Dramatic cuts in China’s air pollution drove surge in global warming
New ScientistMAR 16
Study: China's Air Cleanup Efforts Have Accelerated Global Warming
Above: Haze shrouds the city of Nanjing in eastern China's Jiangsu province on Dec. 7, 2024. Image copyright: Feature China/Future Publishing/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
China's pollution cleanup was absolutely necessary to save lives and improve public health. The country faced a crisis with air pollution leading to serious widespread fatalities each year, making aggressive action unavoidable. The temporary warming effect is a small price to pay for protecting human health and demonstrates that environmental policies must prioritize immediate threats to human welfare.
Narrative B
This research reveals the dangerous unintended consequences of environmental policies that weren't properly coordinated with climate action. Removing aerosols without simultaneously cutting greenhouse gases has accelerated global warming at a critical time. The findings highlight how complex climate interventions require comprehensive planning to avoid making the climate crisis worse.