A new pollution tracking system, developed by Gore's Climate TRACE coalition, uses advanced satellite technology and AI to identify the sources of air pollution at a neighborhood level across 2,500 cities worldwide.

This system employs 300 satellites, 30,000 ground sensors, and AI to monitor over 137,000 pollution sources, including nearly 4,000 'super emitters,' with plans to provide daily updates within a year.

The technology highlights that both greenhouse gases and particulate pollution like soot originate from fossil fuel combustion, with areas such as Louisiana's Cancer Alley exemplifying regions with emissions comparable to some nations.

Analysis shows Karachi, Pakistan, has the highest population exposure to soot pollution, followed by cities like Guangzhou, Seoul, New York City, and Dhaka, revealing significant global disparities in air quality.

Soot pollution is a major health threat, causing millions of deaths annually, and the new system aims to increase transparency by showing exactly who is emitting the pollution.

Particle pollution from soot, primarily from fossil fuel combustion, is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year and is linked to health issues such as cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders.

Gore's team plans to make real-time and long-term pollution trend data available daily within a year, with potential integration into weather and allergy apps to raise public awareness.

Understanding pollution sources is crucial because particle pollution causes millions of deaths annually, and increased awareness can help accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources.

The Climate TRACE coalition, led by Gore, has expanded its satellite and AI system to track soot pollution sources globally, aiming to provide detailed data that can inform policy and public health efforts.

The project was inspired by Gore’s experience observing pollution in Memphis, Tennessee, and seeks to make pollution data more precise and accessible to foster greater public awareness and policy action.

The system's data emphasizes that fossil fuel combustion is the common source of both greenhouse gases and particulate pollution, with regions like Louisiana's Cancer Alley ranking high in global emissions if considered as nations.

Gore underscores that understanding local pollution sources empowers communities to address air quality issues effectively, highlighting that soot and greenhouse gases stem from the same fossil fuel processes.