The United States has ended the transmission of live pollution data from its embassies, a vital source of air quality information, particularly in China and India, due to budget constraints. The decision marks a significant cutback under President Donald Trump, who has prioritized reducing government spending, including on international cooperation and environmental monitoring.
Since 2008, the US embassies have tracked air quality, providing transparent data that often highlighted pollution levels exceeding official figures, especially in Beijing. The transparency has had a noticeable impact on Chinese authorities, who were embarrassed by the discrepancy in pollution readings. This led to actions aimed at addressing pollution, though the data was banned from being shared in China during major summits.
While historical data will remain available, live updates ceased on Tuesday, and there is no indication of when, or if, the program will be restored without additional funding. The data was also widely referenced in New Delhi, a city grappling with severe pollution problems.
Environmental groups are concerned about the impact of the cutbacks, as air pollution, worsened by climate change, is a leading cause of premature deaths worldwide, with nearly seven million people dying annually from its effects.
