Good News Roundup: Air Quality Achievements in 2022

This past was a good year for technological achievements in climate science. We’re seeing all kinds of big things across the world. All over, hundreds of organizations, activists, and governments joined hands to improve air quality and curb the emission of pollutants.

Though still far from where we need to be, our society's made the necessary changes to collaborate to and guide us to a future with better air quality.

Here is a quick roundup of air quality news.

4 Scientific Achievements in 2022 for Air Quality

Everyone from individuals who care about air quality to academic researchers from international institutions can do their part to combat air pollution. And today, we wanted to highlight the most exciting scientific achievements from around the world.

Here are the top 4 air quality achievements we’re thrilled about.

#1 – China's Stepping Up to Reduce Air Pollution

For the last few decades, China has been industrializing with factories appearing in major cities all over. But the massive success came at a cost. Since the country creates a lot of air pollution, China’s air quality deteriorated below safe levels.

However, in recent years, they have made changes to reduce pollution:

• In 2022, the ecology and environment ministry raised concerns and urged the implementation of several laws regarding air quality.
• The country is now one of the biggest users of air quality technology—even building the world’s largest air purifier.
• Since 2017, China has done awareness campaigns encouraging citizens to switch from gas and wood stoves in 7 million households.
• China also forces many factories to close during winter when air quality worsens.

#2 - Europe is Implementing Stricter Rules

This year, we also saw the European Commission propose a revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives. The proposal was designed to make the rules more stringent to achieve better results.

Here are the proposal's key points:

• Stricter limits for pollutant concentrations
• The Judiciary system’s role in the provision of the right to clean air.
• Better air quality monitoring to support assessment and targeted counteractions.
• Improvement in air quality modeling, especially when air quality is considerably low.

#3 – Aviation Technology is Going Greener

Planes are a huge contributor to air pollution, but there is good news on the horizon. Just this year, researchers from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute started developing net-zero aviation fuel.

This is groundbreaking especially when you consider the fact that aviation industry is responsible for approximately 2.5% of global greenhouse emissions. 

#4 - Air Quality Monitoring Proves Its Worth

Finally, a recent study by the University of Queensland has shown the benefits of obtaining real-time air quality data in developing countries. The researchers prove that sharing real-time readings can help bring the air quality issue to the authority’s attention.

Take this example from China. In 2008, the US embassy started sharing hourly readings for air pollution levels, and soon, the issue caught the government’s attention. With timely action and vigorous steps, China's air quality started to improve.

Real-time air quality data is a practical solution for assessing air pollutant concentrations and taking effective measures to lower them. So, if you want to stay informed, investing in an air quality monitor is the first step you can take.