A thick layer of pollution-laden fog settled over Minneapolis last month, resulting in the city’s worst air quality since 2005. A temperature inversion trapped small particles emitted by engines and heaters, creating a haze that enveloped the skyline. This phenomenon, exacerbated by the Midwest’s hottest winter on record, is being exacerbated by climate change. Warmer temperatures are melting snow, releasing moisture that further traps pollution.
Climate change is leading to more common occurrences of winter inversions, with troubling results. According to a report by First Street Foundation, one in four Americans are now exposed to unhealthy air. Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications research at a nonprofit climate research firm, refers to this increase in air pollution as a “climate penalty,” which is reversing improvements made over the last four decades.
The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, successfully reduced pollution, but a recent trend shows worsening air quality. Stricter pollution limits have been put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), however, the exemption of wildfires from these regulations is contributing to the problem, as around one-third of all particulate matter pollution in the United States comes from wildfire smoke.
As a result, air quality predictions for the future paint a concerning picture, with First Street’s online tool showing increasing inequality in air quality impacts across different regions. This inequality also extends to people’s ability to respond to air quality issues, with those of lower income bearing the brunt of the health consequences. As a result, it is clear that addressing this issue will require a national-level effort.
