly smog that's seized <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-smog-emergency-in-china-2013-1">Beijing and much of northern China over the past week</a> is unprecedented. Or at least, the worst it's been since <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-crazy-pollution-problem-2012-10#ixzz2Crvt6oCC">China began releasing pollution data in the last few years</a>. 
Over the weekend, an air monitoring station located at the American embassy in <keyword id="1333" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Beijing">Beijing</keyword> was literally off-the-charts, registering as "Beyond Index." 
<keyword id="13001" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="pollution">Pollution</keyword> levels soared past the target considered safe by The World Health Organization, requiring schoolchildren be kept indoors and flooding hospitals with people complaining of breathing and heart problems. 
The public health crisis has been a wake-up call for Chinese officials. State media, environmentalists, and concerned citizens are now pleading with the government to take drastic measures to tackle pollution. 
"What needs to happen is for the government to take long-term action by centralizing the heating systems, so that individual families in rural areas do not burn coal, and also cutting down on car use in the city," professor John Cai, director of the Centre for Healthcare Management and Policy at the China Europe International Business School, <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hjz5MGgRG_z8iFMlbw-ZC6Fi3cGQ?docId=CNG.6ad0fcf9c77e80a2ceadb4629cbd24a7.641">told the AFP's Neil Connor</a>.
Of course, what few people probably remember is that New York City, and much of the eastern United States, faced a similar environmental disaster during the 1950s and '60s. 
A <a href="http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/20013P7R.txt?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&amp;Client=EPA&amp;Index=Prior%20to%201976&amp;Docs=&amp;Query=&amp;Time=&amp;EndTime=&amp;SearchMethod=1&amp;TocRestrict=n&amp;Toc=&amp;TocEntry=&amp;QField=&amp;QFieldYear=&amp;QFieldMonth=&amp;QFieldDay=&amp;UseQField=&amp;IntQFieldOp=0&amp;ExtQFieldOp=0&amp;XmlQuery=&amp;File=D%3A%5CZYFILES%5CINDEX%20DATA%5C70THRU75%5CTXT%5C00000005%5C20013P7R.txt&amp;User=ANONYMOUS&amp;Password=anonymous&amp;SortMethod=h%7C-&amp;MaximumDocuments=1&amp;FuzzyDegree=0&amp;ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&amp;Display=p%7Cf&amp;DefSeekPage=x&amp;SearchBack=ZyActionL&amp;Back=ZyActionS&amp;BackDesc=Results%20page&amp;MaximumPages=1&amp;ZyEntry=1&amp;SeekPage=x">report by the Environmental Protection Agency</a> documents one period in late November 1966 when air quality deteriorated significantly in cities along the Eastern Seaboard. 
On Nov. 24, 1966, a dense smog shrouded all of New York City. 
Between Nov. 24 and Nov. 30, New York City documented an increase of about 24 smog-related deaths per day. 
The East Coast was getting a whiff of the lethal air that had long plagued Los Angeles.
Sadly, this was the reality before any anti-pollution laws.
"Air Pollution has become a ubiquitous threat to our health and welfare because of the ever-increasing emissions of air contaminates into the never-increasing atmosphere. The result is an increased exposure of large segments of the population," the report states. 
Smog doesn't generally occur because of a sudden increase in air pollutants, but because of certain weather conditions that trap pollutants in the air. And because smog is a very visible example air pollution, it can trigger dramatic responses. 
Most Americans thumbed their nose to the problem of air pollution ... until it was literally suffocating them to death. 
The report notes that "public concern about air pollution (as judged by publicity) is minimal except during those periods when the conditions of restricted natural ventilation are sufficiently extensive to warrant issuing an air pollution potential forecast." 
The United States eventually adopted stronger pollution measures, including the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/caa.html">Clean Air Act in 1970</a>, which regulated emissions from factories and cars. 
The question is whether these latest pictures of smog-choked China will be the indelible images that finally move Chinese regulators to launch meaningful action against pollution.

This Old Picture Of Manhattan Smog Looks Just Like Beijing Today 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The EPA issued its strictest-ever tailpipe pollution limits for vehicles sold between 2027 and 2032.</li><li>The rule is more lenient than originally proposed after the auto industry and unions expressed concerns over the tight timeline.</li></ul>President Joe Biden is giving automakers more time to ramp up sales of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hybrids-more-popular-than-evs-toyota-ford-tesla-cars-electric-2024-3">electric vehicles</a>, following pressure from the industry and labor unions concerned about a rapid transition to EVs.The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday issued the strictest limits to date on tailpipe pollution from cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans sold between 2027 and 2032. In effect, the rules could boost EVs to up to 56% of new car sales — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.coxautoinc.com/market-insights/q4-2023-ev-sales/">a big jump from 7.6% in 2023</a> — while hybrids could account for about 13% of sales, according to senior administration officials.The final rule is more relaxed than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-proposes-strongest-ever-pollution-standards-cars-and">a draft issued last year</a> that would have spurred faster growth in EV sales this decade and estimated they'd account for 67% of new car sales by 2032. The rules also outline how automakers can sell a mix of EVs, hybrids, and cleaner gas cars to fall within the pollution caps. The changes were based on feedback from automakers and labor unions that asked for more lead time and flexibility, senior administration officials told reporters.The compromise reflects Biden's attempt to combat the climate crisis with buy-in from industry and unions, especially during an election year. Cars are the single-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Still, the United Auto Workers worries that a rapid shift to EVs will cost jobs <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uaw-strike-inexorable-math-electric-vehicles-elon-musk-tesla-ford-2023-9">because EV manufacturing requires fewer assembly parts</a>. Biden's support from UAW has been a key part of his political coalition. Meanwhile, legacy automakers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/automakers-back-to-the-drawing-board-ev-plans-2024-2">are scaling back or delaying EV investments</a> as the market grows slower than investor expectations."These adjusted EV targets — still a stretch goal — should give the market and supply chains a chance to catch up," John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said in a statement. The group represents companies that make about 97% of the new vehicles sold in the US. "It buys some time for more public charging to come online, and the industrial incentives and policies of the Inflation Reduction Act to do their thing."<h2>Pacing EV adoption</h2>The tailpipe rules land as the EV market hits some bumps in the road.US automakers sold a record 1.2 million EVs last year, but there was a slowdown in the fourth quarter, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.coxautoinc.com/market-insights/q4-2023-ev-sales/">according to Kelley Blue Book</a>. That means the market still grew, just not as fast as previous quarters. The trend prompted companies like Ford and General Motors to scale back production, citing lower-than-expected demand from drivers worried about finding charging stations.That concern has led hybrids, which have both gas and battery power, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hybrids-more-popular-than-evs-toyota-ford-tesla-cars-electric-2024-3">to gain popularity.</a>Still, analysts predict that EV sales will continue to push higher, thanks to newer models at more affordable prices and the continued build-out of charging stations. The average new car sells for around $46,000, while the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electrc-vehicle-demand-problem-affordability-expense-price-cost-2023-10#:~:text=a%20demand%20problem.-,They%20have%20an%20affordability%20problem.,costs%20over%20%2450%2C000%20on%20average.">average new EV costs closer to $50,000</a>, J.D. Power said. EV drivers also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/are-electric-vehicles-worth-it">save money on gas and maintenance</a>."The United States has a history of meeting and exceeding these targets because of the broad appeal of fuel-efficient vehicles and electric vehicles being underestimated," Albert Gore, executive director of the Zero Emissions Transportation Association, which advocates for EV makers like Tesla and Rivian, told Business Insider. "We still believe the transition will take place on a shorter timeline."<h2>Less pollution, fewer deaths</h2>Even though the EPA is delaying a sharp uptick in EV sales, the final rule is still expected to avoid the same amount of pollution over the long term, the agency said.Some 7.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions — or about four times the emissions of the entire transportation sector — would be avoided through 2055.Air pollutants like fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxide that cause smog would be drastically reduced by that date, preventing up to 2,500 premature deaths and reducing heart attacks, respiratory illnesses, and aggravated asthma, according to EPA.Research indicates <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recessions-mortality-degrowth-economy-gdp-unemployment-environment-pollution-2024-3">that less air pollution leads to longer lives.</a> Cleaner air was responsible for more than a third of the decline in mortality during the Great Recession as fewer people drove to work and factories closed.But some climate groups criticized the delayed EV timeline because that means the transportation sector will emit more pollution in the short term, causing the planet to warm faster.Scientists have warned that countries must slash emissions in half by 2030 to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/world-hottest-year-ever-history-climate-crisis-2024-1">keep the world from warming 1.5 degrees Celsius</a> above preindustrial levels. Beyond that threshold, extreme heat, wildfires, flooding, and other disasters will likely become increasingly catastrophic for humanity.Senior administration officials said the tailpipe emissions rule, combined with other climate policies like the IRA, will help the US cut emissions in half by 2030.

Biden slows his timeline for the shift to EVs in a compromise with unions concerned about jobs       

Besides creating respiratory issues like asthma, bronchitis, the deteriorating <keyword id="13001" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pollution" source="Orion">pollution</keyword> level in the city is creating a slew of patients with watery eyes, itchy throat, doctors said here. Engulfed in thick toxic smog, the air quality index (AQI) on Friday plummeted to the "severe plus" category in several parts of the national capital. The air turned a dense grey as the AQI hovered around 500 in several parts of Delhi-NCR, which is a staggering 100 times higher than the limit considered healthy by the World Health Organization (WHO). "Of late in the OPD we are seeing almost a 50 per cent increase in the number of patients who are coming with watery eyes. Some also experience burning, itching and irritation in their eyes," Dr Anita Sethi, Director &amp; HOD ophthalmology, Fortis hospital Gurugram, told IANS. "Due to pollution we are getting several cases on a daily basis. As of now, we have 28 beds occupied, with 14 of those being in the ICU, and 2 patients on ventilators. These patients have reported a series of discomforting symptoms, which include itchy throats, burning eyes, and exacerbated allergies, along with congested lungs, added Dr. Ambarish Joshi Senior Pulmonologist, Primus Super Specialty Hospital. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has revealed that pollution levels in <keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword> in October reached their worst since 2020, indicating a critical situation that demands urgent attention. The agency also states that prolonged exposure to <keyword id="55910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="Orion">air pollution</keyword> can cause children to suffer from respiratory diseases. According to the doctors, the elderly, children and those with allergies are more vulnerable these days. Dr Sethi said the dry air of winter and the pollution increases the dryness of the eyes and makes them more sensitive to the particulate matter which is there in the air, causing a lot of burning, irritation and watering in the eyes. "Also, as this is a time of change of seasons so there is more pollen in the air. So those who are a little more prone to allergies are having a real increase in exacerbation of symptoms. "People with pre existing allergies, contact lens wearers, some of the young professionals who have very long hours at the computer and anyway have a little bit of a dry eye syndrome," could have a tough time. Doctors and authorities have urged Delhiites to take the necessary precautions, such as wearing masks and staying indoors whenever possible, to safeguard their health amidst this alarming pollution crisis. "The increasing levels of particulate matter in the air are negatively impacting respiratory health, making it imperative for individuals to remain vigilant and take steps to reduce their exposure to dust and pollutants to safeguard their well-being," Dr. Joshi said. "We urge everyone to wear masks when going outdoors and to avoid any strenuous exercise in open areas, especially those with COPD cases. Please venture outside only if it is absolutely necessary. Additionally, avoiding smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke is strongly advised, as it can exacerbate respiratory issues during times of compromised air quality," he noted. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/gadgets/news/hp-omen-16-gaming-laptop-review/articleshow/104945732.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/gadgets/news/hp-omen-16-gaming-laptop-review/articleshow/104945732.cms" target="_blank">HP Omen 16 laptop review – A powerful laptop with a fine display</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/india-q3-smartphone-shipments-apple-gains-34-pc-market-share-in-india/articleshow/104907807.cms">Smartphone shipments: Apple gains 34% market share in India as Samsung, Xiaomi decline</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/how-to-use-two-whatsapp-accounts-on-one-phone/articleshow/104641592.cms">How to use two WhatsApp accounts on one phone? A step by step guide</a>

You Searched For "smog crisis" and got 9 results

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