Pollution Surges 33% After US Embassies Stop Air Quality Reports
A new study found that the suspension of US embassy air-quality reporting in 2025 led to a significant increase in aerosol pollution, with a 1.9 micrograms per cubic meter rise in PM2.5 particles in 46 cities worldwide
When the US embassy air-quality reporting program was suspended in 2025, pollution rose by about 33% in 46 cities worldwide. The loss of embassy reporting was followed by significant increases in aerosol pollution, particularly in cities without another publicly available national air-quality monitoring system.
The study, which analyzed satellite observations across 46 cities, found an increase of about 1.9 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5 particles after the reporting stopped. This type of particle is particularly harmful as it can penetrate deep into the lungs.
The researchers, led by Zoey Zhou, an assistant professor at the Columbia Climate School, found little evidence that pollution was already rising in those cities before the reporting stopped. The study's authors, which also include Fanyu Wang and Douglas Almond from Columbia University, compared satellite data with embassy readings collected before the shutdown to estimate the impact of losing embassy monitoring on fine-particle pollution.
## What changed The US embassy air-quality reporting program had provided independent, publicly available air-quality readings in cities around the world for more than a decade. However, when the program was suspended, the lack of transparency and accountability seemed to have emboldened polluters, leading to significant increases in aerosol pollution.
## Why it matters The findings suggest that environmental transparency can function as a form of environmental governance. When credible, real-time pollution information disappears, some of the environmental gains associated with public disclosure may weaken. The study highlights the importance of publicly available environmental data in holding polluters accountable and promoting cleaner air.
The study's results have significant implications for cities around the world, particularly those without another publicly available national air-quality monitoring system. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and air pollution, the importance of transparent and reliable environmental data cannot be overstated.
