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Climate Change
The issues of air quality and climate change have generally been considered as separate problems in environmental policy. There is growing evidence, however, that the two are linked much more than previously thought. Many of the sources that emit climate-changing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the sources that contribute to traditional air pollution are largely the same.
The EPA's Clean Air Research Program and Global Change Research Program in the Office of Research and Development collaborate to provide the science to address air quality issues related to climate change.
The two most widespread air quality issues in the US are high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM) and ground-level ozone. Both can have major adverse impacts on human health. Ozone has also been shown to cause damage to crops and lessen carbon sequestration rates and PM is the main cause of visibility impairment in the nation's cities and national parks.
The impacts of ozone and particulate matter on climate change are also becoming clearer. As these links have become better understood with recent science, it has become apparent that steps can be taken that both improve air quality (by lowering ozone and PM concentrations) and lessen man-made climate change (depending on which ozone precursors and particles are affected).
The interactions of air quality and climate change issues also suggest that multipollutant strategies to air quality management should be considered. EPA is moving toward an approach that includes accounting for the impacts of many pollutants simultaneously, rather than individually.
The methods, models and other scientific tools required to develop and implement multipollutant regulations is being conducted by the Clean Air Research Program. The program conducts studies to measure and characterize emissions, and conducts atmospheric studies to support the development of models used in air quality and climate estimations and potential mitigation strategies. As climate predictions show altered time (temporal) and space (spatial) pollutant profiles, modified health and exposure designs are being implemented to project potential health and environmental implications.
The Global Change Research Program is a stakeholder-oriented research and assessment program that addresses the potential consequences of global change--particularly on climate variability and change – on air and water quality, aquatic ecosystems, human health, and socioeconomic systems in the United States. EPA uses the results of these studies to investigate adaptation options to improve society's ability to effectively respond to the risks and opportunities presented by global change, and to develop decision support tools for resource managers coping with a changing climate.
Learn more about climate change
Learn more about the Global Change Research Program
Learn about climate change grants funded by EPA
Contacts
Dan Costa (costa.dan@epa.gov), National Program Director, Clean Air Research Program, EPA's Office of Research and Development, 919-541-2532.