The new map Al Gore hopes will horrify, and then motivate us to address the climate crisis

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A new interactive tool developed by Climate TRACE, a global coalition of scientists and nonprofits, allows the public to track air pollution exposure and identify major emitters in over 2,500 cities worldwide
• By combining emissions data with weather simulations, the platform visualizes pollution plumes from super emitters—facilities in the top 10% of PM2.5 polluters—highlighting their impact on public health and climate

🔭 The context: Climate TRACE, co-founded by Al Gore and supported by organizations using AI and satellite monitoring, has compiled a database of over 660 million sources of pollution
• The platform now integrates data on both greenhouse gases and hazardous air pollutants, a significant advance especially for regions lacking detailed pollution inventories
• In many cities, major emitters include ports, industrial sites, and shipping activity, which often go unnoticed in public discourse on pollution

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Air pollution remains a leading global health risk, responsible for nearly 9 million deaths annually, while many polluting facilities also contribute significantly to climate change
• This tool not only improves transparency and accountability but also empowers civil society, policymakers, and researchers to target interventions more effectively
• By visualizing how pollution travels and whom it affects, Climate TRACE provides a unique bridge between local public health concerns and global climate objectives

⏭️ What's next: Climate TRACE's platform is publicly accessible, and its creators hope it will drive community action, policy reform, and emission reduction efforts in the world's most polluted regions
• The tool highlights previously underreported sectors like domestic shipping and port infrastructure, pointing to potential new regulatory targets
• With nearly 2 billion people living in pollution plumes of top emitters, the data could become a catalyst for local advocacy and global coordination

💬 One quote: “It’s one thing to measure how much pollution is coming out of a smokestack, but it’s even more important to see where it ends up.” – Al Gore

📈 One stat: Over half of the 1.6 billion people living in high-pollution zones are exposed to hazardous air from the top 10% of PM2.5-emitting facilities globally

Explore carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies on Data Hub™ — the first platform designed to help sustainability providers generate sales leads!

Click for more news covering the latest on pollution